Verney’s Camp Wildlife Stories November 2023
November saw soaring temperatures and unbelievable wildlife sightings from Verney’s Camp. The rain is yet to fall daily and you can cut the tension at the waterholes with a knife as animals are forced to share the remaining water sources.
A Wild Delivery
In a herd of over two hundred elephants gracefully moving through the landscape, the grunts and trumpets of a heavily pregnant elephant had our undivided attention.
Surrounded by her herd, the majestic elephant gave birth to a robust male calf. Many clumsy attempts were made as the newborn struggled to his feet. With the gentle encouragement from his mother, he wobbled with determination to balance a short while.
The chaos ended with the herd surrounding the calf and growling in joy. The placenta was buried by some of the other elephant cows, to mask the scent of blood that might attract nearby predators. The calf is still wobbly on his feet and incredibly vulnerable to the wild.
A Victory for a Pack of Hyenas
Animals in the bushveld have a heightened sense of smell so when an animal dies, it’s not long before the predators descend on the scene for an easy meal.
A pride of lions were beaten to the punch by a clan of hyenas and after putting up a good fight, the hyenas were victorious. The pride moved on to allow the hyenas to enjoy the spoils of the win.
When Camouflage Fails
A herd of impala had been grazing peacefully as we came past. Stopping to watch them for a while, we noticed a change in their behaviour as they picked up movement in the brush nearby.
A male cheetah had given itself away and the impalas shouted in alarm to warn the rest of the herd. Luckily for the cheetah, he does not need to rely on camouflage alone. The fastest land mammal, the cheetah took chase and after disappearing into the brush following an impala.
It didn’t take long for the cheetah to catch up with the fleeing herd and after some commotion in the bush, he emerged from the thicket successful.
Nature Runs Its Course
The harsh conditions of the African bush this month have proven to facilitate the predators in the area.
As the water diminishes and the rains refuse to fall, death in the bush is common. Unable to handle the heat and lack of water, we are seeing the young and the old perish.
With the births and deaths of animals in the wild, we have been experiencing some unforgettable wildlife encounters and loving every minute on safari. As the year draws to a close, we are eagerly anticipating the imminent summer rains that offer respite to all.
Until next time,
Themba
Verney’s Camp
