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American Spirit II - Day 325; A Fabulous Day on Safari, Including Lions and a Cheetah; Wednesday, November 26, 2014



A correction from yesterday. The cat called a 'Sable' cat is really a 'Serval' cat. Its a slender, long legged spotted cat with a short tail and large, rounded ears; and with scattered black spots and bars.

Up at 5:00 AM, with a light breakfast at 5:30 AM consisting of coffee and tea; fruit; and toast. The range ride departed at 6:07 AM. The reason the range ride is so early is that the predators, like lions, have been hunting all night and are moving now to go to their daytime resting places. So they're easier to find and see.

The first animals we saw were a couple of Common Waterbucks. Our guide, Brad, said that when they're are chased by a lion they will run to water; and that a lion will not follow them into the water. My wife's cats at home don't like water. Who knew that lions would be the same? Once in the water the waterbucks give off an oily secretion which forms a ring around them and is quite smelly. Think 'wet dog' times 10. When they leave the water they're damp but not soaked. Even crocodiles will not go after them due to their oily smell.

The next animals we saw were some Blesbok Antelope. Unlike deer in the USA and many other antelope, both male and female Blesbok have horns. Next we saw a herd of Impala. Our guide indicated that once one of the Impala have a lamb, that others from other mothers will follow right away. We then saw a dozen giraffe on a hill across the valley. Too far away to get to right away, though. A trip for another day. Male giraffes are called bulls and females cows. They get up to 17 feet in height; can weigh up to 3,080 pounds; and eat up to 60 kilos or 132 pounds of food per day.

In talking about Rhinoceros, the primary difference between a White Rhinoceros and a Black Rhinoceros is that 'whites' eat grass and 'blacks' eat leaves. Both eat up to 300-350 kilos or 660-770 pounds per day. Both rhinos look the same. The white rhino is not white but black.

We saw 2 brown Common Warthogs. Males are called 'boars' and females are called 'sows.' They have long canine teeth that develop into long, curved tusks, four of which stick out from their mouths.

Next Brad stopped our vehicle and picked up a 'millipede' that he found crawling along the road. Black in color and about 6 inches long, with a rounded shell and no eyes. Its primary self defense mechanism is that when eaten it exudes cyanide.

We then saw one Red Hartebeest, one of the largest and fastest antelopes in Africa. Males are called 'bulls' and females 'cows.' Calf's are born away from the herd and stay hidden until they are strong enough to keep up with the herd. When a predator approaches they sound the alarm by sneeze-snorting. Adults get up to 120 kilos or 264 pounds.

Next we came upon a female Cheetah laying down on an elevated mound of grass. She had a protruded belly as she had just killed and partially eaten a baby Blesbok, which we found 70 yards away. The kill was so fresh that there were no flies yet, no smell, and no vultures circling yet. According to our guide, the Cheetah is closer to a canine (dog) than to a cat; has claws that don't retract like all other cats; and can see colors. The females have black spots behind their ears and on the end of their tail so their cubs can follow them easily thru the tall grass. The main predatory threat to Cheetahs are Lions, who will kill but not eat them. I guess the lions are just getting rid of the (predatory) competition. The Cheetahs are the fastest land animal in the world, but apparently they're fairly stupid so they fall prey to lions easily and quite a lot.

Next we saw a 'troop' of Vervet Monkeys walking down the road. Unlike many or most other species, the Vervet Monkey troops are multi-male and multi-female, with little conflict occurring within the troop. They are quite small and the females carry their babies on the chest, as they walk and forage. They have a long tail, and a black face with a white brow band. They are small, weighing up to 8 kilos or 17 1/2 pounds.

At about 8:00 AM we stopped on the range for coffee, tea and a light snack; and a pee break.

After our break we saw 3 Ostrich, 1 male and 2 females. Our guide said that they eat stones to help digest their food properly. I guess that gives 'getting stoned' a different meaning than the biblical one or the 1960's one.

Next we came upon an 8 inch female Leopard Tortoise on the sandy roadway. Apparently, the outside temperature determines the sex of a new born. If the temperature is over 33 degrees Celsius, the baby will be male; and if the temperature is under 33 degrees Celsius, it will be a female. That's the exact opposite for crocodiles; the warmer temperature produces females and the colder temperature produces males.

At 9:20 AM we were back at the lodge and had breakfast at 10:00 AM. Breakfast consisted of fried eggs; omelet; venison sausage; bacon; toast; curried baked beans; and fruit.

At 1:15 PM we left Tree Tops and were driven to Mark's Camp. Because the new compound was not full, Joel and I were each given our own private rooms at no cost increase. Jeanine got the one room with a bath tub. The rooms are actually brick cabins, each with its own veranda. As we got here we could see 2 Hippos in the water hole adjacent to the compound. One of the two pools overlooks the water hole.

Lunch was at 2:30 PM; however, I napped from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM so I missed it.

We went on our first range ride at Mark's Camp at 4:30 PM. Our new guide was Jason. The first animal we saw was an Otter moving from one water source to another. Then we saw a Southern Oryx (Gemsbok). A large antelope weighing up to 240 kilos or 528 pounds. Heavily built, with a short, thick neck and distinct black-and-white markings on its head, body and legs. It has a long, black-haired, horse-like tail, making it easy to identify. Both the male and female have long, almost straight, ridged and rapier-like horns.

Next we came upon two brown Warthogs, which our guide called 'one of the ugly five.' I'll have to find out who the other ugly four are.

One of the two highlights of the day was seeing a Lioness calling her cubs; and then seeing the 7 cubs come running up to their mother from some woods. Our guide called the lioness calling her cubs 'vocalization.' We stayed with them for quite a while.

Next we saw 3 White Rhinos. Rhinos are the second largest land animal in the world, with the Elephant being the first.

We then went to a pond area and saw 6 Cape Buffalo, the nastiest animal in Africa.

The other of the two top highlights that we saw today was coming upon a male and 2 female lions. They watched the above Cape Buffalo, and then started approaching them in a hunting mode. The female hunting pose is where her head is lower than her shoulders and her body is close to the ground in a crouching position. A nearby herd of Impala saw the lions sneaking up on the buffalo before the buffalo did; and took off running. The Cape Buffalo finally saw or smelled the approaching lions and took off at warp speed. The hunt was over.

After the lion show we came upon the female Cheetah again, still lounging around after her big meal earlier in the day. The Cheetah has the best eyesight in the mammal world, according to our guide.

At 7:04 PM we had a sundowner with two of the other range vehicles. Cocktails, wine and a small snack. The four Brits from Tree Tops were there so it was like a mini reunion.

We then headed back to our compound and had dinner at 8:15 PM. Dinner consisted of pork, ostrich steak, steak, fish, candied pumpkin, rice and birthday cake. After dinner three of the compound staff put on a native song and dance show around the outdoor campfire. Joel was picked by one of he native ladies to dance with her. He did quite well and received an ovation from the rest of us who were watching. The birthday cake was for one of the Germans who was celebrating his 35th birthday.

Back in the room, I typed one log and finished it at midnight.

In bed by 12:20 AM.

Brian Fox

I returned to my room after


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