Better late than never - Porini Camps October 2018

[AfricIan]

All fine for me as well @wilddog - Win 10 PC & Chrome

[TonyQ]

Fine on iPad!

[CDL111]

Great start to your time at the Mara camp, and it sounds as your room gives you some really good viewings of the wildlife.

[wilddog]

 

 

7^th October – Mara Camp

During the day we saw a range of game and birds some of which I photographed with examples below.

 

We also visited the Hippo pool which was crammed with Hippos and a delivered a memorable. pungent smell to one's nostrils.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breakfast was served at the top of a hill. I always enjoy these meals and love the opportunity to sit and relax my eyes gazing in to the distance.

 

Just a note to say that camping stools were provided, but I prefer to sit on the ground; it makes me feel more at one with nature.

 

 

 

 

The rest of the day would prove to be another predator, and action, packed day.

 

The morning predators.

 

Hyena

 

 

 

 

 

Then a group of three lions

 

 

 

 

 

Then a mating pair.

 

The male was not overly keen on our intrusion. We did see them mating but as those of you who have seen this before you know how quick this can be. My fellow travellers quite naturally interested in see in the action but by the time our guide had had moved the vehicle to a suitable spot and cameras were in hand, it was all over.

 

 

 

 

Then a pair of young male lions walking steadily across the plains

 

 

 

 

Then Cheetah and Cubs

 

This female was called Nabor and had two maturing cubs. She was stalking the gazelle at the bottom of a slope and then burst out attempting a kill and she succeeded. Once she had caught she brought it around the back of our vehicle and then her cubs joined her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first clip in the video is slowed by 50% to show Nabor in action. Some of it is a bit shaky, so my apologies

 

 

 

Afternoon predators

 

This proved to be one of the most unusual and rare sightings of my life and that of the guides, none of whom had ever seen this before.

 

The python was first spotted by one of the passengers in the other camp vehicle. As we drove over to join them we could see the python had caught a male Thomsons Gazelle. This was an unexpected bonus and I was delighted but also, delighted, to see the excitement of the guides. This was something really special.

 

Some of you may have seen some of these images before in another thread but I have also included some video this time.

 

We watched for at lesat an hour as the python, dislocated his jaw to get  got his mouth around the gazelle and used his coils to crush the shoulders and rib cage of the Tommy. Fascinating.

 

The whole thing took around 2.5 hours so the majority in the vehicle decided they wanted to move off for a while. Personally I was disappointed about this but 4 to 1 is a majority decision. This meant that when we got back the whole thing was nearly over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what did we see when we wandered off ?

 

Another Cheetah (name not noted) with very young cubs. Mum wanted a bit of privacy, her stomach looked full I thought, so was rather hidden by the bush but the cubs, as is often the way, were curious.

 

 

 

 

 

What a day!

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2019 by wilddog

[Towlersonsafari]

Wonderful  report @wilddog and to see a python kill!

[offshorebirder]

What a day indeed @wilddog!    What a great experience seeing the Python with the gazelle, not to mention the Cheetahs, Lions, etc.  

 

Sorry you missed a good look at the Striped Hyena.

[Big Andy]

A python kill, its a shame your fellow guests didn't appreciate how rare and special that siting was. OK the cheetah cubs are cute and good to see but the chance to see a python in action will probably never occur again. Just for info, a snake doesn't dislocate its jaw to swallow as is widely believed, it is now known that it has specially elongated jaw ligaments to allow the wide gape nessicary to swallow large prey.

 

[amybatt]

@wilddog WOW!  Even manically snake-phobic me would stay for that sighting.  That’s the stuff you see in social media and say “thank god I didn’t see that” but if you do....you HAVE to stay!  Nice capture in any event.   And definitely a life sighting.

 

For @wilddog and anyone else who may know... how exactly was that Tommie slow enough to get caught? Are pythons capable of lightning fast captures? And when the python is done eating does it just stay put until it’s digested, or does it wander off with that bulge?  Inquiring minds want to know.  (I consider this step 1 in my 12-step program to appreciate snakes...)

[wilddog]

Not sure but I think the python just sneaks up on a grazing and unsuspecting animal and once it has wrapped around a leg, job done. 

 

I don't know how long it stayed in place but it was not there in the morning.

 

The capture and consumption took place near a group of trees and long grass so my guess, it got out of sight until it could make speedier progress. 

 

If we have some snake experts here hopefully they can clarify. 

Edited February 23, 2019 by wilddog

[Atravelynn]

So YOU are the better late than never visitor, Wilddog!  I’ll read this as an inspiration to also be a late arrival.

At least you plenty of time to rest up on the plane after sprinting between terminals, weighted down with your camera gear.

That darn camera clock!  I always have such good intentions but about 25% of the time I mess up somehow, and with 2 cameras that need setting, I have double the chance for something to go wrong.  A friend just showed me in Lightroom that you can change the time on a whole group of photos by x # of hours and minutes.  I don’t have Lightroom, but it could help with incorrect time settings.

The open sided vehicles would make that first ele encounter for new guests even more exciting.  I hope they were equally thrilled with my favorite bird that popped up next—Hoopoe!

Nice they did get their lion but what a battered specimen.  Did your guide give any odds for a recovery for the lion?  I see there were more lions in fitter condition to be found.  Good for the Utah couple and for the lions.

You did well with cheetah.  The video works fine with firefox.  At least you were rewarded with more cheetah cubs!!! after being outvoted on leaving the python feasting.  Maybe some of your vehiclemates were not that keen on snakes.

I spotted an English breakfast in the Mara!

Fantastic Porini Safari!

[Kitsafari]

Wow what a "predatorful" day! That python is ginormous! I can't imagine how it can swallow as entire male Tommy and I'm sorry you didn't get a chance to observe the entire sequence. 

 

The lions look healthy and well fed and the cheetahs look good as well. 

[Raelond]

Amazing seeing a python kill.  I am really enjoying your report.

 

 

 

[CDL111]

What fantastic sighting to see a python kill, it really is disappointing when other guests are not appreciative of something that is unique. I am sure that the guides would have also been very happy to have stayed to watch.

[wilddog]

Thanks @CDL111 @Raelond @Kitsafari and @Atravelynn

 

I think the guides would have preferred to stay too; but I have to remind myself that the other guests were first timers 'in the bush'  and the iconic species were what they wanted.

 

I might have felt the same many years ago. 

 

For me it was unforgettable

 

 

[Atravelynn]

6 hours ago, wilddog said:

Thanks @CDL111 @Raelond @Kitsafari and @Atravelynn

 

I think the guides would have preferred to stay too; but I have to remind myself that the other guests were first timers 'in the bush'  and the iconic species were what they wanted.

 

I might have felt the same many years ago. 

 

For me it was unforgettable

 

 

What an agreeable safari-mate you are.  And I know that for a fact.

[wilddog]

Thanks @Atravelynn for your kind words. ?

[Amylovescritters]

REMARKABLE python action. Pythons, and many serpents, are typically lay in wait predators. They coil and patiently wait for an unknowing victim to happen by. Their wonderfully beautiful markings provide the perfect camouflage. Where they do not have the speed to “chase down” prey once a victim is in striking distance the strike, grab, and coil are lightning fast and virtually inescapable. These large constrictors are immensely powerful. This is likely how this beauty caught the Thomy. 

Some snake species will chase down prey but these snakes are built for speed (lean and fast) and generally diurnal, such as the deadly black mamba or the non-venomous racers here in the states. These types of snakes will “periscope” or raise the forefront of their bodies off the ground while searching for prey and are very athletic. Another example of a lay and wait, ambush serpent would be rattlesnakes, and most viperidae. Just fascinating. I am so jealous. I think I would have come unglued if I was not able to witness this entire feeding, but I am a herpetolgist and snakes are truly my passion. So jealous. I would just be over the moon!

[wilddog]

Thanks for the information @Amylovescritters. 

 

I must say it was fascinating to watch the crushing technique. 

 

Glad you enjoyed the python event and perhaps...one day for you too . ?

 

 

Edited February 24, 2019 by wilddog

[Amylovescritters]

I leave for 2 weeks 17 days in TZ in 5 weeks @wilddog... Fingers definitely crossed for simple sightings let alone a kill and feast!! Fantastic report. Thanks for sharing!

[Amylovescritters]

Not two weeks but 17 days... only 14 days are safari though. Excuse typo

[wilddog]

enjoy your travels @Amylovescritters.  I know that feeling ... simple sightings are never to be 'sniffed at'.  They are the mainstay of safari; the others are once in a lifetime for most of us.

 

Looking forward to hearing about it when you get back.

[amybatt]

34 minutes ago, Amylovescritters said:

REMARKABLE python action. Pythons, and many serpents, are typically lay in wait predators. They coil and patiently wait for an unknowing victim to happen by. Their wonderfully beautiful markings provide the perfect camouflage. Where they do not have the speed to “chase down” prey once a victim is in striking distance the strike, grab, and coil are lightning fast and virtually inescapable. These large constrictors are immensely powerful. This is likely how this beauty caught the Thomy. 

Some snake species will chase down prey but these snakes are built for speed (lean and fast) and generally diurnal, such as the deadly black mamba or the non-venomous racers here in the states. These types of snakes will “periscope” or raise the forefront of their bodies off the ground while searching for prey and are very athletic. Another example of a lay and wait, ambush serpent would be rattlesnakes, and most viperidae. Just fascinating. I am so jealous. I think I would have come unglued if I was not able to witness this entire feeding, but I am a herpetolgist and snakes are truly my passion. So jealous. I would just be over the moon!

 

thank you for this excellent description, @Amylovescritters! Hopefully you’ll get to see this for yourself out there on safari one day!  Maybe your next one!

Edited February 24, 2019 by amybatt

[Amylovescritters]

Thanks ladies... I will be so happy to be back in Africa again (last Safari was 2004) and whatever Mother Nature blesses me with will be wonderful, but one can hope. Lol

[michael-ibk]

Extraordinary, extraordinary stuff with the Python Linda! And many other top sightings as well, really enjoying your report.

[Caracal]

As the heading to your fascinating video states "A Day To Remember" indeed - what an amazing sighting and I never imagined that it would have moved off by the morning with that cargo inside.  Tho I suppose it needs to seek safe shelter for what would have to be a lengthy digestion period. Your video and photos provide a great insight into the whole process.

 

And that's all on top of your other great sightings. What a great report with more to look forward to.