Duba Plains : the Tsaro pride, elephants and some others

[Hads]

That Woodland Kingfisher shot is superb - Gee I miss that bird.

His call is the sound of Africa to me!

Edited April 6, 2016 by Hads

[madaboutcheetah]

Mike, did you see that super photogenic Korhaan? He was always same spot every morning and couldn't be bothered with the Landcruiser!

[michael-ibk]

Adore the Hoopoe shot!

[Bush dog]

Hari,

 

are you talking about this black-bellied bustard, always standing on a grassy mound? This picture was taken at the end of the afternoon. Some more in due time.

 

[madaboutcheetah]

Indeed - that's the one!

[Geoff]

That's a beautiful b-b bustard image.

[Bush dog]

Birds

 

Now that the black-bellied bustard subject has been launched, here all, and it is really photogenic.

 

 

And some southern ground hornbills.

 

[madaboutcheetah]

Good to see him again, Mike - he was a delight every morning!!!

[Bush dog]

Elephants

 

Elephants are usually very relax in the presence of car. But sometimes, not at all, probably newly arrived.

 

 

Indeed, we were treated to a mock charge.

 

 

And also intimidated by the whole group.

 

 

As in most cases, the group retreats.

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

That's a beautiful b-b bustard image.

 

i agree! those striking markings on his feathers come out clear and vivid in your photos @@Bush dog

 

and what lovely eyelashes on the southern ground hornbill in that close-up.

Edited April 8, 2016 by Kitsafari

[Bush dog]

The Tsaro pride

 

Fifth sighting (fifth game drive)

 

This time, they were active and mobile.

 

[Bush dog]

The Tsaro pride

Fifth sighting (fifth game drive continuation)

 

Some of the cubs decided to stalk nothing more than an elephant.

 

 

Mam and/or auntie followed them to monitor and ensure that they were not too ambitious.

 

 

After having smelled them, the elephant smelt the car and then went away.

 

 

The cubs rejoined the female in the tall grass.

 

 

The next day, despite our best efforts, we did not see them at all.

[madaboutcheetah]

Hmmmm - the day they were hunting Lechwe we had a tough time finding them. I suppose Lions can hide very well??? The only reason we were able to find them was, we followed the Male Lion to the carcass.

[Neeners815]

@@Bush dog I agree with Tom - amazing lion pics. Thank you.

 

 

There were a couple of observations that you and others have made in the report and I hope I can answer some of them. The new Duba Expedition Camp (1 km away from the old camp) of six tents will open on 5th April (2 days time!) and will be the same rate as the old Duba Plains Camp, which has now closed at the end of March. I will post new images of Duba Expedition Camp as soon as the photographer has completed the shoot.

 

 

@@PersonalPangea We will be staying there in November and I'm very much interested in seeing pics. Thank you!

[AKR1]

@@Bush dog I agree with Tom - amazing lion pics. Thank you.

 

 

 

There were a couple of observations that you and others have made in the report and I hope I can answer some of them. The new Duba Expedition Camp (1 km away from the old camp) of six tents will open on 5th April (2 days time!) and will be the same rate as the old Duba Plains Camp, which has now closed at the end of March. I will post new images of Duba Expedition Camp as soon as the photographer has completed the shoot.

 

@@PersonalPangea We will be staying there in November and I'm very much interested in seeing pics. Thank you!

There is already some picture and info up on the GPC site.

http://greatplainsconservation.com/duba-expedition-camp/

 

I suspect their tents for DEC are very similar to those at the original Mara Toto designed personally by Dereck Joubert. If you want to see the interiors of those see my report from 2013 under Kenya trip reports.

Edited April 9, 2016 by AKR1

[Marks]

Great looking bustard shots, as everyone has pointed out. Very good elephant mock charge series, too. Your lion pics on this page make me want to pop on a Joubert documentary this afternoon!

[Tom Kellie]

~ @@Bush dog

 

The images and your caption for the cubs and the elephant caused me to laugh aloud.

Kids occasionally exceed their capacities in search of ‘big game’.

Thank you for this eye-pleasing series.

Tom K.

[Atravelynn]

Adore the Hoopoe shot!

So does this hoopoe fan!

 

The elephant looks very apathetic about the whole experience. Maybe its typical play for these cubs. Great lion shots. The lion in the reeds is unique, touching!

Edited April 9, 2016 by Atravelynn

[madaboutcheetah]

 

@@Bush dog I agree with Tom - amazing lion pics. Thank you.

 

 

There were a couple of observations that you and others have made in the report and I hope I can answer some of them. The new Duba Expedition Camp (1 km away from the old camp) of six tents will open on 5th April (2 days time!) and will be the same rate as the old Duba Plains Camp, which has now closed at the end of March. I will post new images of Duba Expedition Camp as soon as the photographer has completed the shoot.

@@PersonalPangea We will be staying there in November and I'm very much interested in seeing pics. Thank you!

There is already some picture and info up on the GPC site.

http://greatplainsconservation.com/duba-expedition-camp/

 

I suspect their tents for DEC are very similar to those at the original Mara Toto designed personally by Dereck Joubert. If you want to see the interiors of those see my report from 2013 under Kenya trip reports.

 

Oh! I love Mara Toto ...... on the topic of which can't wait for the news of where they going to pop up (and when) ........

[Bush dog]

Hippos

 

This one was solitary and master in its pond. Our nearby presence caused such signs of territoriality : a spectacular yawn, followed by a complete turn on itself, itself followed by another yawn, more standard this time.

 

 

Before Duba, I had never seen, in broad daylight, so many hippos outside of the water. One can see them everywhere on the plains.

 

[Tom Kellie]

~ @@Bush dog

 

Aside from aiming your lens and pushing the shutter button, I don't know how you do it.

One fine image after another. Your keeper rate is impressive!

The hippo yawning photos, with splashing water, are stunningly good.

Thank you for mentioning the many hippos out of water. I had no idea that Duba produced such sightings.

Please do count me a fan of your photography style.

Tom K.

[Bush dog]

@@Tom Kellie

 

 

~ @@Bush dog

 

Aside from aiming your lens and pushing the shutter button, I don't know how you do it.

Perhaps, because I am more instinctive than technical. Besides, I do not use anymore a monopod or tripod, I found it to be bulky and it hinders the necessary speed and flexibility in capturing action pictures or subjects at higher levels, especially in flight or in trees. All my pictures are taken hand held.

One fine image after another. Your keeper rate is impressive!

The hippo yawning photos, with splashing water, are stunningly good.

Thank you for mentioning the many hippos out of water. I had no idea that Duba produced such sightings.

Please do count me a fan of your photography style.

Tom K.

 

Thank you so much for your kind words!

[Kitsafari]

@@Bush dog interesting to see so many hippos out in the daytime. they don't seem nervous about the vehicles, so perhaps they are used to them?

 

and in that series of hippos (those yawns are both scary and fascinating by the way), was that one of a hippo rolling in the waters? love those feet above the water .

[Bush dog]

@@Bush dog interesting to see so many hippos out in the daytime. they don't seem nervous about the vehicles, so perhaps they are used to them?

 

and in that series of hippos (those yawns are both scary and fascinating by the way), was that one of a hippo rolling in the waters? love those feet above the water .

 

The great majority of species in Duba are not at all scared by the vehicles which are limited to those of the camps. The animals that are nervous about vehicles are those that just arrived in the area and not yet habituated to them.

 

The series concerns only one hippo that rolled in the water between two yawns.

[Marks]

Magnificent hippo photos. I dream of capturing a similar scene someday!
As for them being out of water more frequently than elsewhere, is it possibly because the lions are so specialized in their prey that they feel safer? I can't imagine that the lions wouldn't go for any reasonably convenient meals, though, so maybe there is another reason?