Sunrise Safari- July 8, 2016

Sunrise Safari- July 8, 2016

We start the morning with James Hendry out and about doing a bush walk. Jeandre will be working with James this morning on camera.
Herbert is with James and Jeandre and will be doing security detail.
Brent is also out as our guide this morning with David on camera

 There is an Elephant no less than 40 meters away so they must be very quiet.

Over to Brent who greets us very enthusiastically.

Back over to James who is keeping himself behind the Termite mound for cover.

Update from Brent

Brent is searching for the Nkahuma Female Lion with her cubs.

(I recorded them at Djuma waterhole around 01:30 this morning and notified FC)- Video is on facebook on Djuma Video page, Fans of Sabi Sands, and Wild Earth Safari Fans. 

Brent's vehicle starts making odd sounds

Over to James

Elephants While James Whispers

There is approximately 30 Elephants in this group.

Over to Brent

He has repaired the vehicle with Duct Tape also called Gaffer tape
He spots a bird and is making it into a quiz for viewers.

 Bird Quiz

 Answer: The Black Crowned Shagra.

The Nkahuma Female with her cubs have been found and we are on first standby.

Blue Waxbills collecting little insects and grubs

Over to James

Remains of a tree that had been pushed over by Elephants

Wood Boring Beetles, Fungus and Woodpeckerss all would make use of this tree. It is all part of the ecosystem.

Over to Brent and we get a quick glimpse of the Nkahuma Female with her cubs.

First Glimpse Of Nkahuma Lioness And Cubs

Brent will change positions so we go over to James

Beautiful Sunrise with James

Silver Cluster leaf tree which is an important source of forage.

James strips a branch of the Silver Cluster Leaf into 3 narrow strips and braids it to make a rope.

Silver Cluster Leaf Rope Making

Brent is moving through the drainage line to locate the Lioness and Cubs. There are many areas where they could be.

While he continues we go over to James. 

James has an exo skeleton of an Olive Scorpion

Brent has located the Lioness with her cubs. We can make out movement in the thicket.
It is a good 10 feet down to the bottom but there is a peninsula that Brent might be able to move to get next to them but it might take about 10 minutes.

We go back to James while Brent tries to get us a viewable visual of the cubs.

White Tailed Mongoose Track

Out of front you can see the claw marks. The claws are out all of time time and are not retractable.

Strychnose Tree

Back over to Brent

Brent has lost signal

We are with James who continues his bushwalk and show us the Gowrie Repeater. This Tower allows SafariLive to be able to bring us these amazing live streams of our sunrise and Sunset Safaris

Brent has Signal again

One cub is keeping a close eye on Brent while the other two are playing and wrestling with each other.

Leopard and Lion Cubs have a 70% mortality rate until they reach 1 year old.
It is higher for Lion Cubs due to Male Coalitions changing and new Coalitions moving in and killing existing cubs.  
Nature is a very harsh place.

With James now who has a pretty moth on a Waltheria plant

Over to Brent who has moved away from the Lions for now.
We see a very cute little Elephant with his mom

Cute Little Ellie

With James and we get a great view of a African Hawk Eagle. About 2 feet tall

They hunt in pairs.

Back to the baby Ellie with Brent

Elephants have moved off into a thicket so we head over to see what James is up to

Banded snail which is becoming a concern for conservationists as it is eating many things in the system. They don't know where it originated from

 James shows us a Thorn Tree.  These Thorns used to be used for Gramophone needles.

 Duiker Dung

We are back with Brent
2 Male Leopards
One is confirmed to be Quarantine. The other one is being called Tingana for now in videos.

(NOTE: This is not Tingana but is indeed Xivambalana) which makes them Siblings. Both have the same mother being Karula. Throughout the sighting we get confirmation that it is Xivambalana.) I am naming the Leopards in the videos by their correct names because the videos do get shared on social media and it becomes confusing if people identify the wrong leopard.

 Xivambalana and Quarantine ( said to be Tingana but that is wrong)

Quarantine

Quarantine

 

Xivambalana

Xivambalana

 Brent does not think at this point that it is Tingana either. Brent knows it is not Mvula .
Brent thinks it is Xivambalana

Quarantine

 This is really interesting what is happening here.
Quarantine  has been scent marking to let Xivambalana know that this is his territory.
 Growling low growls back and forth
Quarantine and Xivambalana are brothers.

Xivambalana

Xivambalana

Confirmation that this Leopard is Xivambalana

Over To James who is standing on top of a very high Termite Mound.

 Tortoise semi hibernating.

 Back with Brent who is still keeping watch over Xivambalana and Quarantine.

Quarantine

Quarantine

 Both Leopards continue to play and cat and mouse game. Moving and scent marking and growling but keeping a 30 meter distance. Neither Leopard would charge the other from this distance.

Both Leopards Moving And Growling

With James now . There were some Buffalo in here but they ran away when they heard James talking to Herbert.
Caterpillars for a moment and then back to Brent with the Leopard Drama unfolding

 Both Leopards Maintaining A Safe Distance From Each Other

Over to James

2 Impalas who were originally thought to be alarm calling but they are rutting which James says it is totally ridiculous because Rutting season is over.

 Emerald Spotted Wood Dove

Emerald Spotted Wood Dove

 Back with the Leopards

There is a bit of a lull in the growling for the moment.

Quarantine

 

Xivambalana

Buffalo have spotted Xivambalana and now the Buffalo chases both Leopards.

Buffalo Chases Both Leopards

 This concludes our exciting Sunrise Safari

(NOTE:) Leopard Page On Blog is updated so please check it out to learn more about our Leopards.


NOTE: Both Sunset And Sunrise FULL Length Drives will be posted on the Full Drive Blog Page and are also available on my youtube Channel SafariChey