Kgalagadi 2016: A Lion A Day Keeps A Doctor Awake

[Towlersonsafari]

Lovely wildcat indeed.@@xelas we stayed 3 nights at KTC and also found it a splendidly relaxing camp

Edited March 27, 2016 by Towlersonsafari

[Towlersonsafari]

Oops sorry was going to say we did a similar routine to you did you do any sunset drives?

Edited March 27, 2016 by Towlersonsafari

[xelas]

@@Safaridude

You are just too generous ... but it feels so good !

 

@@Towlersonsafari

Not, but we have seen others going on almost every evening when we were returning to the camp.

[xelas]

10 February – Searching For The Leopard

 

 

We have had 2 full days to explore the Auob riverbed between Sitzas and Gemsbokplain waterholes. Two main targets: cheetah and leopard. And as we have seen cheetah already twice, the leopard sighting became #1 on our (OK, on mine) list. As always we woke up very early and the pre-dawn colours were again fantastic.

 

The morning drive started with giraffe in the sunrise light.

 

 

 

Slowly driving we have noticed a bird at quite a distance. One look through binoculars was enough to understand we have not yet photographed this one. I am posting it although the quality is definitively in the "for documentary purposes only" section.

 

African Harrier-Hawk

We have scanned Dalkeith, 14^th and 13^th waterholes several times but no luck with leopard. Some birds were having good time by splashing in the (cool) water; we were not so close, the crop is almost at 100% (1:1) level .

 

Southern Masked Weaver

Others were trying to catch a breeze perching high.

 

Cape Sparrow, fem.

Springboks have definitively enjoyed the rains and the "green grass of home" so not even the coming heat did not disturbed them too much.

 

 

We drove all the way to the “cheetah hunting area” and we did spot one waiting for a suitable game to walk past. Unfortunately for the cheetah only an adult oryx passed by … and cheetah gave him a pass.

 

Watching carefully

I am too strong for you!

By midday the heat was too much for us so we returned toward the camp for a shower, a cold beer and a nap. On the way back we have inspected again all the trees around the waterholes along the road. No luck today.

 

 

Wildebeests refreshing themselves

 

 

Greater Kestrel, juv.

 

 

(to be continued)

[xelas]

(continued)

 

 

We have continued our quest to find the leopard after the heat has lighten a bit. Same itinerary as in the morning: driving to each waterhole between Sitsas and 13th waterhole, and scanning the grounds and the trees.

 

We have found:

 

A couple of lionesses

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Lilac-breasted Roller

And one set of footprints that might belong to that elusive animal. But not a whisker or a tip of the tail.

 

Some great pre-sunset light on our way back, and some pastoral scenes around the KTC waterhole, and yet another beautiful day in Kgalagadi was over.

 

[Galana]

The final two pictures d a lot for KTFP.

the backdrop of Giraffe in the evening light and that beautiful green valley are excellent.

[Tdgraves]

 

That is one lovely young African Wildcat. Whether it is the same one as last visit or not will be hard to confirm. You could try two similar facial shots and count the whisker/spots around the muzzle as each cat has its own unique pattern. Whatever it is a lovely creature.

 

You learn something new every day....thanks

 

xelas, it's amazing how similar this wild cat is to a domestic one. How do they compare size-wise?

They are a bit bigger than domestic cats, mainly because they have longer legs.....

[wildlifepainter]

Love your sunrise shot!

[FlyTraveler]

(continued)

 

Bad boys, bad boys

What'cha gonna do?

What'cha gonna do when they come for you? (*)

Kgalagadi 2016-111 A.JPG

 

The Kalahari lions are renowned for its black mane ... and this two males were perfect representatives.

 

There was an obvious hierarchy between the two; I assume that the dominant one is the one that gets the right to drink first.

 

Kgalagadi 2016-112 B.JPG

Passing by the youngsters he received an enthusiast welcome from them; no doubts that they were all his offsprings.

 

Kgalagadi 2016-113 B.JPG

Kgalagadi 2016-114 A.JPG

I should ask one of my UK friends to help me in describing the raw beauty and elegance of this animal as my vocabulary is just too limited.

 

Kgalagadi 2016-115 A.JPG

More of the same lion, this time drinking:

 

Kgalagadi 2016-116 B.JPG

Kgalagadi 2016-117 A.JPG

I know, too many photos of lion(s) already yet please bear with me as there are more to come. Like this study of a perfect top tier predator!

 

Kgalagadi 2016-118 A.JPG

Kgalagadi 2016-119 A.JPG

So, no more moaning about other Safaritalker's lion sightings! That was just as good as it gets, in our book!! The playful youngsters, the lions at the waterhole, the perfect black mane adult ... can it get any better??!!

 

Yes, it can! Remember the "golden light"?!

 

(to be continued)

 

 

 

Fabulous looking Kalahari lions, @@xelas! Great shots, too!

[FlyTraveler]

(continued)

 

We were all ooohing and aaahing and the hide was filled with the cacophony of high speed shutter clicks ... and all of this just increased when the sun has reached the edge of the clouds!

The sun rays have slowly started to colour the cats.

 

Kgalagadi 2016-120A.JPG

 

 

It was like Mother Nature decided to show her beautiful predators in the best light possible ... the golden light!

 

Kgalagadi 2016-121A.JPG

 

 

The second lion woke up and heads towards the waterhole, passing by the youngsters. He was greeted by them also, yet with much less affection as the first one.

 

Kgalagadi 2016-122A.JPG

Kgalagadi 2016-123A.JPG

Approaching the waterhole the lion was like a primadona on the stage, in the middle of the spotlight!

 

Kgalagadi 2016-124A.JPG

The sun rays reached the lion and the waterhole just at the right angle for perfect reflections.

 

The male drinking by himself ...

Kgalagadi 2016-125A.JPG

... and in the company

Kgalagadi 2016-126A.JPG

That was just a perfect end to a perfect day! Brown hyena, the jackal with the carcass, the cheetah hunt, and the lion pride at the waterhole ... if that would be the only day in the park we would return home with so many great memories, and also plenty of good photos. The Kgalagadi Day !! Thank You, members of the Golden Pride!!

 

Kgalagadi 2016-127A.JPG

 

As good, as it gets for lion photos!!!

[xelas]

@@wildlifepainter

Sony is a small P&S camera with a big heart! The back LCD is showing immediately the results of shutter speed/exposure settings which is specially useful for sunrise/sunset photos.

 

@@FlyTraveler

Much appreciated! The light in the second batch of photos was just incredible. I can only imagine the quality of photos from those guys that have used long primes (500-600 mm)!!

[xelas]

11 February – Lions Walks In Pairs

 

 

On our second morning game drive, I have decided to be at the leopard’s waterhole very early. Woke up at 5:30 am, prepared coffee only, and out of the camp by 6am. Still pre-dawn time, pretty dark outside as the sun was well below the horizon. Although carefully prepared, and timely executed, my plan disintegrated not more than 10 minutes later. A lonely car was driving slowly down the road towards us (how he was able to exit the camp so early?!). We needed some time to spot two shades walking slowly along the road. Two male lions! Of course I have made a hastily U-turn to join the parade. As we have slowly progressed in the direction of KTC and Mata Mata more and more vehicles, coming from that camp, have made the same thing.

 

Passing by a herd of giraffes

​Eye contact(s)

One-on-one

On his way

The force is in the numbers

Amber-colour eyes

Continuing with a dedication

Lions walks in pairs

Are they far enough?

 

The whole sequence lasted about 15 minutes and then the two lions disappeared into the bushes. That is the way of the Nature; or you are lucky and at the right moment on the right place, or you have your morning breakfast and tea ... and miss the whole thing. This trip we have been rewarded by being patient and positive and always appreciating whatever the Nature decided to show us, with some great sightings, like this one.

 

Although on photos it looks like daytime, it was quite dark, as the sun was still below the horizon. It is amazing how sensitive modern DSLR sensors are.

 

 

(to be continued)

Edited March 29, 2016 by xelas

[BieneMaja]

@@xelas what a nice set of photos! I really like the giraffes & lions photos a lot. Thank you for sharing all your amazing sightings!

[xelas]

@@BieneMaja

The pleasure is all mine! By preparing the photos, editing them, writing the text and finally re-reading and answering to all kind commentators, I am re-living the trip over and over again. It is an excellent cure for the withdrawal symptoms that started to attack me soon after I board the plane on the way home !

[xyz99]

Love the way the giraffes all look in one direction after the lions

Although I am not sure...would 2 lions attack a healthy giraffe? And I thought the lionesses are the hunters...

[xelas]

I don't think so, @@xyz99 . And the two brothers (??) surely didn't attempt any such thing. But the giraffes didn't know!!

[cheetah80]

Wonderful photos with the lion and the giraffes! Another very special sighting indeed!

[TonyQ]

@@xelas

Awonderful sequence of the lions and giraffes - it shows that you should always get up early (on safari!)

[Galana]

xyz99.

<Although I am not sure...would 2 lions attack a healthy giraffe?>

Yes. They will take on anything even elephant if the odds are right. Technique for giraffe is to run it at speed, then trip it so it goes down from momentum. Then grab the head and stop it getting back up. Strangulation then takes only minutes.

[xelas]

@@Morkel Erasmus witnessed such an event in Etosha in 2013 and have posted an excellent recount on his blog site: http://blog.morkelerasmus.com/2014/05/lions-vs-giraffe-prelude.html

[xyz99]

xyz99.

<Although I am not sure...would 2 lions attack a healthy giraffe?>

Yes. They will take on anything even elephant if the odds are right. Technique for giraffe is to run it at speed, then trip it so it goes down from momentum. Then grab the head and stop it getting back up. Strangulation then takes only minutes.

 

Wow!

And Morkel Erasmus's blog story and pictures are fantastic, thanks for posting it xelas. Life in the jungle is not easy...for both predator and prey.

[xelas]

(continued)

 

 

Although being distracted by lions and giraffes we have arrived at Sitzas waterhole just in time to see yet another bloody beautiful African sunrise

 

There were more giraffes at the waterhole, and already some photographers were working hard to catch the perfect shot of a water dripping from the mouth of a drinking giraffe in the heavily backlit scene. Not an easy task, Zvezda assured me when we were browsing through the photos portfolio of this event. Here are those she likes:

 

​The dripping water makes an S

More splashing

Young one preparing to drink

The awkward position

while I am more conservative so this one is my pick

 

Giraffes and the windmill

Close to Dalkeith an African Wild Cat was half-heartedly chasing a dove. Out on the plain this time, and in the great morning light. Some says the AWC is a difficult one to see. Not this time around for us.

 

Stalking the prey

Approaching carefully

To hunt or not to hunt?

Maybe tomorrow

Not a leopard but pretty nevertheless

​Already 7 am and our chances to see a leopard runs thin. But who would not stop for such treats as lions walking in pairs, giraffes drinking in sunrise and wild cat chasing a dove?!

 

(to be continued)

[Peter Connan]

I love the S

[xyz99]

I love the S

 

Me too

[wildlifepainter]

Well we saw leopard at 9am and 4:30pm so maybe they didn't get the message. Stunning lions with giraffe photos and wild cat too!

 

I am starting to believe its lion sightings or other cat sightings. Too hard to pass up good lions photo ops and other cats won't be near the lions. Last year we had 27 lions in 7 nights with 7 cheetah. This year 8 lions, 7 cheetah, 2 leopard and 1 caracal in 10 nights. All good IMHO.