3am, Sunday 23 March.. Its the second nudge that awakens me ...My senses dulled , perhaps the Shiraz that previous evenings supper... I Then hear it... low grunts .. more grunts then the roar that shatters any pretence of stillness ... It was the Shiraz. There has been a bloody realignment of power within the northern pride , perhaps this was the call for payback... three Hours to go.. First though the gate, the gate guard knows ..smiles ..coffee.. Mahlasela Hide ,four bulls dust off , the heat starts to climb, humidity gathers after the rains... gripping. Large ears cool off. We run into Tom just north of Masizwana ...smiles ... guest chatting excitedly , images reviewed ... lion brothers spotted and followed down Odengweni .. now heading for the hide .. they are in for a big day. We track north, more north... spoor only spoor ... Deep breath then.. sigh. We cut back south, over north crossing , in the distance a lone bull, Nyala males bristle in the light . We track south along East road ... the buffalo herds that have eluded us are found. Searing heat, they laze in the shallow pans and mud. We leave this great place just before sunset .. a heavy heart ... knowing that our return this July will find a different Tembe , less of the dense brush, colors orange , and the sparse water will call Isilo..A changed Tembe in everything but the sprits of the Great Elephants. Anita de Villiers and Lex Hes will be running the Tembe Photo workshop later this year, please inbox me if you want to join this adventure with two of our wildlife photo- giants , and I will gladly pass on details.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 13:56:14 +0000
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