Great Sightings - Madikwe Hills

Memorable times in a transformed landscape…

Since the last blog things have been very busy here in Madikwe. Not only for us but also for nature as a whole. The first bit of rains we had went a very long way to kickstart the bush into its summer dress. Dull, gray bush have subsided to lush greenery and splenderous colour. Every where you look there are flowers and fresh new green leaves appearing. The behaviour of all the animals have canged as well. All are more playfull and active and enjoying life to the max. The first babies of the season also appeared. Tiny little elephants, red hartebeest, Black Backed Jakkal, lions and zebra are all running around. Now we only wait for the big rush of impala and wildebeest youngsters to come.

The real treat we had was the other day at an area we call Vleipan. There was lions everywhere and coming closer we realized that we came upon a fresh kill.

Some where eating and some where sleeping and just before sunset the fun started. A lone elephant bull started to approach the water and came close to the lions without even looking at them twice. That was two out of five in one place. Later on a big rhino bull approached the water and was in a great hurry. He chased two lions away from the water and dived in head first to take a good old mud bath. Another young male lion was watching the show and after a while he just couldn’t help himself. As the rhino was still wallowing he slowly got up and sneaked closer to the rhino. Being in absolute bliss the rhino never realised until the youn male jumped onto his back and of again. The rhino got a huge fright and jumped up and swung around, the lion by that time long gone. He just stood there looking at this lion, now back in his previous position, trying to figure out what on earth just happened. We where all busting with laughter at the antics of this young male lion and the obvious confusion of the rhino. They really made our day.

O… by the way, that was three out of five at one water hole!!!

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