Ninety lions (90) and a couple of barred owls.

[Bush dog]

The usual spectators waiting their turn.

 

 

 

 

 

Three hours later, the male had been replaced by one of the females of the pride.

 

 

 

 

[Bush dog]

At the end of the afternoon, the whole pride was present on the carcass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The male, seen early in the morning, was very close almost at the top of the road.

 

[offshorebirder]

Thanks for this trip report @Bush dog - I am enjoying it very much.   

 

Things are tough in the dry season and seeing stressed animals like lions and elephants can be stressful for us as observers, but you photo-chronicled things well.

 

 

[Bush dog]

@offshorebirder Thank you for your comment!

 

As has been said many times on this forum, elephants prefer fresh, clear water.  So they look for the source of it and do not hesitate, where it is pumped, to dig up the pipes to gain access to it.  Then, they either queue up according to their own hierarchy, or they jostle together.

 

At Shumba Pan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bush dog]

Towards the end of my stay in Hwange, I saw the 4 males of the Mandavu pride together.  They had killed a buffalo.  It was reduced to nothing more than skin and bones.

 

 

 

 

Buffaloes, at Mandavu.

 

 

 

 

At Shumba.

 

 

Impala at Mandavu

 

 

Reedbucks at Robins.

 

 

[Treepol]

I really like the light and dust in the buffalo photos @Bush dog

[JimS]

On 11/5/2023 at 9:27 AM, Bush dog said:

 

Yesterday, almost 3 weeks after returning from Africa, I discovered a small scorpion in my garage.  I immediately took a photo of it.  My wife then advised me to send a message to Julian asking if he could identify it.  The response was very quick informing me that it was an eastern nomad scorpion (hottentotta trilineatus), even adding a nasty one.  So I brought this specimen back in my luggage.  If you are interested in more details and photos concerning it, here is the internet address to consult.

 

https://www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com/scorpion/eastern-nomad-scorpion/

 

I must make a mental note to check bags for stowaways in future. I think my wife would move out if she found a scorpion in the garage.

[offshorebirder]

On 11/5/2023 at 4:27 AM, Bush dog said:

an eastern nomad scorpion (hottentotta trilineatus), even adding a nasty one.  So I brought this specimen back in my luggage

 

Golly!

[Zubbie15]

I agree with @Treepol, those buffalo in the dust shots are special. 

[Bush dog]

@Treepol @Zubbie15

 

At the end of the dry season, the conditions are extremely favorable for this type of photography.  All it takes is a slight movement of masses or a gust of wind to raise clouds of dust and then a good backlight.  The photos were taken at the end of the afternoon when the light becomes low and golden.

Anyway, thanks a lot for your comments.

[ElenaH]

On 10/31/2023 at 4:57 PM, Bush dog said:

Twice, self-drivers reported seeing one along the road, not far from the camp.

as I read it and continued with your report I realised that those self-drivers were my partner and I. In one occasion, of course.

It was a day when lions finished the baby elephant and in the morning not far from that place a mating pair was busy making love. In the afternoon we tried to find the Mandavu pride and we missed them about 200m. Our friends were at picnic site and saw us driving not far from a place where the lions were drinking. The picnic site located on the hill so, they could observe everything. But we couldn't see lions because of a small hill between us. 

As we were driving back to Kapula camp a vehicle was driving in front of us making a lot of dust. The very relaxed leopard appeared in that dust and crossed the road as it was the most normal and usual thing. We absolutely didn't expect it. But leopards always do it that way!

Or did someone from you expected to see a leopard and it appeared as expected? 

It was very difficult to take pictures because of vegetation and because the cat was on the mission and I am thankful it stopped and looked at us.

Actually, there was a resident leopardess with a cub at Kapula camp but we didn't see her. The stuff saw her often and the place around our tent was covered with leopard tracks. I put a wild-camera at the bird-pond but hyena destroyed my camera completely 

 

During my trip to Mana Pools and Hwange I had two very rare sighting: @JPS and  @Africalover

Can you imagine, you are travelling to Africa and from all those people on the earth you meet two Safaritalkers? In one trip?   It is just unbelievable! And now I found out that @Bush dogwas also there? You need tell me when you go to Hwange, I love Hwange and I am often there! It was really a pity I couldn't talk to you! I have read all your reports about Hwange and I'd love to thank you personally 

I was there between 29.09 and 10.10 and stayed 2 nights at Gwango, 4 nights at Kapula and 5 nights at Robins.

 

Nice pictures, by the way 

I love the ellies interaction! The buffs in dust, the lions, the reflections...

Did you notice how less water was at Shumba? I've never seen it in such low level.

 

Your choice for Chitubu was good! There was not much around Main camp. There were also not many vehicles. Zimparks increased the fees dramatically and now Hwange is more expensive than Mana. 

The other part (Shumba-Masuma-Mandavu-Robins) was more interesting. Being at Robins we were able to see lions every day and several times we found them by ourselves. We also saw 5 cheetahs there.

 

Now I am curious how the story is going on 

And I am very impatient about Matusadona. I was there in 2017. Just wondering if something has changed ...

[Bush dog]

@ElenaH

 

Thank you for your rave words about me.  Personally, I also love Hwange, especially this part of it.  I particularly appreciate the excellent quality of guiding that is found nowhere else than in Zimbabwe.  And since I'm not a fan of Mana Pools, the choice is quickly made.  On 3/10, a self-driver (probably your car) informed us of the presence of a leopard further towards Sinamatella.  I was alone in the vehicle sitting in the front seat next to Daniel who was driving.  Sibs, meanwhile, was in one of the guest seats.  If I remember correctly, it was on the main road at the junction with the one leading to Salt Springs.

 

As for the mating lions, I saw them later in the week, for 2 days. The second day, they joined the 3 other males of the prided who had killed a buffalo.

 

Like last year at the same time, there was little water in Shumba, quite simply because at this time of year, the pipes are constantly dug up and destroyed by elephants.

 

We have been to the Robins area 3 times.  We searched, in vain, for the female cheetah and the 4 subadults.  The last time, on 6/10, we were there especially which allowed us to see, at the end of the afternoon, on the road to Salt Pan, the Big Toms pride feeding on an adult elephant.  Maybe you were there too.

 

I look forward to your report.

 

[Bush dog]

Shumba Pan is known for being a place where, in the dry season, there is a great chance of seeing sables.  However, seeing so many together in the same place, here as elsewhere, is much rarer.  As far as I'm concerned, it's the first time I've seen so many together, in this case more than fifty.  One might believe that it was one and the same herd.  I would rather think that it was several herds, two at least. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like elephants, sables also like clear and pure water.  In this case, this is a hole dug by elephants to expose the pipes which was covered with wood awaiting the intervention of the repair team.  The sables managed to free it, without great difficulty, in order to quench their thirst.

 

 

 

A few sables, always at Shumba, five days later.

 

[marg]

@Bush dogAnother great safari for you and a great trip report for us!  We were at Little Makalolo in 2010 and Sibs was there.  Must be the same Sibs, the one in the middle.

[Bush dog]

@marg

Thank you for your comments!

 

Indeed, it is indeed the one and only Sibs.  He has aged a little since then, he is now almost 50 years old.

[Bush dog]

At Robins, we were unable to see the 5 cheetahs but we were able to console ourselves with the solitary male.  It had killed a young female kudu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bush dog]

A few more pictures of sables at Shumba Pan.

 

 

 

 

 

Roans at Big Toms (Robins area) who were at one time spooked by a sudden gust of wind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bush dog]

We were frustrated not to have found the 5 cheetahs.   As it was starting to get late, we took the road back passing Big Toms and then heading towards Salt Pan.  Quite quickly we saw a few cars stopped.  On one side of the road, there were some lions quenching their thirst, after having apparently eaten well, their mouths and snouts being red-brown with blood.  It was the Big Toms pride (19 individuals).  This pride specializes in elephant hunting.  I had already seen it at work several years ago.  Between brackets, to better understand this and especially for those who haven't seen them yet, you have a look at the spectacular photos of @Safaridude.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The others were on the other side a little further away, very busy feeding on  an elephant.  It was unclear whether they had killed it or whether its death had another cause.

 

 

 

 

Coming from the water, back to the carcass.

 

 

Those lionesses of the Big Toms pride had already been seen three days before and It appeared that they had a prey some distance away as one of them suddenly got up and ran towards a tree to chase away some vultures that were there and on the ground.

 

 

[ElenaH]

@Bush dog, I didn't want to intrude again into your exceptional trip report but I cannot resist 

What date did you see those lions?

On this photo I have a stamp of 6th of October at 09:02 in the morning:

 

And here I even try to investigate the tails and their position against your picture:

Looks very similar to yours, right? Except the the forth lioness. The question is also how high the probability is to put those lions in the same position the second time? The picture time: 06 October at 16:58 (afternoon drive)

So, I really tend to assume we were on the same sighting! 

but didn't greet or talk to each other :-(

Here they go at 17:05:

 

 

And here is a very special face. I am really very sorry for this young male but it is very easy to recognise him because of the wound on the snout (at 17:05):

 

Did you see him? Or perhaps, he saw you ;-)

 

And this one is quite nice at 17:51 :

 

We didn't follow them to the kill because we thought it was quite off road. We were wondering what it was because they were there for 3 or 4 days. Now I know the answer! :-)

So, now tell me, did you meet those individuals on 6 of October?

 

I think, this day a guide from a game vehicle (I don't remember the lodge) told us that we are loosing the air in one tire. So, after lions sighting we drove about 500m away and pump the tire with compressor. It was already quite late and getting dark. But we were a good team and made it quickly. However the next morning the air was gone and we were later on the game drive.

 

What I learnt from Big Tams area is the fact that the cats like some special places. For example this acacia tree. They were there on 6th, 7th and 8th of October:

 

Here with the chef on 8th:

 

@Bush dog, I am sure, you know the place 

[Bush dog]

@ElenaH

You are not intruding at all, you are more than welcome.

 

We were there on the 6th of October between 17:00 and 17:30.  We could not stay longer because we had to go back to Chitubu.  So we were on the same sighting at the same time.

 

We did not see the male, it was in the bushes, just had a glimpse of it.

 

Of course, I know the place, it's an acacia tortilis.  You do not find that specie a lot around.  The lions and other animals (when the lions are not there of course) love it because it provides good shade.

 

At Deteema, close to the main road, we found the local pride (18 individuals).  I just had a few minutes to  make a few shots.

 

 

[Bush dog]

Kudus at Shumba Pan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And at Mandavu.

 

 

Tawney eagle

 

 

Yellow-billed kites

 

 

 

Bateleur

 

 

Martial eagle juvenile

 

 

African hawk eagles

 

 

 

[Bush dog]

Elephants at Mandavu at the end of the afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bush dog]

A few birds.

 

Blue waxbill

 

 

Red-billed quelea

 

 

Golden-breasted bunting

 

 

Yellow-billed storks

 

 

 

 

Southern yellow-billed hornbill

 

 

Ring-necked doves

 

 

 

Black-winged stilts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[John M.]

   Mike, your photos of the Black-winged stilt sent me to my Australian and African field guides out of curiosity because I'm no expert on birds. I recently posted a photo of an Aussie Black-winged stilt. I find that they're not the same species but closely related.  I think I suspected as much because the African and Australian Black-shouldered kites are also not the same species despite the same common name.  The African and Australian Black kites, though, are the same species.

   The Australian B-w stilt has alternative common names, pied or white-headed; the African has just the one, according to my field guide.

 

[BRACQUENE]

Love your trip report Mike ,  not in the least as you can imagine your beautiful bird pictures  : furthermore it shows us the real Africa and you can almost feel the dust and drought of the bush at the end of the dry season ..