Game Drive no 198 by Neil and Morag Hulett unit 45

Hi there, Everyone, Thursday 18, Well here we are back at Olifants once more, arrived home yesterday. The Kruger was great, but little quieter, animal wise, but people wise, wow,(forgot it was a long weekend), but knowing the Park as we do, kept to the roads less travelled. Spot of the trip, on our way out yesterday, between Lower Sabie and Tshokwane, a special sighting, a Black Rhino, right near the road, great. We don't drive this am, morning starts off cold and overcast, but has cleared by mid morning, good to be back.  Friday 19 am, Beautiful morning, up kudu, down the short cut to the palm, small herd of impala, through the tunnel for hide, again a few impala about, we take the road to nkhonkoni and buff plains, the cheetah family were seen there last night, anyway we work up through buff plains and then take snake alley for sable, about half way along, mum cheetah and the 4 cubs all trot across the road road ahead of us, fantastic, but soon disappear into the thick bush, we continue on and wait where zozo ext arrives at the palm, no sign, so we decide to go across to sable and have a cuppa, giving them time to come through, we go back and find them on zozo ext but they duck back into the bush once more, we decide to continue our drive and come back later, we move over to rhino, and there are lion tracks all over the place, so we check out all the roads, but no luck, finally decide to go back and check on the cheetah, we make our way onto the single pylons, cross the palm, and as we approach the zozo crossing, we see 4 jackal on the road, the next minute, 2 of the cubs come charging out, "foot stamping" and chase the jackal off, well we ease in slowly and just off the road, behind a whole lot dry sticks and brush, the mother is standing, still breathing hard, the cubs are busy with something, anyway a long story short, she's killed an impala, and she's standing and allowing them to open the carcass, but are battling to do so, so after about 20 minutes she decides to open it for them, and they can all get a good meal, close by the 4 jackal patiently wait, but every now and then one comes to close and a couple of the cubs are after them, chasing all over the place, fantastic stuff, through out all this the mother was continously on the alert, listening and looking about all the time, well we eventually leave them around 11,30, and by that time, there's the head, the rib cage and legs, and 5 very, very full cheetah, for Morag & I, just a very special time, being so involved with these beautiful cats long ago. I will include some pic's, hope you enjoy them.  Saturday 20 am, Cold overcast morning, go in search of the cheetah and lion, no luck on both counts, general game, very little about, herd of zebra at the bottom of the airstrip, wildebeest, zebra and impala on jackal plains, and of course, impala here there and everywhere, we are home early. Sunday 21, Beautiful day, will include a couple of shots of the cheetah on their kill and a shot from last week, the mist all below us covering the river. Well thats the lot, enjoy fathers day, you all take care now. Roar's and Trumpets N & M

 

 

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