Makalolo Plains - September 2007
03 Oct 2007
Weather:
September is traditionally a hot and dusty month, this year however the weather has changed. We were still wearing fleeces in the mornings and evenings over parts of September. The wind has increased and clouds have been forming, but it is still too early for the rains, albeit that we had light showers in the last week of the month. The early rain brought about mixed feelings of whether this was a sign of drought or floods for the summer to come.
Vegetation, Landscape and Water:
The vegetation has made a dramatic change and a few species of trees are presenting new leaves. The landscape is now a mixture of greens, yellows and russets. The frogs and cicadas have started their noisy sounds. Without the arrival of the summer rains, water is still an issue with engines and pumps running 24 hours to keep up with the wildlife pressure.
Wildlife News:
Probability sightings for September were as follows
10% - Aardwolf, Lesser Bushbaby, Dwarf Mongoose
29% - Small Spotted Genet, White-tailed Mongoose, Slender Mongoose, Leopard
50% - Banded Mongoose, White Rhino, African Wildcat
65% - Common Duiker, Vervet Monkey, Spotted Hyaena
100% - Baboon, Buffalo, Elephant, Giraffe, Hippo, Black-backed Jackal, Kudu, Sable, Springhare, Steenbok, Warthog, Waterbuck, Wildebeest, Zebra, Lion
Wildlife has been as expected with animals in abundance at the waterholes. Predator sightings (lion, leopard, hyena) have been phenomenal and every night the camp is filled of stories of the lions or leopards that have been sighted. When the wind picked up in the last week of September the wildlife seemed to disappear, however the harsh dry environment brought them all out to the waterholes to wet their dusty throats.
The lion pride of two males, three females and their nine cubs are a regular sighting, the cubs are healthy and we are proud to be home of these magnificent and royal beasts. Another pride of 12 subadult lions have been busy hunting in the plains and surrounding areas, with a kill seemingly every third day we have viewed them on carcasses much of the time.
The leopards seen at Broken Rifle Pan have not let us down either; they have been seen regularly this month. Elephants are Hwange's main attraction however and at the camp waterhole we have witnessed an aggregation of over 200 elephants, all waiting their turn for the precious liquid.
The elusive and shy aardwolf has all of a sudden become a common sighting, three sightings in two days by the same guests, or was it their luck.
There was a loud and vicious fight between two hyaena clans at the Madison Waterhole. The matriarch of the on clan was severely maimed and has not been seen again since the fight.
Birds & birding:
A total of 90 different bird species were recorded this month. The summer visitors have arrived. A dark chanting goshawk was observed swooping down and successfully catching and eating a snake. A brown snake eagle was seen on the ground killing a snake, it was disturbed before it could eat or carry it away. The vultures this month have also been fed very well with the several kills made by the lion prides and hyenas. Little Somavundla waterhole was inundated with vultures this month, never have so many been seen at the waterhole at the same time.
The feral pigeon that has been in camp the last month has hopefully flown away, back to the city/town to which it belongs unless it had fallen prey to one of the many raptors that abound the camp surrounds. The red billed francolins in camp now have three of the four in their brood, wonder what happened to the other one?
Guest highlights:
"The hospitable people in this lodge, the great experience with the animals in this park, good food, good company and a very nice place" - AM & CF - France
"Everything - the entire staff was professional, kind and accommodating. I was extremely impressed with the entire operation - wonderful service with a smile" keep up the great work! Don't change a thing" - AG & ET - USA
"The Makalolo Team, the game drives and the great accommodation" - M & S - USA
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