Tales and memories from the Kwando concession Sept 2015

[johan db]

Looks like Kwando still offers great gameviewing. Thanks for sharing all of this.

[madaboutcheetah]

Hi there Johan - how are you? Bumped into Ewan in maun airport on my way in ..... Yes, good trip indeed!!! Thanks

[johan db]

Still alive and kicking Ewan, had a couple of fantastic trips with him. Will never forget that thunderstorm ... and how you spotted that cheetah. The Kwando concession, nothing but good memories. Looking forward to see more of your trips.

[madaboutcheetah]

Great to hear from you, Johan. Yes, that T'storm is etched in my memory bank forever!!!!

[SafariChick]

@@madaboutcheetah great photos and report from Kwando!

[madaboutcheetah]

Okay, I think it's time for Cheetah

 

I missed these boys last year - although, we got to hang out with the new younger coalition; these guys were still missed ........ How much time do these guys have before they are pushed out to stay in Muvumbi only time will tell - with the dry spell underway it's to be seen if a new younger coalition is going to take a strangle hold of this prime Cheetah habitat.

 

(off topic) Just FYI - incidentally, I met several guests who came from Kwara/Little Kwara who speak highly of the cheetah viewing there ....... Mother and 3 cubs in particular. I still have lots of hope that lagoon/lebala will bring forward many female cheetahs and their cubs during the current/upcoming dry cycle ...... Where from? possibly the spillway - possibly even from up north in Muvumbi (the boys do hang out there a lot - there's got to be a reason for that).

 

[madaboutcheetah]

Today's feature is the resident "lagoon" pride - they seemed to prefer the areas north of Lagoon camp - First and Second lagoon more often than not. On this day, we found the pride in the evening finishing up what appears to be a warthog. Pride consists of 4 females and 3 young sub-adult males and as mentioned in another post - 4 of them are from last year's litter of cubs. Well done Blackie and Blondie!!!! The Lionesses are doing an awesome job protecting these young males from the many Nomadic male coalitions ......

 

Elephant/s pass by also in the drying up lagoon; as we stay with the pride until the light went flat .......... we were caught up photographing the young male with the warthog, that we didn't re-position the vehicle until the last Elephant

[twaffle]

Wonderful collection that I'm enjoying very much, thanks Hari for carrying on with this.

[AKR1]

Ditto

Edited October 21, 2015 by AKR1

[madaboutcheetah]

Flash back

 

winter 2014 - when they were cubs!!!

[madaboutcheetah]

Back to the cheetah editing ........... The boys on termite mounds is something I've always loved getting photographs of -

 

Boys whacking their first impala of the week ....... Sorry I have stacks to edit from the sighting (just picked a handful for now) ....... as for the impala - it took everyone by surprise because all of a sudden, she appeared and the boys ambushed her Leopard style! They really do know their territory and where the prey hangs about; not to forget the termite mounds where they can just sit and wait and take their time ...... Conserving energy i suppose....

[Game Warden]

@@madaboutcheetah Oh my! Great sequence!

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @@Game Warden and every one else for all the kind comments, and your interest in following this thread has kept me motivated with the editing ...... More to come!

[madaboutcheetah]

(continued) ........ The images of the impala with the feet in the air (even after being dragged from the take down spot) is so because she was still alive at that point. Like i mentioned earlier, missing teeth and all - they find a way to make it happen!!!

 

If you observe a couple of the close-ups towards the end of the segment, it's the foetus that's already been pulled out .... So, there's a possibility that the boys have a strategy during impala calving season? Just wait by a termite mound where the impala cross over back and forth towards the water and then they ambush them with very little energy. This exact episode was to happen all over again ...... Stay tuned!

 

I was fully prepared to miss cheetah completely on this safari (i also wondered if that might be a blessing in disguise, I actually might focus on other photographic subjects); sightings this year have been so sporadic between Lagoon and Lebala, but, what can I say ........ the boys were back in town!!!

 

 

 

[AKR1]

Fantastic photography

[madaboutcheetah]

@@AKR1 - you are too kind! Thank You!!!!

[Marks]

I like the lion with his grim trophy and the elephant shot that follows shortly thereafter.

But those cheetahs, wow! I, for one, am glad that you did not miss them!

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks so much, @@Marks

[Big_Dog]

Fantastic stuff. The kill and feed sequence is remarkable. Also love the earlier one of them walking across the barren landscape - meant to say earlier.
The history that comes with the posts is also fantastic.
"I was fully prepared to miss cheetah completely on this safari" - Hard to believe!

[johan db]

Great sightings and ditto photos A superb concession in Northern Botswana if you ask me.

[Game Warden]

@@johan db good to see you. Hope you are well.

 

Matt

[marg]

@@madaboutcheetah WOW! It is a lot of work, but we readers really appreciate it. Thank you!!!!

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks a lot - @big dog, Johan, GW and @@marg. Appreciate the kind comments .......

 

Hmmmm - this report needs some photos of the dogs. Will get to it this weekend.

Edited October 24, 2015 by madaboutcheetah

[johan db]

Matt, I am fine, thanks. Although today I am a bit nervous as we are playing the All Blacks in Twickenham.

Edited October 24, 2015 by johan db

[CDL111]

What a great sequence of photos, looking forwards to seeing the dogs.