On Safari and a 90th birthday party

[drron]

Amazing photos.What a thrill to see.

 

[Major]

WOW...great photos. The lions are all over that Buffalo

 

[infinity]

Incredible shots!!!

I have done 3 safaris in the last 4 years and you capture the essence of what us privileged get see

I am next there over Easter so keep teh TR coming

Envious

 

[zig]

Such amazing photos. I still get a bit squeamish seeing images like these, but can't deny the power of them. Great TR, it is making me bump Africa back up my travel list.

I laughed at the description of Durban. I lived there for a short time 40 years ago, so if it is 30 years behind, I could probably integrate fairly easily

 

[Flying mermaid]

WOW...great photos. The lions are all over that Buffalo

The buffalos were amazing in how they fought back and protected the injured buffalos. In the second photo you can see a black shape behind the tree -that is actually another buffalo coming to the aid of the first one and actually frightening off the lion. At one point a Buffalo charged a lion and the Lion backed off - in the end both buffalos who had lions on their backs got away - we were sort of cheering the buffalo but feeling sorry for the lions who also need to eat!

The schedule is pretty hectic here - especially as our ranger is incredibly enthusiastic and we are usually the first ones out and the last back (sometimes by hours). Also internet is slow - probably because everyone tries to use it at the same time. I will continue to try to put photos up, but might have to catch up in Durban

The fox like creature in the second photo is a Jackal.

 

[Flying mermaid]

The lions involved in the Buffalo hunt were the Styx Pride - a young group of lions and lionesses - 6 in all plus 3 cubs. Our ranger feels that the dominant males in the area are likely to take over, kill the males and the cubs but we hope they manage to hang on. This is 3 of the 6 lions plus the cubs having a morning snooze.

 

[infinity]

Wow!! keep up the great TR

 

[TomVexille]

Some really amazing photos. Keep up the great work

 

[Flying mermaid]

Some really amazing photos. Keep up the great work

I feel I should point out that I have two photographers working for me - Mr FM and Miss FM's partner.

 

[TomVexille]

I feel I should point out that I have two photographers working for me - Mr FM and Miss FM's partner.

Author gets the credit? :mrgreen:

 

[Flying mermaid]

Mr FM has taken so many photos he is having trouble organising them and giving them to me - he has to change the format apparently. Anyway I finally managed to get some - these are of a Cheetah - quite a young one, who had killed an Impala. He was very skittish and obviously worried that another bigger predator would attack him. He managed to get about 75% eaten when he was chased off by vultures. They descended on the kill and in about 1 minute totally finished off the whole Impala leaving only the head. Quite amazing to watch!

Vultures are having a tough time- poachers are poisoning them as they draw attention to their slaughters and also a local won the lottery and attributed his success to eating a vulture's eyes which enabled him to predict the numbers - there are now many trying to emulate his success.

 

[Flying mermaid]

This is another hunt we went on with the Styx pride. It was at night time and the most amazing feeling to be out in the dark following a pride while they hunted. The 4 Lionesses were in front with one of the Lions baby sitting the 3 cubs - apparently they were there to learn how to hunt. At one point as we crashed through the bush Mr FM said he was sure something was following us - I said it was his imagination. However once we came back to the road and stopped another Lion came out of the bush and sat next to us. It was almost as though we were part of the pride. They were unsuccessful with two Impala but in the morning it seems they managed to catch a warthog - not much of a snack for them!

The final photo is of the 3 cubs looking and learning.

 

[Flying mermaid]

First photo is of the two young Styx Lionesses having a play - they are on the Mala Mala airstrip. I think they had finally had enough to eat.

Wild dogs - very rare. The second photo is of the puppies.

A view of the accommodation at Mala Mala with a warthog and an inside view.

Mala Mala has 3 sets of accommodation - Rattrays which is the most luxurious and has good views but is fenced - we wanted the unfenced atmosphere at Main Camp/Sable Camp. Those camps are together and the main difference is sable is smaller and the rooms have better views. We had elected for Main Camp but I think Sable is worth the little extra. Because there were some big tour groups while we were there (40+), they had the non tour people all eat at Sable Camp and I think the smaller groups make for a nicer more intimate feel.

 

[Flying mermaid]

On our last morning at Mala Mala we were fortunate enough to see 3 Hyena as well as some adorable baby Leopards - Mum wasn't around so we couldn't stay long. Then it was time to pack up and say goodbye to Mala Mala. Felt very sad as it had been an incredible experience and we were very grateful to our Ranger Brendan who was so patient and determined to find everything he could. He was extremely generous with his time staying out way after everyone else was back.

We had a very quick 15 minute flight to Eastgate airport at Hoedspruit in a rather small plane - perhaps 12 seats with the 4 of us as the only passengers. Greeted by our new Camp Jabulani ranger Werner and then a brief transfer to Camp Jabulani. Camp Jabulani sits in the private Kapama game reserve, but shares the reserve with a number of other lodges.

 

[parsonstrish]

How does one adapt after such an amazing journey. Excellent pictures & report.

 

[Flying mermaid]

How does one adapt after such an amazing journey. Excellent pictures & report.

It is going to be hard, although I suspect after another 2 weeks we will be ready for home!

 

[Flying mermaid]

We were looking for a different experience from Camp Jabulani - a bit more of a holiday not hard core Safari as well as the opportunity to see the Jabulani elephants and the Endangered Species centre. HESC will pretty much not turn an animal in need away. They are breeding cheetah as a primary task and have released many into the wild and are trying to strengthen the genetic pool as well. With Cheetah that will be released there is minimal human contact but they do have some cheetah kept for breeding that can be patted. Only Camp Jabulani guests are given patting privileges. Any profit from Camp Jabulani goes to support HESC. Apart from the Cheetah we saw many other animals including a baby Rhino which will be kept until it is 4 and then released. There were also two Lions who had been in a circus that had gone bankrupt - they had been declawed. They were given a retirement home at HESC. Best of all (well very sadly), were two Rhino who had had their horns cut out by poachers. They don't kill them as that will attract vultures and give them away. In this case the Rhino were found pretty much straight away and plastic surgery enabled their faces to be reconstructed. One is regrowing its horn, but the other was too badly damaged. Once properly healed they will be released - they are sisters, so the hope is the one will look after the other.

They also feed vultures to keep them on the game reserve and protect them

Photos

Rhinos after reconstruction

Baby Rhino

Patting a Cheetah

Vulture Restaurant

 

[Flying mermaid]

Camp Jabulani maintains a herd of elephants for riding - I was a bit ambivalent about this and I think you would need to be careful of some Elephant riding experiences, but I felt comfortable with the Jabulani story.

It started with a little elephant who was stuck in the mud and abandoned. After rescuing and looking after him there was an attempt to release him but it was unsuccessful- he was called Jabulani. About the same time HESC heard of a herd of trained Elephants who were about to be killed in Zimbabwe. A rescue mission was mounted and the Elephants brought south together with many of their keepers. The Matriarch of the herd accepted Jabulani and then the idea was born to create Camp Jabulani with the herd. Jabulani himself is now 18. There are a number of new elephants born to the herd as well as a rescued orphan elephant.

The Elephants give a ride to non guests each morning and a ride in the afternoon for guests. The rest of the time they wander around the bush with their keepers eating, or having a swim.

 

[Flying mermaid]

For a variety of reasons (mainly to do with the anklebiters continually changing circumstances), we had taken the Zindoga Villa at Camp Jabulani - it easily sleeps 6 and can have a rollaway bed put into the main bedrooms. We had planned to have 7 in it, but I retained it when our party shrank to 4 just in case things changed again. It is the most glorious place - very large with two main suites and a large bedroom with its own bathroom, with 2 single beds. It has an enormous lounge dining room and a little kitchen - it includes your own chef, so once we had breakfast there and once Garth came over (he was the main chef for the Camp), and prepared dinner for us "at home". It is wonderful and no more expensive than getting 3 rooms, so great for an extended family.

A wonderful meal in the wine cellar on our last night - food was a highlight

One of the main suites in the Villa

Lounge and dining room in the Villa

Bathroom

 

[Flying mermaid]

The Elephants were just wonderful to meet - I was very nervous riding one to start with, but I had interesting conversations with both keepers on the two different Elephants we rode and did relax a bit. The first ride is a daytime one. The head keeper tells you how they are trained with positive reinforcement and no cruel practices and you have the opportunity to feed Jabulani. Then after the ride you have sundowners and snacks before going on a game drive. The second ride is a night time one - you head out to sundowners and then ride the Elephants back under the stars. You then see them tucked up for the night to keep them safe.