The last week has seen the build-up of thunder clouds all around the Savute Region. The first couple of raindrops have fallen on the parched earth. (Only 1mm, but every drop helps!) With the first drops of the summer, a lot of animals are starting to move through the region, following the clouds to where the most rain has fallen.
While driving around the camp I was very surprised to come across a single Sable Antelope Bull that was resting in the shade of some Apple Leafs at the back of the camp. During tea time he decided to come down to drink at the waterhole directly in front of the camp. Although we do see the occasional young bull at some of the natural waterhole in the area, this is the first time that a mature bull has been seen drinking at the waterhole directly in front of the camp, and this with everybody having tea while overlooking the waterhole.
While driving around the camp I was very surprised to come across a single Sable Antelope Bull that was resting in the shade of some Apple Leafs at the back of the camp. During tea time he decided to come down to drink at the waterhole directly in front of the camp. Although we do see the occasional young bull at some of the natural waterhole in the area, this is the first time that a mature bull has been seen drinking at the waterhole directly in front of the camp, and this with everybody having tea while overlooking the waterhole.
Yet this was not the only sighting of Sable in the area. A couple of days later the guides observed a breeding herd of nine animals walking towards the Mababe depression, where the majority of the rain has fallen.
On a game drive in the Rhino vlei area, the guides observed a small herd of rather large antelope crossing the Savute Marsh to the south of them. On driving closer to the area, they were lucky to observe a herd of Eland moving across the plains. This was only the second sighting of Eland this year, making it a rare occurrence indeed!
That afternoon Energy, one of our guides, took some clients on a game drive towards the Harvey’s Pan / Quarry Hill area. In between the dense vegetation he could see a grey shape moving amongst the trees. Not being able to see what it was, he decided to follow the shape until it broke cover and appeared in a big clearing which it crossed at speed. He was very surprised to find out that it was a Gemsbok, very seldom encountered in this area. The Gemsbok is usually restricted to the Kalahari Region, at least 300km to the south of us so a sighting in this region is very uncommon.
The birds has been following the same patterns as the beasts, and a number of migratory species and seldom seen species are now coming into the area, waiting for the abundance that the first rains would bring. Sightings include Yellow Billed Kite, Long Crested Eagle, Pygmy Kingfisher and even some Violet Backed Starlings that has decided that the sprinklers around camp make the perfect drinking spot.
As the clouds are building up again today, we are waiting for the first big thunderstorm, bringing rain to the area. Who knows what other species the first rains would bring!
PS: For the Large predator watchers: The Lions are still in the area, with one large male regularly entering camp at night. The Wilddogs has also decided to come and rest in camp late in the afternoon on Wednesday, with the six pups entertaining everybody with their antics.
As the clouds are building up again today, we are waiting for the first big thunderstorm, bringing rain to the area. Who knows what other species the first rains would bring!
PS: For the Large predator watchers: The Lions are still in the area, with one large male regularly entering camp at night. The Wilddogs has also decided to come and rest in camp late in the afternoon on Wednesday, with the six pups entertaining everybody with their antics.
Kobus Lubbe, Savute Safari Lodge Manager
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