We start out this morning with Byron who is guiding us this morning for his last drive with us. He has Wiam with him on Camera.
James will be out on the other vehicle and in the back assisting him on camera is David.
The Temperature is 10C - 50F. Still quite cool
We are located in the Kruger National Park in the North Eastern Part of South Africa. On a Game Reserve called Djuma
Byron is sitting with a herd of Impala.
The Impala herd are out in the open as this provides them safety being able to see much easier if there are predators about. This is a Male Herd . Rutting season is over having been earlier in the Spring during April and May.
Bachelor Herd Of Impala
Over to James to see what his plan for this morning is. James is currently on the Southern part of Djuma.
He has David on camera who James says is wearing a pair of gloves exactly like the ones that he wore when he road his Bmx bike when he was 6 years old.
Herbert is out tracking and looking to see what Leopard tracks he can locate for us.
James is going to pop down to Tree House Dam
James stops to look a some Crested Francolins.
These are Juveniles.
Crested Francolins
Back to Byron with his Elephants
Elephants Are Bulk Grazers And Easily Eat Thorns
Over to James who saw an Impala which ran off into the bush.
Karula stashed her cubs yesterday near the drainage line and she most likely came back and picked them up and moved them to whatever she had killed.
Hubert is tracking her.
Yellow Billed Hornbill up in the tree doing his morning call and display
Yellow Hornbill Doing His Morning Call And Display
James stops and gets out of the vehicle and climbs a mound
James Says Hello To A Hole
Over to Byron who has not found anything else as of yet.
Oh. There are some Zebras
Over to James who is on the Southern Boundary and there is a Hyena walking his patrol down the road.
We now arrive at the Hyena Den but instead of seeing Hyena's we see an Impala there.
With James now who wants to take a look at Buffleshoek Dam. He has not heard from Hubert so he presumes that Hubert has not yet been successful in tracking Karula.
Byron is going to look at the second Hyena Den site and see if there is any action at this one.
Over to James with a little Shikra (banded goshawk)
Shikra(Banded Goshawk)
Back over with Byron
He has arrived at the old Hyena Den and it is all quiet as well.
James has seen some Male Leopard tracks. possibly Tingana. Probably last nights tracks and Leopards can travel great distances but we are still hoping.
James will check the dam quickly and then perhaps further check out the Lioness tracks that he has just noticed as well.
We arrive at Buffleshoek Dam
Very peaceful scene
A couple of Egyptian Geese
With Byron and a White Crested Helmut Shrike
They are a group of birds that group together in families.
White Crested Helmet Shrike
A Yellow Billed Hornbill who was bashing a caterpillar against a branch.
Over to James who is talking to some Classroom children.
He shows them 2 different pieces of Dung.
The First is very old Buffalo Dung
The second is Elephant Dung
James head a Lion calling so he is going to see if he can locate it.
Over to Byron who is with some Dwarf Mongoose.
Dwarf Mongoose live inside Termite Mounds or sometimes little burrows.
A Mongoose weighs approximately 350gm /13 oz. and abour about 7-11 inches long.
James is on the radio and trackers have located the Leopard Cubs. James was going to head there but Byron is closer so he has asked to join the sighting.
We see both cubs. Male affectionately called George and Female affectionately called Charlotte.
These are not their real names as actual naming takes place by a combination of the Landowners, Head Guides and other management. It usually takes place once the cubs reach 1 year of age.
The Cubs will be having their 5 month old Birthday in a couple of days.
George and Charlotte (Karula's 2 Cubs)
Over to James is with a large herd of Elephants.
Elephants With James
As He Says Goodbye To The Children
Who Have Been Watching Safari live With Their Teacher
Back over to Byron with the 2 cubs. They are sitting in the exact positions as when we left them.
Both Cubs are fast asleep in the dappled sunlight
Another vehicle wants to come in to see the cubs so Brent will be directing the vehicle in and then he will move on as there cannot be too many vehicles near the cubs.
Over to James who is now on Arathusa.
Ellies
James likes Elephants
Dwarf Mongoose with James
Update about Sindile-- His Collar is no longer pinging as the battery has given out. So therefore we will only know of his whereabouts if he shows up or we track him manually as with other Leopards.
James says goodbye for this sunrise drive
Over to Byron who was out of the vehicle and saw some male Leopard tracks so he has placed a stick on the road where they were so the tracks can be picked up in time for Sunset Safari by trackers or guides.
Byron had a great week with everybody and he thanks the cameramen and a special thanks to James and the ladies in Final Control and a huge Thank you to all of the viewers. He has really had a good time and a lot of fun.
It is only 1 week with many more to come and he will be back again especially with all of the growing that Wild Earth is doing.
And that concludes our Sunrise Safari.
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