Kwando Lagoon/Lebala June/July 2014

[madaboutcheetah]

Quick couple of images of the pride at Lebala ..... (i'll be editing more of them during the week - so that's my project on hand before i head out for Independence day holiday weekend).

 

The last image (that was deliberate, where I requested for guide Thabo to please get the permission of his guests to see if they could pull into the frame for that shot)

Edited August 10, 2014 by madaboutcheetah

[TonyQ]

@@madaboutcheetah

I love the two cheetahs together in the last picture in post 252

(and all the others....)

[Big_Dog]

Excellent pics madaboutshrike!
Awesome lion pics too! That last one has a certain...essence of Kwando feel to it...

[Atravelynn]

You have a Lion King movie poster with those nuzzle in the sunset shots. Like everybody else I love those tsessebe reflection shots.

[CDL111]

What a superb photograph of the shrike, far better than whats in the bird books.

[Jochen]

So many cheetah pics. If I didn't know you better, I'd think you were mad about them, Hari.

[madaboutcheetah]

You guys are way too kind and generous with your comments. Thank You!!! ..... None of these images will have been made possible without this man, Spencer Mathambo along with his tracker (Mr.Moe)....... Will post Mr.Moe's picture later on

[Safaridude]

Spencer is the man!

[Marks]

Hard to believe this thread has been around for a month already! One beautiful shot after another.

[madaboutcheetah]

@@Safaridude - recognize the cap?

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @@Marks

 

I thought this picture deserves a post on it's own .......

 

The location is "Lechwe Corner" about 30 minutes north of Lebala - IMHO, the best sundowner location in the concession. My general practice is to pack up when the light goes down - while we were enjoying sundowners with wonderful conversation, I couldn't help but run back to unpack when this Hippo kept popping up amidst the changing colors ...... I have other good ones on my iphone which I must edit soon.

[madaboutcheetah]

A couple of Southern Ground Hornbill ..... (pressure to edit and post some non-cheetah images now )

[madaboutcheetah]

Twin pools by the Southern boundary with Selinda has always been a scenic spot - this Strangler Fig Tree is a famous sundowner/morning tea spot (although, less so these days that there is so much water around and game viewing less prolific in this particular area) ..... While we were trying to check for tracks of the two cheetah boys along the boundary area to see if they had some how miraculously made a U turn from the Selinda area (high hopes ) ....... we decided that we would give up and stop for the day here and take in the sunset. (as mentioned: subsequent reports mention that they spent a lot of time not just in Selinda, but, also in Duma Tau)

 

The last two shots of the sunset are also in the same general area (opposite side from the Fig tree) - those palms are atypical of the location .....

[madaboutcheetah]

Sometimes the Lechwe jump in front of you .......... Over a month later, I had completely forgotten about these!

[Zim Girl]

Love the face on that ground hornbill - image no 2

 

Wonderful first sunset picture with the trees.

[Safaridude]

@@Safaridude - recognize the cap?

 

Sure do… I have a few of those myself!

[FlyTraveler]

Love the fig tree with and without elephants, the sunset and the leaping red lechwe shots Hari!

[TonyQ]

@@madaboutcheetah

The leaping lechwe are superb!

[Soukous]

Lovely stuff Hari

I really like the approaching lions in #256

keep 'em coming

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks, everyone .....

@@Soukous - there was a lot of planning for that shot - we had to move off quickly and position farther away to get the shot of the pride walking into the frame.

[Bush dog]

Hi Hari,

 

A long time, since we have been in touch. You are still addicted to the Kwando area and the services of Spencer. A great guide and a great personnality indeed. I was there for the last time, 3 years ago. Is Kanawe still there?

It seems that you had a great time not only with your favourites but also with the other species. Some great shots also!!!

[madaboutcheetah]

Hi @@Bush dog ........ Thanks a lot for your kind words. Hmmmmm - not able to place you by your screen name.

 

Kanawe just retired recently, I was told ...... He's at home in Kasane.

[madaboutcheetah]

Some assorted Plains game here ....... The Tssesebe series is at Kubu Pan about one KM north of Lebala camp (you can recognize the landmark with that iconic fallen log in the BG)

[michael-ibk]

Love the three Tsessebes, very Cerberus-like.

[madaboutcheetah]

I realize this report needs more Wild dogs ........ here goes!

 

Looking at the series of images (they contain two different dens - one with the heavy thickets and one fairly clear view) ...... In a couple of images, you see the alpha trying to put the puppies back in the den out of fear of the other two den owners.