Safari & Company - Safari Adventures Custom Designed

Tubu Tree Camp, Botswana

13 May 2009

WEATHER AND WATER LEVELS
Even our dry corner of the Delta is experiencing the wonders of this year's unusual flood. The plains in front of camp are covered in water, almost to the edge of our boma circle. This remarkable water level has attracted animals that are not normally spotted in front of the camp. A group of Marabou Storks comb the water's edge for meaty morsels and spread their expansive wings for airing in the sun, as various other water birds (Saddle-billed Stork, Plovers, Egrets, Herons and Storks) manoeuvre cautiously around them. Red lechwe canter and leap through the water. Hippo add their call (and the sound of their continuous munching) to the already abundant night sounds. Every now and then a herd of elephant lumbers noisily and languidly through the rapidly growing reeds with their 'snorkels' held high above their heads.

Most of our roads have become lily-lined waterways, and much fun and adventure has been had with game drive vehicles getting stuck in the mud!

The weather is still comfortable and warm, although a cool wind has crept through the camp on some nights these past few weeks, and the mornings are becoming increasingly chilly. All signs are that winter is steadily approaching - we look forward to huddling around a nice big fire with a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS
The base of the fruiting marula tree that provides the shade for our striking outdoor bar was the site of feasting for many baboons and elephants recently. We were able to enjoy the presence of these always entertaining guests while we also feasted (at the dining table). Adding to the animal activity and game viewing in camp were our ever-present graceful bushbuck and busy warthogs, constantly on the move beneath the camp and between the tents.

Out on the island, excellent sightings of leopard occurred almost every day. A group of guests were able to spend an hour with a female leopard and her two cubs that were found lying on our hide deck. Other guests came across the same three leopards on a different occasion, and this time saw baboons chasing the leopards off their impala kill. And on another occasion the Stachursky party saw the leopards being chased by a pack of hyaena. One of the leopards escaped up a tree, and had the bloodthirsty hyaenas waiting and circling at the bottom. At this stage, a troop of baboons saw the action and attempted to chase the leopard out of the tree. The leopard was luckily able to hold its ground against this double onslaught. Other lucky guests viewed a young male leopard on a fresh impala kill - a special sighting in that this appears to have been his first independent kill.

On night drives, some typically elusive creatures were spotted: serval, civet, lesser spotted genet, an aardwolf (with cubs!) and honey badgers. The glinting eyes of lesser bushbabies and hungry crocodiles were also caught in the beam of the spotlights when guests returned to camp from their afternoon game drives.

One night, a large male lion came roaring into camp after being spotted further out earlier on in the day. We could see his luminous eyes near Tent 6 from the bar deck, and he kept us all on edge with his deafening calls throughout the night. Despite this brief display of supremacy, the night was owned by the hyaenas for the majority of the month. A pack of six has been frequenting the island, and their animated calling entertains us throughout the hours of darkness on a regular basis.

We had two very unusual finds this month. One was a 26cm long stick insect. This truly impressive specimen looks exactly like a big stick, and has two leaf-like 'wings' on its back that make a rattling noise. The second was a small night adder that devoured a massive toad. We thought that the snake would never accomplish it, but after about 45 minutes of writhing and struggling with the huge meal, he managed to swallow it all. Nature never ceases to amaze!