Urban Warfare

I was sitting here quietly working on my computer when I heard a hang of a commotion going on outside. I knew it was monkeys, but what I didn't realise was that there was a full on gang fight going on. Luckily I had my video camera handy, but still only caught the end of it. The troop from lower Mornigside had clearly crossed the street and were in the other troops territory, the road must be the border! Can't beleive how they were so caught up in their gang war that they were oblivious to the busy road.

Check it out!

Another Crazy Kruger Sighting!!

Hi all, just want to share some words about my latest trip to the Kruger.....

Firstly thank you to Evelyn & Fred for allowing us to use their house in the Sabie Park nature reserve. Sitting deep in the bush with no fences, with only the sounds of the camp fire and the night, is an experience few get the privilege to do. The hyena hung around the property all night every night, clearly spurred on by the smells coming from our bush 'braai'.

We had some truly great sightings, but from the first day I realised that going a bit north would bring reward. I say this because we had breakfast at Mlondozi dam the first morning and what a gorgeous sight. Whilst cooking breakfast an endless procession of game visited the dam, at one point we could see: Elephant, Rhino, zebra, wilderbeest, water buck, hippo and warthog all at the same time!

So the decision was made to head north to a remote picnic site called Nhlanguleni and it paid off. First we were lucky enough to see an entire heard of elephant playing in the mud and water, then as we pushed on a little further 5 wild dog cooling off under a tree at the road side. This is where it got really interesting. The elephant had left the water hole and were making their way to where ever elephants make their way to, but the dogs were on that route. Elephants being the massive creatures that they are take it upon themselves to police the 'jungle' so to speak. First they let off a couple of quiet trumpets and out of the tree line came runnng another 12 dogs that had been lying there undetected. Before a massive bull came along and confronted all 17 dogs. He wasn't as gentle as the rest of the herd and came running at the pack, trumpeting and flapping his ears. An absolutely incredible sight to see, elephant in charge and dogs scattering in all directions....

Still on a high from the sighting we were then treated to a whole host of game viewing. At a place called Lugmag dam we saw a sable antelope in all its glory and I have footage where the sable, a rhino and a giraffe are all in the same frame. We eventually reached the picnic spot and went about our biz as elephant, giraffe, zebra etc came to drink.

It was a fantastic sight, a typical savanna setting with thirsty animals everywhere and no doubt some hungry lions in the shadows....

Watch this space for the footage of the wild dog versus elephant encounter! And follow this link to our fan page to see the photos:

http://bit.ly/Byumq