Sinanga pan!

We have been having great Spotted Hyena sightings the last few days at Sinanga pan!

They have been feeding on an Elephant carcass. The above photo was taken late afternoon, the photo below taken early morning!

Wild dogs!

We were just parked at Makwa pan for about 10 minutes, just watching the world go by, when i patience was rewarded!

These 5 Wild dogs came running over the rise straight over the pan!

As they neared, we realised one was carrying a leg bone from an impala, a fresh kill!

In the above photo, you can see the Dogs are very nervous of the Makwa Crocodile, eventually coming to drink. 

Finally, after a few minutes, they drank near the trough, too shallow for the Crocodile to be hiding!

Then, they proceeded into the woods...

Show off!

Whilst at Sinanga, parked near the trough, this young Elephant came and gave us a stare down. I wasn't too worried, and I managed to take a good photo!

Kennedy 2 Lions!

I photographed these 7 Lions at Kennedy 2 pan, perfect early morning light, on a termite mound, doesn't get much better!

Of the group, there were 4 young males and 3 lioness, possibly 2 of the lionesses being young as well.

About 15 minutes later, they killed a male buffalo near the pan, and have remained there for about 3 days. The group actually grew to 11 Lions, amazing sighting!

Magnificent Sable!

I photographed this Sable bull after he had just had a drink at Makwa pan.

There was a second, slightly younger bull near by as well... They rested in the area for most of the day I saw them again on my way back to camp in the evening!

Swimming!

A magnificent sighting! I photographed these Elephants having a swim in Makwa pan just before sunset...

If you look closely you will see many more elephants in the background. After swimming, they would go and dust bath!

Secretarybird

 I photographed this beautiful Secretarybird near Ngweshla pan, we saw a pair together!

Hwange's Birds

A tiny Green-winged Pytilia. Difficult to spot, I photographed this male coming to drink from a small bird bath in camp!

Three Southern Pied Babblers, just having their afternoon siesta!

Red-billed Hornbill, not as common as their Yellow-billed cousins, still many around!

Up close!

We spent about 15 minutes watching this female Giraffe eating the leaves from a young Acacia tree. She remained within 15 meters of  the vehicle, and didn't even move when we started up to move on! This shot was taken at about 100mm zoom, allowing a magnificent close up, showing the dexterous tongue in action!

SAVE foundation

We had a group of 19 guests, lead by Nicholas Duncan stay in camp for 3 nights this week. The foundation concentrates mainly on the Rhinos, providing funding for anti-poaching, equipment, etc. This is a link to their page for more info: http://www.savefoundation.org.au/

So, I have just uploaded a few pics from their trip!

A beautiful young male Leopard, seen on the groups first afternoon drive! An amazing 15 minute sighting, out in the open, just before sunset, allowing ample photo opportunities! Along with the Leopard we also saw 2 herds of Sable and a Roan antelope that afternoon!

The next morning was very productive as well, about 20 Giraffes were on The Hide concession. Including about 4 youngsters. So brilliant sightings, and excellent photos in the morning light!

The rest of the day was productive, finishing off with a magnificent sunset at Makwa pan:

Just as the sun set a Spotted Hyena approached, too far and too dark for me to take any pictures, but still a great sighting. That evening at The Hide pan a big male Leopard came to drink during dinner!

The next day was also very good, with many Giraffe, Zebra, Roan, Wildebeest, Elephant, Buffalo and countless bird species sighted!

Overall a great 3 nights of Safari!

Very thirsty

I photographed these 3 Buffalos having a drink at Makwa waterhole. One of the 'Big 5', Buffalo are massive animals. These are 3 old 'dagga boys'.

Sleepy Lions

All together there were 11 Lions in the area. Under this bush we have 5. 4 young males and 1 Lioness.

All very sleepy, and full of Elephant, these 3 males would occasionally take a look around...

This was the most curious of the group. Every time somebody moved on the vehicle he would have a look!

Beautiful Marshall

This juv. Marshall Eagle posed well for the photographs. Seen occasionally in Hwange they are magnificent raptors. The lack of the dark crown shows that this is a juv. 

Also at Nyamandhlovu

Curious birds, not scared of people, such as this Yellow-billed Hornbill, make the photographers life easier... This was shot with my lens set on macro!

Young Elephants...

Elephants are very protective over their young, the young often hidden behind many legs... This can make photographing them challenging. We were lucky whilst at Nyamandhlovu, these 2 showed themselves, allowing a quick photograph.

Others at Nyamandhlovu

Elephant chasing a giraffe, this becomes a greater problem around waterholes as the dry season continues, many animals just waiting to drink!

Just having a mud bath, great for the skin!

One of the resident crocodiles, eventually the Elephants chased him back into the water..

Busy Waterhole...

Nyamandhlovu waterhole is very popular, with an amzing viewing platform it is a great way to a relaxed afternoon.. Great game viewing as well, as shown here by the many Elephants. We estimated over 200...   

Another day in Africa...

We spotted these lions resting under a tree near Ngweshla waterhole.

Soon, the female stood up and approached the male, after mating they went back to sleeping, in the hour that we were there we watched this scene twice...

An amazing and powerful experience!!

Lioness without tracking collar above, male with tracking collar and pink ear tag in his right ear below..

Neither of the 2 lioness had tracking collars...

A new Species!!

As we go deeper into the dry season, Gemsbok, or Oryx, venture into the park from Botswana...

I photographed this one on the Manga road, near Manga 3 waterhole coming from Ngweshla waterhole

My first ever sighting of these magnificent animals!!

We saw 2, the second was hidden behind the bush where the above picture shows this Gemsbok looking..

Ground Hornbills

These specially protected birds can still be found in good numbers in Hwange National Park.

I photographed this group of 5 near Kennedy 1 waterhole on an early morning drive, they were just warming up in the sun!

Being territorial, they will be found in the area...

It's nature

The 'squeaking' sound emitted from these frogs as they are caught by snakes gave this one's position away!

This Olive-Grass Snake was happy he had caught his lunch, and after a few minutes he had swallowed it, so began to move off.

 Active hunters they often move with their heads raised above the grass...

 Shown by the picture below!

Red and Yellow

The Crimson-breasted shrike is a stunning bird, commonly found throughout the park...

The rare yellow-morph, still the same 2 being seen at Hwange Main Camp..

Mainly insect eaters these shrikes are active hunters and can be shy, therefore difficult to photograph!!

Very cute!!

We spotted this mother Steenbok and her baby on an early morning drive. She was surprisngly relaxed, especially with such a cute baby by her side.Allowing us time to photograph her, it was the first sighting I have had of a baby Steenbok, it just shows how something new happens everyday!!! 

Kudu bulls

Some nice Kudu bulls, known as the grey ghosts of Africa, they can be a challenge to photograph. These 3 were drinking at a small natural pan on The Hide's concession, excellent photo opportunity !

Danger.....

We saw these 6 Buffalo at mid-day, having a drink from the trough at Kennedy 1 pan. All old dagga boys, they are not to be messed with...