Leopard Hills, Sabi Sands, South Africa — October, 2015

[Tom Kellie]

@@Tom Kellie

 

I don't get it. This TR is unfinished yet you're updating it whilst on another safari in the same place?! There must be some rules about this this kind of thing.....

 

~ @@Super LEEDS

 

Il est la vie en safari...

Tom K.

[Super LEEDS]

@@Tom Kellie

 

You're sounding like one of those Safaristas you hear about!

[Tom Kellie]

~ @@Super LEEDS

 

Sounds like time to step out of the limelight and return to the grindstone!

Ha! If you could have seen me two days ago, on my way to the airstrip for the flight from Masai Mara to Nairobi, the vehicle passed through and spun tires in the foulest black mud.

Yours truly became a dark-speckled mudlark!

Worse, I immediately smelled like an angry Zorilla!

That was more like true “safari life”.

Tom K.

[Super LEEDS]

@@Tom Kellie

 

Rough wit't'smooth as we say in Yorkshire

[Tom Kellie]

~ @@Super LEEDS

 

My dad always said, “one in seven”.

Meaning, consider it a blessing to have one smooth day out of seven.

The scars, blotches, gaps, twistedness, and general flaws which are my coat of many colors tell the story of my life's follies.

Ha! That's the way it goes. Wouldn't have it any other way.

BTW: Amazing how a few wet tissues cleaned me up into a presentable shape by the time we pulled into the airstrip!

Tom “one in seven or sometimes eight” K.

Edited February 9, 2016 by Tom Kellie

[Tom Kellie]

Wild dog pups all resting together,

Green-Pigeons and tree silhouettes,

With bright clouds of the finest weather,

A large snail shell — as good as it gets.

In Soil Next to Wild Dogs

African Green-Pigeon

Nature's Pen & Ink

The Sky Above

[Tom Kellie]

A place of rest, this peaceful glade,

Where wild dogs await their pack's return,

On fallen leaves their beds have made,

Whatever happened next we'll soon learn.

Painted, Slumbering, Lovely

Wild Dog Glade

As Good a Nest As Any

Lying in Wait...or in State?

Sheltered Redoubt

[Tom Kellie]

Like harlequins wild dogs sport bold hues,

Their splotched livery unlike any others,

Laying around wherever they choose,

Sometimes playing with their sisters and brothers.

Splintered Wood

Unfurled and Revealed

Dog-tired

For Pups, All Is Not Fun and Games

Vesti la giubba

Lycaon pictus in Repose

Pagliacci

There Have Been Better Days

[wilddog]

@@Tom Kellie I am a bit confused. The wilddog images you have just posted ..................are these from the October trip to Sabi or part of your return there in the last month or so?

[Tom Kellie]

@@Tom Kellie I am a bit confused. The wilddog images you have just posted ..................are these from the October trip to Sabi or part of your return there in the last month or so?

 

~ @@wilddog

 

I apologize for not being clear.

This trip report from October is continuing, after being interrupted by two safaris in 2016.

Thank you for bringing to my attention my failure to clarify.

Tom K.

[elefromoz]

@@Tom Kellie, did I miss some explanation, is that an infected wound or a tumour maybe on that Dog, horrible anyway, poor thing. Lovely photo of the Dog sleeping in the clearing. Think you'd better stay home a while and catch up on the trip reports?

[Tom Kellie]

~ What fancies fill a wild dog puppy's dream?

Visions about running, eating or their mother?

Are they truly as carefree as they seem,

Idle, languid hours playing wth one another?

Daydreaming

Canid

White Flag

Straight-backed

Well-equipped Predator

Puppies at Rest

Tussle

After Meat Was Brought from a Kill

Drips, Dabs, Daubs

A Balanced Framework

Formidable Dentition

Walking on Sandy Soil

Mottled

[Tom Kellie]

@@Tom Kellie, did I miss some explanation, is that an infected wound or a tumour maybe on that Dog, horrible anyway, poor thing. Lovely photo of the Dog sleeping in the clearing. Think you'd better stay home a while and catch up on the trip reports

 

~ @@elefromoz

 

I think that you're 100% right!

At present there are no future safaris planned or being considered.

There's ample material to prepare for trip reports.

As to the wound, I have no idea. That's how it appeared.

There are no previous explanations as there was no definitive evidence.

The particular wild dog in question walked about without any noticeably impaired gait.

As with you, I hope that it soon recovered.

Thank you for your supportive comments, which mean a lot to me!

Tom K.

[PT123]

@@Tom Kellie

 

I love your comment in post 261 "This trip report from October is being continued, after being interrupted by two safaris in 2016"

 

It seems that you really ahd very good luck seeing wild dogs - ilook forward to the installment!

[Tom Kellie]

Wild dog puppy play includes brief, vigorous bouts,

With much snapping, growling, and feigned aggression,

Yet these pugilists are actually roustabouts,

Quick to head elsewhere after each short session.

Roustabouts

Mixing It Up

Close Enough for Comfort

Puppies Play Prowling

[Tom Kellie]

@@Tom Kellie

 

I love your comment in post 261 "This trip report from October is being continued, after being interrupted by two safaris in 2016"

 

It seems that you really ahd very good luck seeing wild dogs - ilook forward to the installment!

 

~ @@PT123

 

Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging comment!

The two 2016 safaris were wonderful, but they postponed the continuation of this trip report, which may have various sightings of worth to share.

Yes, there were exceptional wild dog sightings at Leopard Hills, with much more yet to post.

I appreciate your encouragement.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Puppies, puppies, puppies, scattered all around,

Not at all alike, yet wild dogs through and through.

Sometimes noisy, yet other times not a sound,

Seeking adulthood, unaware what to do.

Adult and Puppies

Temporary Resting Place

Restless

The Letter ‘A’

Padding About While Awaiting the Adults

Sound Cues Matter

[Tom Kellie]

Submission and dominance rituals aren't a game,

All understand that this is how wild dog life goes.

Lycaon pictus is genuinely wild, not tame.

Ritualized actions keep wild dogs on their toes.

Both Instinct and Experience

A Sandy Slope

Distinctive Coat Pattern

Unmistakable Domination

Power Minus Pretense

[Terry]

Fantastic photos of the wild dogs So beautiful. I love every one.

[Tom Kellie]

Spring green forest surrounds the track,

Impala moving one by one,

They're crossing without looking back,

Steady movement until it's done.

Springtime in Mpumalanga

Without Haste

Caution — Impala Crossing

The Last Impala Leaps

Drongo with Impala

Fading Into the Forest

[Tom Kellie]

Fantastic photos of the wild dogs So beautiful. I love every one.

 

~ @@Terry

 

That's so nice of you to tell me that.

Your encouragement here means a lot, especially when your preparing your own superb trip report.

Throughout the initial — there were several more — wild dog sighting, there was a feeling of sharing a rare moment with an exceptionally beautiful species.

The supportive comments made by others, such as yours, fuels one's commitment to continuing the task of writing and post-processing.

Thank you so much!

Tom K.

[TonyQ]

What a great sighting of the wilddogs. Lovely photos and beautiful animals.

[Tom Kellie]

What a great sighting of the wilddogs. Lovely photos and beautiful animals.

 

~ @@TonyQ

 

The prolonged sighting with the wild dog puppies was one of the most valuable wildlife experiences I've had on safari.

Extended quiet observation brought out the intricate social relationships, which include the puppies.

The sheer beauty of their harlequin coats, and their surprisingly low-key play made a deep impression.

Thank you so much for your very kind comment.

I'm greatly enjoying reading about the lovely Kenya safari which @@Thursday's Child and you enjoyed.

As ever, the graceful commentary is just right, and the photos are the sort which I most admire.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Tragelaphus angasi, a nyala bull,

Or are you a ram, a male or just a guy?

No matter, your grey pelage is rich and full,

Confident and solitary...not so shy.

Tragelaphus angasi

[dinkdunk]

This trip report is great! Wonderful photos and descriptions.

 

I have been thinking about planning a (likely solo) safari to S. Africa due to the convenience and price and this really pushes me in that direction.