Last of the rains in Northern Botswana; More cheetah tracking tales with Spencer and Mr.Moe, AT's "Special" Cheetah ........ Photographic report Little Kwara and Lagoon ... April, 2018

[madaboutcheetah]

@Marks - they whacked the Ostrich possibly just before 8am.  We found them not soon after - Possibly missed the actual hunt/ kill by a half hour.  They fed on only bits and pieces through the day.  They vacated the scene only at approx 9 am the next day.  There were already vultures all over the scene that morning when we arrived there just around sunrise.  

 

There was a double kill two days prior to this - one bird completely unfed ....... they worked on just one of them.  Vultures/hyena of course finished up the other one.

[Ritsgaai]

Lovely! You had great sightings. I love the  1st silhouette with the teeth showing.

Edited April 23, 2018 by Ritsgaai

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @Ritsgaai

 

Next bunch of photos from Lagoon 

[CDL111]

Did the cheetah manage to stay on the termite mound? The next photograph is pure beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mopsy]

Great photos @madaboutcheetah looks like a fantastic time was had!

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks a lot @mopsy and @CDL111

 

You mean the mound on the last segment?  Yeah - a bit too small for him isn't it ?  They were just strolling about that day after feasting on Ostrich ....... I wonder if they are now going to specialise on Ostrich mainly or perhaps a seasonal thing? and they'll phase back to Impala and other good stuff .... Time will tell!

[pault]

More goodness from Lagoon. I could really do with some if this right now, but I'll have to make do with your pictures. 

[mvecht]

@madaboutcheetah  

 

Did you discuss with Spencer if the old coalition of Cheetah ever hunted Ostrich?

I did see the two "old" boys once attempting to hunt a male Ostrich but they did not get close enough for a take down.

Later the same day but after dark we had a Hyena chasing an Ostrich, which nearly jumped into our vehicle. That was quite scary.

Edited April 24, 2018 by mvecht

[madaboutcheetah]

@mvecht - Hi Michael, he did mention that the coalition from Savuti, named "Blood brothers" by Hollywood and also the previous 3 "Boys of Lagoon" were both seen on Ostrich kills ....... However, not back 2 back Ostrich hunts like these guys ...... Bizarre thing is, they whacked another Ostrich maybe 200 meters from their double kill site.  There were already Vultures all over the place for two days and they stayed at their fresh kill until it was completely done!  Very bold these two!!!

 

Thanks @pault - they are getting better with the Bots visa ....... You should plan! 

Edited April 24, 2018 by madaboutcheetah

[madaboutcheetah]

"Strike a Pose" ............  That's the last of the cheetah photos, I promise  ........  

[Alexander33]

Beautiful photos, as always. I especially love the cheetah silhouettes. 

[Marks]

Fantastic stuff - I also really like the silhouettes.

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @Marks and @Alexander33

 

Flash Back February 2011 ....... When the Famous Tsum Tsum trio of boys were in their PRIME ...........  With the New Splash Camp set up to open in June 2018, here's hoping a new Cheetah coalition makes Kwara their home again ............  I can't imagine Tsum Tsum and/ or Splash without some EPIC sightings .....
 

Pardon the quality of images ....... I knew even less about Photography back then!  ....... Trying to learn every day! 

 

We followed two of the males swim across the Channel to reunite with the third brother ........... 

 

[Bush dog]

@madaboutcheetah

 

Hari, don't worry, the quality of images is excellent!  And the report also.  I had some good sightings of cheetahs in Hwange (report to come).

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks, Mike .... look forward to that report !

[AKR1]

2 hours ago, madaboutcheetah said:

Thanks @Marks and @Alexander33

 

Flash Back February 2011 ....... When the Famous Tsum Tsum trio of boys were in their PRIME ...........  With the New Splash Camp set up to open in June 2018, here's hoping a new Cheetah coalition makes Kwara their home again ............  I can't imagine Tsum Tsum and/ or Splash without some EPIC sightings .....
 

Pardon the quality of images ....... I knew even less about Photography back then!  ....... Trying to learn every day! 

 

We followed two of the males swim across the Channel to reunite with the third brother ........... 

 

Fantastic cheetah on mates- living up to your ST name.

A couple of questions. How has Tsum- tsum changed over the last 7 years since these pictures were shot. Is it even more Inaccessible today.?Also how far is the new camp from Kwara/ LK?  

[madaboutcheetah]

@AKR1 - Thanks a lot.  These images were taken sitting next to Hobbs in his vehicle.  In that trip, we had two vehicles for our party of 7 - Spencer and Hobbs.  Bate who is now a guide based from Lebala was our tracker back then!  Seems like Yesterday - but, 7 years ago!!!

 

I was only in LK for 3 nights this time and we mostly ventured to places that's game rich at the moment - I was told that Tsum Tsum has dried up in recent years, but, not sure if the game out there is very prolific.  From what I gathered from the guides, the most happening areas at the moment are Splash, Bat Ear Fox den area and the prolific 4 Rivers area (I did head out to 4 Rivers for a morning - Gosh Zebra, Wildebeest and Lechwe all over the place) ....... We didn't see any predators that morning, but, I bet they are around.  

 

From memory, we mainly ventured to Tsum Tsum back in those days to find the 3 Cheetah brothers who's heart of the territory was right there in Last Mabala, TT.

 

Splash will be approx 45 minutes from the Kwara airstrip I would think ........ (without stops) 

Edited April 25, 2018 by madaboutcheetah

[madaboutcheetah]

More from Lagoon .......

The Wildebeest is actually keeping an eye on the Cheetah boys who were sleeping off the Ostrich ....... He stood there for over an hour Snorting away ........  We got bored too and left to camp for Brunch!

[madaboutcheetah]

Young Male Leopard put on quite a show ............. 

[madaboutcheetah]

Final Instalment from the trip ........ Last set of photos from Lagoon.

 

Thanks so much for all the interest in this report and all the kind comments .......... Kept me motivated to get on with the editing!!  Much appreciated!

 

Kind regards,

Hari

[LarsS]

Amazing photos! Especially, well, all of them! From the dogs to the cheetahs to the foxes, I enjoyed all of them. Must have been a great trip with excellent game viewing based on this report. Great job!

[Peter Connan]

22 hours ago, LarsS said:

Amazing photos! Especially, well, all of them! From the dogs to the cheetahs to the foxes, I enjoyed all of them. Must have been a great trip with excellent game viewing based on this report. Great job!

 

I agree completely!

[Gred78]

Mind sharing what your camera setup? Great pics, I'll be in Botswana in June

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks a lot @LarsS @Peter Connan@Gred78

 

Nikon D5 with the 300mm F2.8 for this trip. 

[Kitsafari]

awesome pix of the cheetah on the mound in post 35. your 2011 photos are far better than my photos of today Hari! and how incredible to have watched those cats swimming. 

 

thanks for sharing - as always, great pictures.