With the rainy season starting to take hold, and ever increasing rainfalls, the park is transforming from its dry desolation into a softer, more vital habitat. While there is still very little ground cover – which assists us in finding game – a carpet of short green grass is springing up and the herbivores are playing catch up after months of deprivation.
Where the prey lead, the predators will follow and we were lucky to catch up with 2 young male lions who have been dominating in the central area of the park this year. Along with their brother, the 3 of them challenged the famous Ginger & Garlic and forced them further south, where they were subsequently joined by their pride. The three youngsters remained in Ginger & Garlic’s territory, mating with the lionesses who inhabit that area and taking advantage of the huge numbers of buffalo that died from malnutrition towards the end of the last dry season.
When we found them, they were clearly hungry, as they picked up the scent of warthogs and impalas nearby, and set off to try and catch one. They prey saw them easily – of course – and quickly sounded the alarm.
The lions lay down and took up sleeping again, but the sound of a lots warthog piglet nearby roused them quickly! But the little “wartlet” managed to find its burrow and disappeared before the lions could catch it! The lions had to put up with being watched and shouted at by everyone, including this bold impala ram.
Nearby, a large bushbuck ram fed happily on the new green leaves, selecting the best with a long, mobile tongue.
As the light was dropping, we spotted a small herd of very skinny elephants heading towards the river. Hoping they would cross, we positioned ourselves along the top of the bank. Perfectly timed, the sun began to break through the clouds and a hippo emerged from the water, momentarily interacting with the elephant herd before going his own way. I managed to find a low perspective where I could place the hippo and the elephants in the same frame, and then sat very still while the hippo approached me. With the wind direction in my favour, I kept very quiet and the hippo passed right by me!
