Kwando Files (Images from Lebala/Lagoon)

[madaboutcheetah]

Stealth

 

(That Boy! - The Magician)

[graceland]

Wow Hari, the amount and quality of these pics have me so excited as we leave for Bots in l0 days! LK first stop...hope I see a bit of cheetahs and dogs so I can at least contribute a couple pics and a thrilling report!

 

Truly enjoyed spending this morning with your past safaris!

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks a lot, Graceland ......

Enjoy your trip and will eagerly look forward to hearing about your safari!!!!

 

Hari

[madaboutcheetah]

As mentioned before on various threads, the three brothers were split up for a 6 week period between August and September this year (nobody knows why) ..... Two of the brothers together and the lead guy on his own (perhaps covering a lot of ground to scent mark, or maybe split up due to those pesky Lions, or maybe a female???) ...... Anyways, was disappointed when I arrived on hearing the news of the split. Here are two of the boys posing away nicely!

 

We notice a little change in pattern now ..... They sleep more in the daytime and hunt very early in the morning (this year specializing on kudu in the woodlands). Also, scent mark a lot starting at dusk and don't cover huge grounds like they used to; thus making it a wild goose chase for you (I think they are under no threat from other male coalitions for the time being and are getting lazy) ...........

Edited November 10, 2012 by madaboutcheetah

[madaboutcheetah]

Sniff Sniff ....... (this is an older image - 2011 Aug, I think)

 

Okay okay, lazy isn't an appropriate term. Let me say, complacency?

Edited November 10, 2012 by madaboutcheetah

[madaboutcheetah]

Puppies of the Lagoon pack at play (When puppies are at this age, they are so active outside of the hottest parts of the day)

[madaboutcheetah]

Blast from the past - this is a really old image of the former pride Males of the Selinda pride. This male is now the territory holder out at Duma Tau (Romeo is what they call him out there).

This image is from even before he took over the Selinda pride ....... originally from the woodlands out at Lagoon.

[madaboutcheetah]

One of the Selinda females (this image June 2007)

[madaboutcheetah]

Jan 1, 2008 ...... The Selinda pride whacks a warthog at Lechwe Island, Lebala .............. I was fortunate to have watched the blood brothers (ex-coaltiion male Cheetahs) kill a reedbuck earlier that morning. Perfect New Year's day.....

[madaboutcheetah]

August, 2012 Den at Lebala.

[madaboutcheetah]

Feb, 2011 ......... Although not in great light, this is an image I really wanted to have of the "boys of lagoon"; walking single file into the frame. Trust me - we have tried!!!

[madaboutcheetah]

On our final afternoon of this recent August safari, we invited Thuso (camp manager at Lagoon) to go on the drive with us as he had the evening off (OB was hosting dinner); What an entertaining evening it was! After not having been charged once the entire trip by the fiesty Linyanti Elephants, we got chased three times in a space of a half hour. Jokingly, he was the first to accept that we will stick to a leisurely boat safari next time we want to spend an afternoon with him (even that, I admit I have to think twice ....... maybe watch elephants from the deck?) .......... Here's one of them. She really did come after us!

Edited November 10, 2012 by madaboutcheetah

[madaboutcheetah]

Same game drive, we found a good looking bull and we were talking about how these gentle giants are so photogenic and beautiful ...... next thing, he stinks of a bull in musth and coming right at us!!! Spencer with his experience, was all too familiar and got us outta there ......... the next one, was what I can only call a Crazy mad Cow Elephant and I don't have a picture of that chase ....... Thank You, Thuso ........ Hahaha

[madaboutcheetah]

Better times; We were very fortunate that in Feb, 2011 we were lucky enough to time our visit with a two week dry spell after Northern Botswana was battered with plenty of rains just prior to our visit ..... Yet, we were rewarded with great Elephant viewing something that was very rare in previous summers when Northern Botswana wasn't as wet ........ Spencer's explanation is that, some herds just don't run away into the mopane woodlands at the sign of the first rains due to the permanent waters around through the year.

[madaboutcheetah]

Hyena vs Wild dog (sorry, I had to deal with tall grasses here) and a digital safaris group (the leader being the worst safarista that I've ever met!!!!) ....... a few minutes after this, I got Spencer to pull out of the sighting and head off to find something else - they wanted to manipulate all the dog sightings and vehicle positions. Oh well ........... August, 2010.

Edited November 10, 2012 by madaboutcheetah

[madaboutcheetah]

August 2012, one of the boys posing away nicely on the mound (just love them posing away on a high mound into the blue sky!!!)

 

He's wishing everyone a Happy Diwali!!!!

[madaboutcheetah]

The "Drag"

 

(Protein better than Diwali sugar???)

[madaboutcheetah]

Feasting .......

 

(Now, these boys just stay put sleeping for two days after a meal ........ it wasn't the case in prior years where, even on full bellies they move on scent marking and covering territory)

[Game Warden]

That's an amazing capture MAC.

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks, GW.

[johnkok]

August 2012, one of the boys posing away nicely on the mound (just love them posing away on a high mound into the blue sky!!!)

 

He's wishing everyone a Happy Diwali!!!!

Classic cheetah shot.

Happy Diwali to you too

Edited November 11, 2012 by johnkok

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks, Guys.......

 

Cheetah Yawn; why is this image here? ....... the day before the kudu kill, the two boys slept the entire day (Spencer mentioned that it's best we wait it out as they looked hungry and might get active any minute ....... not to be! I got a few images of Yawns and facial portraits everytime one of them put their heads up ....... Yup, long day indeed!!!)

[madaboutcheetah]

Better times ...... posing away looking for a meal!

[madaboutcheetah]

Dog returning to the den (even though they may or may not all hunt together and eat the same carcass, they return to the den at different times as they leisurely walk/run home)

[madaboutcheetah]

Not sure what I was trying here with this portrait!