HWANGE
Elephant Encounters: Up Close and Personal
By Makhosi Ncube for Footprints Magazine
Imagine this scenario: it’s the 19th century and the sounds of the African drums echo through the moonlit night of the savannah, voices chanting an ancient song of victory and success. A huge bonfire is surrounded by Mzilikazi’s best and strongest warriors, moving in rhythm to the drum beat accompanying the sizzling fat of meat cooking on the fire.
Yes, it is hard to believe but in the early 19th century, long before the idea of national parks was even conceived, our beloved Hwange National Park was the royal hunting ground of King Mzilikazi. Named after a local chief called Sawange who used to live in the area, the park has gathered a rich history since it was founded in 1928 as a game reserve before officially becoming a park in 1937.
Fast forward a century or two and Hwange is now one of the most visited safari parks in the world, home to an astounding four hundred bird species and without a doubt the world’s biggest elephant population – estimated at over 50,000 animals. It’s no exaggeration to say Hwange National Park is home of the elephants. For a park which started with a population of about one hundred elephants it’s a sign of huge growth and amazing conservation practices.
One of the historic challenges facing the park was the seasonal migration of animals due to the unavailability of water; the park has no running rivers. The first warden, Ted Davison, decided the solution would be boreholes. The first borehole was sunk in 1939, and in time the steady drone of the Lister engines was like a call out to all the animals as they came to know and associate the sound with water. As a result we now call the noise of the borehole engines “the heartbeat of Hwange”: wherever we hear the sound we will find animals.
Hwange is renowned for its elephants and rightly so, not only for their sheer numbers but also for their personalities. Yes you heard me right, for their PERSONALITIES. Wild as they may be, they are friendly and amazing creatures, with an intellect second to none. Elephants possess an unbelievable source of intelligence with incredible memories, passed on from female to female, ensuring the knowledge is never lost, something we humans have a hard time doing. So high is their intelligence that the elephant is one of six animal species said to have the ability to recognize their reflections in a mirror. They are capable of empathy as well, known to take care of their sick, chewing food for them and helping to take care of the other herd members.
I have personally seen elephants solve problems too complex for some humans. At Somalisa Camp in Hwange National Park they have figured out how to get acacia pods off the roofs of the tents without actually damaging the tent. They stretch their trunks over the tents then proceed to smack the roof of the tent, resulting in the pods flying off the roof of the tent to the ground. Problem solved!
Females and their offspring are usually found together, the size of the herd constantly shifting depending on food resources. Males leave the herd at between ten to fifteen years of age, but the females remain together for life. Like humans they are capable of a wide range of emotions; they feel pain, mourn their dead and celebrate new life. Some time ago I was fortunate enough to witness a spectacular sight. An elephant cow was approaching with her new born calf’s umbilical cord dragging in the dirt. All the other elephants turned as one, trumpeted and ran towards the two, surrounding them and straining to get their trunks on the little one. It was a sight to behold - breathtaking and amazing.
The trunk itself is a fascinating tool, equipped with well over 150 000 muscles capable of the most amazing feats, from pushing down trees to picking up small things such as an individual grain of rice with the finger-like protrusions at the base of their trunks.
Hwange is one of the few places I know of that allows one to get up close and personal to these gentle giants in the wild. They have come to see us as no threat to them, and rightly so. We do not get close to them; we let them get close to us. I could spend hours just gazing at these mighty beasts so well-loved throughout the world.
It has not been an easy journey for these giants. In the early days they were thought to be too many and as a result were culled in an effort to restrict their numbers. More recently, their waterholes and salt blocks are poisoned for the illegal ivory trade. They have faced incredible persecution in the past; not just in Zimbabwe but throughout Africa. And at what cost? It is an unfortunate thing, being hunted for their teeth, because that is all those tusks are: teeth that are vital for the elephants’ survival. Thankfully, there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel, because everyone from the Park’s officials to companies and even individuals have stepped up and are willing to fight for the survival of these beautiful creatures. So let is all stand together as one and join the battle against the poaching of these amazing creatures.
I feel privileged and honored to be able to spend so much time with these amazing animals. It brings me joy to share their story with the world to show how amazing they are. So take a leap into the wild and come to Zimbabwe and see what these amazing creatures are all about. I promise you will not be disappointed.
You will leave Hwange National Park a changed person.
Elephant Encounters: Up Close and Personal
By Makhosi Ncube for Footprints Magazine
Imagine this scenario: it’s the 19th century and the sounds of the African drums echo through the moonlit night of the savannah, voices chanting an ancient song of victory and success. A huge bonfire is surrounded by Mzilikazi’s best and strongest warriors, moving in rhythm to the drum beat accompanying the sizzling fat of meat cooking on the fire.
Yes, it is hard to believe but in the early 19th century, long before the idea of national parks was even conceived, our beloved Hwange National Park was the royal hunting ground of King Mzilikazi. Named after a local chief called Sawange who used to live in the area, the park has gathered a rich history since it was founded in 1928 as a game reserve before officially becoming a park in 1937.
Fast forward a century or two and Hwange is now one of the most visited safari parks in the world, home to an astounding four hundred bird species and without a doubt the world’s biggest elephant population – estimated at over 50,000 animals. It’s no exaggeration to say Hwange National Park is home of the elephants. For a park which started with a population of about one hundred elephants it’s a sign of huge growth and amazing conservation practices.
One of the historic challenges facing the park was the seasonal migration of animals due to the unavailability of water; the park has no running rivers. The first warden, Ted Davison, decided the solution would be boreholes. The first borehole was sunk in 1939, and in time the steady drone of the Lister engines was like a call out to all the animals as they came to know and associate the sound with water. As a result we now call the noise of the borehole engines “the heartbeat of Hwange”: wherever we hear the sound we will find animals.
Hwange is renowned for its elephants and rightly so, not only for their sheer numbers but also for their personalities. Yes you heard me right, for their PERSONALITIES. Wild as they may be, they are friendly and amazing creatures, with an intellect second to none. Elephants possess an unbelievable source of intelligence with incredible memories, passed on from female to female, ensuring the knowledge is never lost, something we humans have a hard time doing. So high is their intelligence that the elephant is one of six animal species said to have the ability to recognize their reflections in a mirror. They are capable of empathy as well, known to take care of their sick, chewing food for them and helping to take care of the other herd members.
I have personally seen elephants solve problems too complex for some humans. At Somalisa Camp in Hwange National Park they have figured out how to get acacia pods off the roofs of the tents without actually damaging the tent. They stretch their trunks over the tents then proceed to smack the roof of the tent, resulting in the pods flying off the roof of the tent to the ground. Problem solved!
Females and their offspring are usually found together, the size of the herd constantly shifting depending on food resources. Males leave the herd at between ten to fifteen years of age, but the females remain together for life. Like humans they are capable of a wide range of emotions; they feel pain, mourn their dead and celebrate new life. Some time ago I was fortunate enough to witness a spectacular sight. An elephant cow was approaching with her new born calf’s umbilical cord dragging in the dirt. All the other elephants turned as one, trumpeted and ran towards the two, surrounding them and straining to get their trunks on the little one. It was a sight to behold - breathtaking and amazing.
The trunk itself is a fascinating tool, equipped with well over 150 000 muscles capable of the most amazing feats, from pushing down trees to picking up small things such as an individual grain of rice with the finger-like protrusions at the base of their trunks.
Hwange is one of the few places I know of that allows one to get up close and personal to these gentle giants in the wild. They have come to see us as no threat to them, and rightly so. We do not get close to them; we let them get close to us. I could spend hours just gazing at these mighty beasts so well-loved throughout the world.
It has not been an easy journey for these giants. In the early days they were thought to be too many and as a result were culled in an effort to restrict their numbers. More recently, their waterholes and salt blocks are poisoned for the illegal ivory trade. They have faced incredible persecution in the past; not just in Zimbabwe but throughout Africa. And at what cost? It is an unfortunate thing, being hunted for their teeth, because that is all those tusks are: teeth that are vital for the elephants’ survival. Thankfully, there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel, because everyone from the Park’s officials to companies and even individuals have stepped up and are willing to fight for the survival of these beautiful creatures. So let is all stand together as one and join the battle against the poaching of these amazing creatures.
I feel privileged and honored to be able to spend so much time with these amazing animals. It brings me joy to share their story with the world to show how amazing they are. So take a leap into the wild and come to Zimbabwe and see what these amazing creatures are all about. I promise you will not be disappointed.
You will leave Hwange National Park a changed person.
BUSH TALES: WHAT WOULD AN ELEPHANT DO?
Written by Makhosi for ZimLive.com
Written by Makhosi for ZimLive.com
Once the safari bug bites you there is no going back at all. It’s the animals, the people, the conversations and the cultural exchanges that make the whole package; and Zimbabwe just happens to be one of the world’s most amazing destinations. I remember one evening sitting by the fireside making our own “UN summit” with representatives from the world over, and I heard one of the most endearing safari guides tell the most amazing tale I have ever heard about their bush experience. This is his tale.
So, on this city boy’s first night ever in the bush he could barely sleep because of the eerie sounds of the bush, from the sounds of the frogs by the waterhole to the laughing hyenas in the distance. What disturbed him the most was the continuous growl that seemed to be right outside his door. It paralyzed him with terror, like a rabbit caught in the lights.
Common culture in horror movies implies that you never open the door, which would be a wise rule to any first-time safari person, yet my fellow guide found himself approaching the door and slowly opening it. Holding his breath, he was left dumb founded at the pitch-black night outside, yet oddly enough just a few inches above the ground he could see some light. Being the investigator he is, he got on his knees and crawled towards the light. After a short crawl he was surprised that he could see the full moonlight and the stars above.
He stood up and went on to knock on the door of the guy in the room next to his. The groggy tenant opened the door and the frightened boy narrated his dilemma. After the neighbor rubbed his eyes, he looked at our storyteller’s door and hiding he’s utter disbelief he asked him if he was seeing anything of interest, to which the boy replied “NO”. The neighbor asked him to look again and after a good look, he’s breath caught in his throat. It couldn’t be, but it was no hallucination. Right in front of him was a huge elephant (who he later got to know as Jurassic because of his massive size but that is a story for another day), happily grazing on the green juicy grass in front of his room. He had heard tales of how elephants were so aggressive and how you had to always respect their space, yet he had crawled underneath it and had walked right near it.
The thought was mind numbing and disturbing to him. He then asked his neighbor if he could sleep in his room as there was no way he was going back to his own room. But his neighbor would have none of it, laughing it off by telling him he just needed to chase it away by making loud noises, flapping his hands up and down vigorously in a manner of standing his ground and showing the elephant who’s boss. Furthermore, he told him if all fails he should go back into his room the same way he came out and then proceeded to slam the door in his face leaving him standing there, head hung down like a dead flower. To this day his story is unclear of how the night ended for him or how he dealt with his dilemma. Some nights he says he crawled back the same way he had come out (which is under the Elephant) which was a long traumatic struggle, some nights he explains how he heroically chased it away by the tactics his neighbor had taught him and yet some nights the tale ends with him continuously banging on his neighbors’ door until he lets him in for the night. That was his introduction to the wildlife.
I, on the other hand joined the safari industry a few years ago but nothing quite as dramatic has ever happened to me yet, except maybe the day I fought a python, which again is a story for yet another day. I love elephants so much, I could literally spend a day watching them. In fact, I have spent days just watching them interact. Their intelligence is second to none, from problem solving, to being one of the 6 animal species said to be able to recognize themselves in the mirror, there is so much to love and very interesting about these gentle giants. Take for example, Elephants are very huge in size yet they can move so silently you won’t even hear them approach you.
This is because of the fact that they have pads on their feet that contract and expand, effectively acting as silencers to mask the sound. Despite their size, a baby elephant can run, stumble and fall between their feet without a single hair on their head being hurt.
Another amazing and amusing fact about elephants is their memory, hence the saying, “elephants never forget”. It’s been proven over and over again and i have seen this a lot of times. For example, I have seen one of the well-known elephants around the safari camp that I work for, getting electrocuted by an electric fence twice on different days. But on another day, you could tell that he remembered what the fence would do to him if ever he touched it, but his need to get to the other side was so great, the huge grey boulder decided to improvise, I watched him use his trunk (which is a combination of over 150 000 individual muscles) to uproot a tree which he proceeded to throw on the fence thereby disabling the electric fence and his problem was instantly solved and then proceeding to go through and be on his merry way. Sheer brilliance and ingenuity on his part.
So, my advice to everyone is, if you find yourself having a hard time solving a problem ask yourself this, “what would an elephant do?” or better yet get yourself an elephant and let him loose on your problem.
So, on this city boy’s first night ever in the bush he could barely sleep because of the eerie sounds of the bush, from the sounds of the frogs by the waterhole to the laughing hyenas in the distance. What disturbed him the most was the continuous growl that seemed to be right outside his door. It paralyzed him with terror, like a rabbit caught in the lights.
Common culture in horror movies implies that you never open the door, which would be a wise rule to any first-time safari person, yet my fellow guide found himself approaching the door and slowly opening it. Holding his breath, he was left dumb founded at the pitch-black night outside, yet oddly enough just a few inches above the ground he could see some light. Being the investigator he is, he got on his knees and crawled towards the light. After a short crawl he was surprised that he could see the full moonlight and the stars above.
He stood up and went on to knock on the door of the guy in the room next to his. The groggy tenant opened the door and the frightened boy narrated his dilemma. After the neighbor rubbed his eyes, he looked at our storyteller’s door and hiding he’s utter disbelief he asked him if he was seeing anything of interest, to which the boy replied “NO”. The neighbor asked him to look again and after a good look, he’s breath caught in his throat. It couldn’t be, but it was no hallucination. Right in front of him was a huge elephant (who he later got to know as Jurassic because of his massive size but that is a story for another day), happily grazing on the green juicy grass in front of his room. He had heard tales of how elephants were so aggressive and how you had to always respect their space, yet he had crawled underneath it and had walked right near it.
The thought was mind numbing and disturbing to him. He then asked his neighbor if he could sleep in his room as there was no way he was going back to his own room. But his neighbor would have none of it, laughing it off by telling him he just needed to chase it away by making loud noises, flapping his hands up and down vigorously in a manner of standing his ground and showing the elephant who’s boss. Furthermore, he told him if all fails he should go back into his room the same way he came out and then proceeded to slam the door in his face leaving him standing there, head hung down like a dead flower. To this day his story is unclear of how the night ended for him or how he dealt with his dilemma. Some nights he says he crawled back the same way he had come out (which is under the Elephant) which was a long traumatic struggle, some nights he explains how he heroically chased it away by the tactics his neighbor had taught him and yet some nights the tale ends with him continuously banging on his neighbors’ door until he lets him in for the night. That was his introduction to the wildlife.
I, on the other hand joined the safari industry a few years ago but nothing quite as dramatic has ever happened to me yet, except maybe the day I fought a python, which again is a story for yet another day. I love elephants so much, I could literally spend a day watching them. In fact, I have spent days just watching them interact. Their intelligence is second to none, from problem solving, to being one of the 6 animal species said to be able to recognize themselves in the mirror, there is so much to love and very interesting about these gentle giants. Take for example, Elephants are very huge in size yet they can move so silently you won’t even hear them approach you.
This is because of the fact that they have pads on their feet that contract and expand, effectively acting as silencers to mask the sound. Despite their size, a baby elephant can run, stumble and fall between their feet without a single hair on their head being hurt.
Another amazing and amusing fact about elephants is their memory, hence the saying, “elephants never forget”. It’s been proven over and over again and i have seen this a lot of times. For example, I have seen one of the well-known elephants around the safari camp that I work for, getting electrocuted by an electric fence twice on different days. But on another day, you could tell that he remembered what the fence would do to him if ever he touched it, but his need to get to the other side was so great, the huge grey boulder decided to improvise, I watched him use his trunk (which is a combination of over 150 000 individual muscles) to uproot a tree which he proceeded to throw on the fence thereby disabling the electric fence and his problem was instantly solved and then proceeding to go through and be on his merry way. Sheer brilliance and ingenuity on his part.
So, my advice to everyone is, if you find yourself having a hard time solving a problem ask yourself this, “what would an elephant do?” or better yet get yourself an elephant and let him loose on your problem.
WARTHOG
As the day goes by and the scorching heat becomes so unbearable, a grey fat object appears from the treeline up by the ridge. The guests sit by the pool chairs waiting in anticipation of this elephant to reach the waterhole so they can take pictures as he drinks just two metres away from them. The most common question is asked as expected by the guides and every staff present “why does he move alone, isn’t he lonely”. One can tell the excitement of the guide to quickly explain that it’s “warthog”. As the guests are left in confusion of what he might mean, for this figure in front of them is clearly an elephant and nothing close to a warthog.
There definitely is no resemblance between the two whatsoever. The guides explain to them how this elephant is known as “warthog” around camp because of his warthog like tusks. It is further explained how we all see him as our “resident elephant” as he seems to feel very comfortable around the camp and especially how unlike other elephants has the guts to come so close to the tents, to the extent that his body rubs against the canvas.
He moves so carefully, easily manoeuvring underneath the tents’ supporting ropes knowing fully well that he shouldn’t destroy the tents’ structure. How intelligent of him. He goes on to do an unexpected thing, as if he knows he’s got everyone’s attention, he comes to the pathway decking, puts his one front leg across, does the same thing with the other and slowly and carefully steps across the deck without stepping on the decking. So amusing!! We watch in awe, take pictures and you can feel the excitement all around. Isn’t he such a show off?
Just as we marvel this daring elephant and fell so “proud” of his talents, it’s not so long before he starts digging frantically. For a second we all think he has found sweeter grass that grows deeper into the ground but it doesn’t take us a minute to realise he has smelt the water that is running through the pipes buried beneath the ground. In an instant, everyone tries so hard to chase him away before he does any damage. He quickly moves and jumps the pathway so quickly we are left wondering why he did it slower the first time. As we see him go we decide it is time for the game drive and the guests should be on their way now. We talk and laugh about “warthog” marvelling on the entertainment he provided over high tea. Just as we head towards the jeep we see him again, standing on one side of the path we are meant to be using to get to the jeep. His trunk is over the other side blocking our way. It’s as if he’s being deliberate and revenging on us for chasing him away from the fresh water.
With no avail, we try to chase him away only for him to spend a whole 30 minutes there and we have no choice but to wait, take more pictures and give him his space.
As the day goes by and the scorching heat becomes so unbearable, a grey fat object appears from the treeline up by the ridge. The guests sit by the pool chairs waiting in anticipation of this elephant to reach the waterhole so they can take pictures as he drinks just two metres away from them. The most common question is asked as expected by the guides and every staff present “why does he move alone, isn’t he lonely”. One can tell the excitement of the guide to quickly explain that it’s “warthog”. As the guests are left in confusion of what he might mean, for this figure in front of them is clearly an elephant and nothing close to a warthog.
There definitely is no resemblance between the two whatsoever. The guides explain to them how this elephant is known as “warthog” around camp because of his warthog like tusks. It is further explained how we all see him as our “resident elephant” as he seems to feel very comfortable around the camp and especially how unlike other elephants has the guts to come so close to the tents, to the extent that his body rubs against the canvas.
He moves so carefully, easily manoeuvring underneath the tents’ supporting ropes knowing fully well that he shouldn’t destroy the tents’ structure. How intelligent of him. He goes on to do an unexpected thing, as if he knows he’s got everyone’s attention, he comes to the pathway decking, puts his one front leg across, does the same thing with the other and slowly and carefully steps across the deck without stepping on the decking. So amusing!! We watch in awe, take pictures and you can feel the excitement all around. Isn’t he such a show off?
Just as we marvel this daring elephant and fell so “proud” of his talents, it’s not so long before he starts digging frantically. For a second we all think he has found sweeter grass that grows deeper into the ground but it doesn’t take us a minute to realise he has smelt the water that is running through the pipes buried beneath the ground. In an instant, everyone tries so hard to chase him away before he does any damage. He quickly moves and jumps the pathway so quickly we are left wondering why he did it slower the first time. As we see him go we decide it is time for the game drive and the guests should be on their way now. We talk and laugh about “warthog” marvelling on the entertainment he provided over high tea. Just as we head towards the jeep we see him again, standing on one side of the path we are meant to be using to get to the jeep. His trunk is over the other side blocking our way. It’s as if he’s being deliberate and revenging on us for chasing him away from the fresh water.
With no avail, we try to chase him away only for him to spend a whole 30 minutes there and we have no choice but to wait, take more pictures and give him his space.
THE STORY OF CECIL
In May 2008 researchers sighted two 5 year old male lions at Mangisihole Pan which when translated means white man’s waterhole and as a result they were given the name ‘Mangisihole Boys’.
Towards the end of the year they had moved from the eastern part of the park where they were first sighted and now associated with the Ngweshla pride which was led by a male named Ugly (curious as to the reason for the name) a ratio of 2 to 1 ensured they won the fight easily , as part of their victory dance they did what all male lions are known to do which was kill the cubs of the former leader and then went on to mate with the females and start their own bloodline. The bigger of the male was then darted and collared and given a name. A name we have all come to know of, Cecil.
However like all reigns theirs was not immune to the blood and scars that come with been a king. In this case their rivals became a coalition known as the Askaris who were 3 brothers and their father. Of interest the word Askari has an Arabic meaning, it means soldier or Army depending on where you look at it from and during the colonial times it referred to the native soldiers. That been said it was during one of the skirmishes in the middle of 2009 the first casualties were recorded on both sides of the fence. Cecil lost his brother, but the Askaris did not come out without paying a huge price for their victory because they lost out as well, their loss was perhaps bigger and much felt because it was their father known as Mpofu who succumbed to wounds received and thereafter died at the age of 12.
Left on his own Cecil proved to be of no match to the 3 vengeful brothers out to avenge the loss of one of their own, their father. With his tail between his legs and licking his wounds he was forced to flee, leaving his pride, perhaps in a twist a fate Karma had visited Cecil, for what he had done to the bloodline of Ugly, was done to his bloodline as well.
Cecil soon found himself another pride without a male further east and there he began a new reign, this pride was called the Backpans pride, there he reigned supreme for about 3 years till the year 2013.
Meanwhile the Askaris took over the Ngweshla area and lived like the Kings they were with access to the prime area in terms of prey species. Then once again fate reared up her ugly head and struck, a double blow that would forever change the dynamics of the lion prides in the area, 2 of the Askari brothers named Judah and Job were shot by trophy hunters, leaving only one brother alive, the second blow was like Cecil this brother could not hang on to such a prime area on his own and it was just a matter of time before he was displaced, and displaced he was by a new coalition of 2 brothers by the name of Bush and Bhubesi.
This new coalition was not even close to be done yet, because they went on to make another major coup, Cecil with his new pride felt their wrath when they came for him and successfully ousted him from his throne after 3 years leaving him once again homeless.
This is where the story gets interesting now because as Cecil is out Licking his wounds near Manga 3 who does he run to…..the last Askari brother, licking his wounds as well. Now you have 2 males, bitter rivals, think Mayweather and Pacman, Mike Tyson and Evander Hollifield or better yet think El Classico, Barcelona vs. Real Madrid.
The people observing this see the fight of the century unfold, they see the greatest battle in the animal kingdom unfold….in their dreams.
For these 2 males seem to say let’s let bygones be bygones and put the past behind us, we old, beaten down and homeless, lets join together and create one force, and that’s what happens right there and then, with some head rubbing a new coalition is formed, 2 of the biggest and baddest have become one force. Cecil and the last of the Askaris, Jericho unite and become brothers. These 2 lions could teach us humans a thing or 2 about forgiveness and unity. About letting bygones be bygones and becoming united as 1.
United as one force they took over the Ngweshla pride and reigned supreme with Cecil being the more dominant of the 2 with his famous black mane. They had just welcomed in a new litter of 7 cubs, of which 5 were female and 2 were male, still a few months old when that fateful day arrived, when the world woke up to the news that Cecil was no more. Cecil might be gone but he is far from forgotten. His legacy lives on.
THE STORY OF BHUBEZI
This is the story of Bhubezi the Lion as told by Brent Stapelkamp.
The Ndebele people in Zimbabwe say that there are two kinds of lions. One, called Ilawo, is a young, nomadic lion that preys on livestock and conflicts with people. The other, called Bhubezi, is a large, older, heavily manned beast that doesn’t conflict with people at all. This very accurate cultural observation describes not two different types of lion, but two distinct periods in a male lion’s life. The hero of this narrative is a lion called Bhubezi and he certainly has been both of these lions in his lifetime
In the searing heat of October 2007, Bhubezi was one of two tiny, helpless male lion cubs born into a pride that was resident at Hwange Safari Lodge in the area just outside Hwange National Park. There were two lionesses and seven cubs in that pride, but the mother of each cub was never really known because one of the lionesses tragically died in a snare soon after the cubs were born. The remaining lioness, called Frisky, assumed responsibility for all seven babies. Lionesses in a pride often produce litters at similar times, and will happily co-suckle the cubs. Frisky did an amazing job as a mum, and only lost one of those cubs, seeing the rest to adulthood. She was observed hunting two buffalo at a time to satisfy their voracious appetites.
The cubs’ sire was thought to have been the only remaining male of a formidable coalition of four called the Dynamite Boys. Dynamite – as he became known – lost all his three brothers to snares. He was a massive lion that became famous in his own right because he eventually left Hwange and headed north to cross the foaming, white waters of the mighty Zambezi River and swim to Zambia. There he was caught preying on livestock and was thrown into jail!
So Bhubezi and his siblings had a good start to life with a dedicated provider (Frisky) in a wonderfully productive territory. Their uncle was a lion called Oliver, and he took over the area for a brief time when Dynamite went walkabouts. One night, residents at Hwange Safari Lodge were jolted awake by the sound of furiously fighting lions. Awed, the onlookers watched Oliver smash Bhubezi and his brother Bush straight through the Safari Lodge electric fence. This overt aggression resulted in Bush and Bhubezi spending more time away from the pride with walks that got longer and longer in their duration. Initially, the youngsters went north past Hwange town then they turned and headed south into the Tsholotsho communal lands where they survived by preying on cattle and donkeys. This is typical behavior of dispersal males aged between two and four years old that aren’t big enough or streetwise enough to fight for a territory of their own in the protected area of the National Park.
Luckily the two survived this uncertain, nomadic period in their lives – most young lions don’t due to human-wildlife conflict – and once they passed a “critical mass” point they returned to the Park in 2011. There, at Makololo, they found Jericho alone – having lost his two brothers to trophy hunters – and they easily chased him away and dispossessed him of his pride. They were also Cecil’s neighbors for a while before realizing that he too was alone and so they usurped his pride and his territory around Linkwasha. Those two displacements were ultimately the catalyst for the now famous association between Cecil and Jericho.
Bush and Bhubezi had by this time developed into two mature, experienced male lions in their prime and they dominated the Wilderness concessions. At first they were extremely cautious and shy and would run from the game drive vehicles. But as their confidence grew they relaxed and people began to enjoy sightings of the magnificent pair and their large prides.
One evening a guide with a vehicle full of eager tourists sat watching as a herd of buffalo crossed the road at dusk. Suddenly, a frantic skirmish erupted, and amid chaos, noise and clouds of dust, the clear silhouette of Bush mounted on a buffalo’s back was caught in the vehicle’s headlights! Bhubezi killed for himself that night with a single swipe of his massive paw that spun his hapless victim a complete 360. It was dead as it hit the ground!
One fateful day in May 2015 Bush and Bhubezi were lured to a hunter’s bait just 700 meters from the park boundary and Bush was shot and killed. The world would wake up to another lion’s death a few weeks later but Bush’s hunt was “legal” so passed unnoticed. Unnoticed by the world but not by his pride, for now Bhubezi was alone and couldn’t hold the turf. Two young males – Xanda and his brother – came along and chased him off. He moved down to the area of Ngweshla rather fortuitously at about the time Cecil was killed, so he claimed that territory and spent months patrolling up and down from Linkwasha through Makololo, Ngweshla and the Somalisa Concession up to Kennedy 2. He was seen chasing and harassing Cecil’s pride, threatening the two male cubs, but those wily lionesses ducked and dived, and left one of their girls to fraternize with Bhubezi and distract him by mating with him while the other two made their escape with the cubs. Eventually, little by little Bhubezi came to accept Cecil’s pride as his own without harming the cubs or driving out the two young males. Cecil’s offspring, cubs no longer, have since developed into magnificent young lions in an awesome pride numbering ten, and have reclaimed their original territory at Ngweshla.
Bhubezi currently holds territory from Ngweshla to Kennedy 1 and is often seen with Cecil’s pride. Campers in the area frequently wake at dawn to the sound of his thundering, throaty roars echoing across the plains – that age old, haunting, and thrilling sound of the wild.
The Ndebele people in Zimbabwe say that there are two kinds of lions. One, called Ilawo, is a young, nomadic lion that preys on livestock and conflicts with people. The other, called Bhubezi, is a large, older, heavily manned beast that doesn’t conflict with people at all. This very accurate cultural observation describes not two different types of lion, but two distinct periods in a male lion’s life. The hero of this narrative is a lion called Bhubezi and he certainly has been both of these lions in his lifetime
In the searing heat of October 2007, Bhubezi was one of two tiny, helpless male lion cubs born into a pride that was resident at Hwange Safari Lodge in the area just outside Hwange National Park. There were two lionesses and seven cubs in that pride, but the mother of each cub was never really known because one of the lionesses tragically died in a snare soon after the cubs were born. The remaining lioness, called Frisky, assumed responsibility for all seven babies. Lionesses in a pride often produce litters at similar times, and will happily co-suckle the cubs. Frisky did an amazing job as a mum, and only lost one of those cubs, seeing the rest to adulthood. She was observed hunting two buffalo at a time to satisfy their voracious appetites.
The cubs’ sire was thought to have been the only remaining male of a formidable coalition of four called the Dynamite Boys. Dynamite – as he became known – lost all his three brothers to snares. He was a massive lion that became famous in his own right because he eventually left Hwange and headed north to cross the foaming, white waters of the mighty Zambezi River and swim to Zambia. There he was caught preying on livestock and was thrown into jail!
So Bhubezi and his siblings had a good start to life with a dedicated provider (Frisky) in a wonderfully productive territory. Their uncle was a lion called Oliver, and he took over the area for a brief time when Dynamite went walkabouts. One night, residents at Hwange Safari Lodge were jolted awake by the sound of furiously fighting lions. Awed, the onlookers watched Oliver smash Bhubezi and his brother Bush straight through the Safari Lodge electric fence. This overt aggression resulted in Bush and Bhubezi spending more time away from the pride with walks that got longer and longer in their duration. Initially, the youngsters went north past Hwange town then they turned and headed south into the Tsholotsho communal lands where they survived by preying on cattle and donkeys. This is typical behavior of dispersal males aged between two and four years old that aren’t big enough or streetwise enough to fight for a territory of their own in the protected area of the National Park.
Luckily the two survived this uncertain, nomadic period in their lives – most young lions don’t due to human-wildlife conflict – and once they passed a “critical mass” point they returned to the Park in 2011. There, at Makololo, they found Jericho alone – having lost his two brothers to trophy hunters – and they easily chased him away and dispossessed him of his pride. They were also Cecil’s neighbors for a while before realizing that he too was alone and so they usurped his pride and his territory around Linkwasha. Those two displacements were ultimately the catalyst for the now famous association between Cecil and Jericho.
Bush and Bhubezi had by this time developed into two mature, experienced male lions in their prime and they dominated the Wilderness concessions. At first they were extremely cautious and shy and would run from the game drive vehicles. But as their confidence grew they relaxed and people began to enjoy sightings of the magnificent pair and their large prides.
One evening a guide with a vehicle full of eager tourists sat watching as a herd of buffalo crossed the road at dusk. Suddenly, a frantic skirmish erupted, and amid chaos, noise and clouds of dust, the clear silhouette of Bush mounted on a buffalo’s back was caught in the vehicle’s headlights! Bhubezi killed for himself that night with a single swipe of his massive paw that spun his hapless victim a complete 360. It was dead as it hit the ground!
One fateful day in May 2015 Bush and Bhubezi were lured to a hunter’s bait just 700 meters from the park boundary and Bush was shot and killed. The world would wake up to another lion’s death a few weeks later but Bush’s hunt was “legal” so passed unnoticed. Unnoticed by the world but not by his pride, for now Bhubezi was alone and couldn’t hold the turf. Two young males – Xanda and his brother – came along and chased him off. He moved down to the area of Ngweshla rather fortuitously at about the time Cecil was killed, so he claimed that territory and spent months patrolling up and down from Linkwasha through Makololo, Ngweshla and the Somalisa Concession up to Kennedy 2. He was seen chasing and harassing Cecil’s pride, threatening the two male cubs, but those wily lionesses ducked and dived, and left one of their girls to fraternize with Bhubezi and distract him by mating with him while the other two made their escape with the cubs. Eventually, little by little Bhubezi came to accept Cecil’s pride as his own without harming the cubs or driving out the two young males. Cecil’s offspring, cubs no longer, have since developed into magnificent young lions in an awesome pride numbering ten, and have reclaimed their original territory at Ngweshla.
Bhubezi currently holds territory from Ngweshla to Kennedy 1 and is often seen with Cecil’s pride. Campers in the area frequently wake at dawn to the sound of his thundering, throaty roars echoing across the plains – that age old, haunting, and thrilling sound of the wild.
THE HUNT
The tension is thick and palpable, you can almost smell it. It’s a Mexican stand off. On one side we have the zebras on the other we have the lions, rulers of the golden savanna. For a moment an uneasy truce is in place. The zebras go about grazing while keeping an eye on the lions. But wait, in the distance, behind the zebras perfectly camouflaged in the swaying gold is a lioness, slowly stalking closer and closer. Heart pounding, mouth dry, I feel excitement at the thought of seeing a kill. Zebras are oblivious to the fact that its now a whole new ball game. One of the pyjama horses is at death’s door, they just don’t know it yet. Slowly I start to make an observation, the lions have been spreading out. While staying under the watchful eyes of the zebras, a picture forms in my mind, I am watching the military strategists of the savanna in action.
It’s a classic "cow horn formation", made famous by Tshaka the Zulu, which raises an interesting question... could this be how Africa's Napoleon got the idea? From observing these mighty cats hunt?... a penny for your thoughts. Call it the sixth sense or survival instinct but the stallion raises his head, he knows something is not right his snort brings all heads up, everyone is at sixes and sevens, they say time awaits for no men at that moment time stands still, an aerie silence settles over the savanna. With a puff of dust and thundering of hooves the zebras balt. With a explosive leap the lioness heads straight for a lone zebra which looks like a lost ball in the weeds. A dust of storm soon arises as the zebras make a run for it, as the dust settles the lioness returns head low as it is another failed attempt. Blood still rushing from the adrenaline rush that I’ve just experienced, I turn my head to my guest, with a smile on my face I say “are we ready to make a move on” “any questions?”
It’s a classic "cow horn formation", made famous by Tshaka the Zulu, which raises an interesting question... could this be how Africa's Napoleon got the idea? From observing these mighty cats hunt?... a penny for your thoughts. Call it the sixth sense or survival instinct but the stallion raises his head, he knows something is not right his snort brings all heads up, everyone is at sixes and sevens, they say time awaits for no men at that moment time stands still, an aerie silence settles over the savanna. With a puff of dust and thundering of hooves the zebras balt. With a explosive leap the lioness heads straight for a lone zebra which looks like a lost ball in the weeds. A dust of storm soon arises as the zebras make a run for it, as the dust settles the lioness returns head low as it is another failed attempt. Blood still rushing from the adrenaline rush that I’ve just experienced, I turn my head to my guest, with a smile on my face I say “are we ready to make a move on” “any questions?”
Written by Sakhile Moyo
I came to Somalisa without any idea what it would be like. I was both nervous and filled with excitement.did not know what to expect. I had heard of how aggressive the elephants get just by the mere sight of a human being, how they trample and crash you yet here i was going to a place considered “the land of the giants”. It didn’t take me a long time to realise how wrong the perception i had was.
Although considered aggressive, I fell in love with these amazing goliaths. It’s amazing how quietly they walk despite their humongous bodies, so stealthily like a model on the runway, one minute you sitting staring at an empty waterpan, just filled with water you turn your back for a second and the next minute you are met by large herds of beautiful creatures. I’m left in awe by their orderly systems, reminds me of a traditional African family. One group drinks while the other waits in anticipation for their turn. Just nearby I see 2 teenagers, still i can’t determine what sex they are although I’ve been told several times by the knowledgeable camp guides the tricks to tell apart males from females. These 2 wrap their trunks together playfully, leaving me in a state of confusion on what is going on, only to be told it’s a form of greeting... probably they recognise each other and haven’t seen each other in ages. Right now I’m emotional and just stare and marvel at this beautiful sight.
All day they come in dribs and drabs and they don’t fail to amuse me each time. Always something new to learn as they drink by the pan. I see one young one, trying so hard to reach down the pool with its tiny trunk with no avail, while I feel so sorry for it, wishing I could just go down there and feed it from a bottle it disturbs my thoughts by reaching into its mother’s mouth as she drinks. I can’t help but laugh and smile at the clever move, reminds me how often I’ve thought how intelligent these creatures can be. The babies are the funny ones I’ve noticed, from the time they appear from the Ridge, you can’t help but smile at their behaviour. Running down so fast at the first sight (or smell )of water, leaving their mothers behind, who all this time have been shielding them from the scorching sun and the predators, you can’t help but share their joy and excitement. They jump in the pan going deeper in it, leaving the poor mother to worry and shout in anger at the silly behaviour.before I’m given a chance to judge the mother on why she would scold the sweet little child when it’s just having fun, I realise why, it doesn’t take so long before the baby is “stuck” and struggles so hard to come out of the pool. It falls and rolls and I can almost feel the panic and desperation...I’m panicking too now but to my relief the mother is there to the rescue. Pulling and pushing the baby with her long trunk and getting her away from harm’s way, isn’t she a superwoman? Now I understand ...mum definitely knows best. I call the elephants the “kings of the jungle” I debate and argue with myself everytime on the fact that the title should go to them. I’ve seen them scare the lions away, I’ve seen how the lions don’t want to come nearby while the elephants drink and I’ve seen how systematic the elephants protect the young and fight against these predators as they try to attack and seriously have you seen their size? So huge and monstrous, I’ll be bowing down to these creatures if I were an animal the size of a lion. It’s been a beautiful experience for me with the elephants, pity they’ve migrated for now...till I see them again.
Although considered aggressive, I fell in love with these amazing goliaths. It’s amazing how quietly they walk despite their humongous bodies, so stealthily like a model on the runway, one minute you sitting staring at an empty waterpan, just filled with water you turn your back for a second and the next minute you are met by large herds of beautiful creatures. I’m left in awe by their orderly systems, reminds me of a traditional African family. One group drinks while the other waits in anticipation for their turn. Just nearby I see 2 teenagers, still i can’t determine what sex they are although I’ve been told several times by the knowledgeable camp guides the tricks to tell apart males from females. These 2 wrap their trunks together playfully, leaving me in a state of confusion on what is going on, only to be told it’s a form of greeting... probably they recognise each other and haven’t seen each other in ages. Right now I’m emotional and just stare and marvel at this beautiful sight.
All day they come in dribs and drabs and they don’t fail to amuse me each time. Always something new to learn as they drink by the pan. I see one young one, trying so hard to reach down the pool with its tiny trunk with no avail, while I feel so sorry for it, wishing I could just go down there and feed it from a bottle it disturbs my thoughts by reaching into its mother’s mouth as she drinks. I can’t help but laugh and smile at the clever move, reminds me how often I’ve thought how intelligent these creatures can be. The babies are the funny ones I’ve noticed, from the time they appear from the Ridge, you can’t help but smile at their behaviour. Running down so fast at the first sight (or smell )of water, leaving their mothers behind, who all this time have been shielding them from the scorching sun and the predators, you can’t help but share their joy and excitement. They jump in the pan going deeper in it, leaving the poor mother to worry and shout in anger at the silly behaviour.before I’m given a chance to judge the mother on why she would scold the sweet little child when it’s just having fun, I realise why, it doesn’t take so long before the baby is “stuck” and struggles so hard to come out of the pool. It falls and rolls and I can almost feel the panic and desperation...I’m panicking too now but to my relief the mother is there to the rescue. Pulling and pushing the baby with her long trunk and getting her away from harm’s way, isn’t she a superwoman? Now I understand ...mum definitely knows best. I call the elephants the “kings of the jungle” I debate and argue with myself everytime on the fact that the title should go to them. I’ve seen them scare the lions away, I’ve seen how the lions don’t want to come nearby while the elephants drink and I’ve seen how systematic the elephants protect the young and fight against these predators as they try to attack and seriously have you seen their size? So huge and monstrous, I’ll be bowing down to these creatures if I were an animal the size of a lion. It’s been a beautiful experience for me with the elephants, pity they’ve migrated for now...till I see them again.
Birding with Derek Solomon
The Southern Carmine Bee-eater is certainly one of my most favourite birds. The striking carmine body with blue crown must excite even the most ardent non-birder. I have been lucky enough to observe and photograph them at a wide range of sites including breeding colonies along both the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe and the Luangwa River in Zambia. At these sites the bee-eaters often breed in colonies of up to 1000 pairs, burrowing into the high riverbank to create their nests, a truly spectacular sight.
Along the Chobe River floodplain in northern Botswana where there is no suitable bank, they actually dig their nests into flat ground, burrowing down at a 45-degree angle, a highly unusual situation.
They are intra-African migrants that arrive at the major river sites in late August or early September, rapidly renovating last year’s holes before laying eggs. The chicks hatch out in early December and before the rains begin move southwards from the breeding sites with large numbers arriving in the Somalisa concession once the rains begin and usually remain until March or April.
-Derek Solomon
Derek Solomon is an Africa safari specialist, author, photographer and sound recorder.
Solomon has been leading safari expeditions in southern Africa for more than 25 years and has kindly offered to guest blog.: http://dereksolomon.com/
Along the Chobe River floodplain in northern Botswana where there is no suitable bank, they actually dig their nests into flat ground, burrowing down at a 45-degree angle, a highly unusual situation.
They are intra-African migrants that arrive at the major river sites in late August or early September, rapidly renovating last year’s holes before laying eggs. The chicks hatch out in early December and before the rains begin move southwards from the breeding sites with large numbers arriving in the Somalisa concession once the rains begin and usually remain until March or April.
-Derek Solomon
Derek Solomon is an Africa safari specialist, author, photographer and sound recorder.
Solomon has been leading safari expeditions in southern Africa for more than 25 years and has kindly offered to guest blog.: http://dereksolomon.com/
A Day in the Life of a Safari Guide
You wake up to nature’s own alarm clock as francolins usher in a brand new day. As you have breakfast you watch the orange rays of sunshine peek behind the Kalahari sands of Hwange national park, Zimbabwe (Total size 14,500 sq. km)
This is just the appetizer of an amazing day to come.
The roar of the engine signals at the start of the morning safari as you track the big cats who are most likely still active in this early hour of the day. Success at last in the form of a pride of lions lazing about in the thicket by the road. Cecil’s pride, how nice! You watch as they yawn and play around without a care in the world for the audience at hand taking loads of photographs in excitement. As you head back to camp, after an eventful morning of safari, you can’t help but smile at the joy and laughter of everyone recapping their highlights of the drive. Especially your guests that paid a fortune to come and see wildlife- I sigh in relief!
Lunch siesta and high tea pass by in a flash and before you know it, you are out on the evening drives having your sundowner on the open plains of Ngweshla. Watching the exodus of the animals as they head into the woodland, with a drink in hand, and the warm golden glow of the sunset caressing your back. You head into camp for dinner knowing the day is not done for as you sit by the fire side after dinner you are still to be ensnared.
We hug goodbye and kiss goodbye as we each separate and go to our bedrooms, finally!
This is just the appetizer of an amazing day to come.
The roar of the engine signals at the start of the morning safari as you track the big cats who are most likely still active in this early hour of the day. Success at last in the form of a pride of lions lazing about in the thicket by the road. Cecil’s pride, how nice! You watch as they yawn and play around without a care in the world for the audience at hand taking loads of photographs in excitement. As you head back to camp, after an eventful morning of safari, you can’t help but smile at the joy and laughter of everyone recapping their highlights of the drive. Especially your guests that paid a fortune to come and see wildlife- I sigh in relief!
Lunch siesta and high tea pass by in a flash and before you know it, you are out on the evening drives having your sundowner on the open plains of Ngweshla. Watching the exodus of the animals as they head into the woodland, with a drink in hand, and the warm golden glow of the sunset caressing your back. You head into camp for dinner knowing the day is not done for as you sit by the fire side after dinner you are still to be ensnared.
We hug goodbye and kiss goodbye as we each separate and go to our bedrooms, finally!
The Magnificent Seven
A year has come and gone since the world woke up appalled by the news of the deplorable killing of Cecil the lion. For those in Hwange National Park who had the opportunity to see him and follow him as he wrote his life’s epitaph it was a disorienting moment that left many paralyzed with shock as it felt as if we had lost one of our own, our family would never be the same again.
Yet a year on we find ourselves not moaning Cecil but celebrating his death, For like a phoenix rising from its ashes something overwhelming and magical has happened, from Cecil’s ashes his cubs, The Magnificent Seven have grown into tenacious sub adults ready to become self-sufficient hunters and rulers of the golden savanna.
What no one tells you is how they got to be where they are right now, it is because of the remarkable work of three lionesses, who chose to live a nomadic life to ensure the survival of The Magnificent Seven, one can only imagine the tremendous hardships endured to keep seven cubs fed whilst on the move, never settling down in one place cause of the danger possessed by territorial males who would not hesitate or think twice about killing all the cubs not of their blood pool yet they persevered and I’m glad to say they made it.
There truly is no love like a mothers love for now they have turned these once helpless cubs into spirited resourceful youths capable of bringing down not one but two dakka boys (old male buffaloes) within a space of four days and I am honored and privileged to have observed them evolve into the ferocious predators they were meant to be, they have big shoes or should I say big paws to fill but I have no doubt they will do so effortlessly. These lionesses can surely teach us humans a lesson or two about unconditional love and sacrifice.
Like the tale of the ugly duckling that eventually turned into a beautiful swan, the tragic passing of Cecil has given us seven new family members with so much potential, he might be gone but he will forever be remembered, for his legacy lives on in The Magnificent Seven.
Yet a year on we find ourselves not moaning Cecil but celebrating his death, For like a phoenix rising from its ashes something overwhelming and magical has happened, from Cecil’s ashes his cubs, The Magnificent Seven have grown into tenacious sub adults ready to become self-sufficient hunters and rulers of the golden savanna.
What no one tells you is how they got to be where they are right now, it is because of the remarkable work of three lionesses, who chose to live a nomadic life to ensure the survival of The Magnificent Seven, one can only imagine the tremendous hardships endured to keep seven cubs fed whilst on the move, never settling down in one place cause of the danger possessed by territorial males who would not hesitate or think twice about killing all the cubs not of their blood pool yet they persevered and I’m glad to say they made it.
There truly is no love like a mothers love for now they have turned these once helpless cubs into spirited resourceful youths capable of bringing down not one but two dakka boys (old male buffaloes) within a space of four days and I am honored and privileged to have observed them evolve into the ferocious predators they were meant to be, they have big shoes or should I say big paws to fill but I have no doubt they will do so effortlessly. These lionesses can surely teach us humans a lesson or two about unconditional love and sacrifice.
Like the tale of the ugly duckling that eventually turned into a beautiful swan, the tragic passing of Cecil has given us seven new family members with so much potential, he might be gone but he will forever be remembered, for his legacy lives on in The Magnificent Seven.
Paradise On Earth
If ever there was any doubt that there is paradise on earth then a night spent under the twinkling stars with the crackle pop of the fire as you are taken on a magical journey through the rich diverse culture of the proud yet humble Zimbabwean people will make you believe. As you gaze into the stars looking at constellations such as the Canis Major and Triangulum Australe while listening to the hyena laugh at some unknown joke in the background you can’t help but believe you dreaming with your eyes wide open.
For me the joy and pleasure of been on safari as a Guide is that not only do I boast of the world’s biggest office but it’s very much like a theatre, vividly brought to life with the orchestra been the sounds of nature, the whistling leaves of the trees as they are blown by the wind to their cackling as they fall ushering in a new season, the sound of the rainfall pattering on the canopy of the tall towering Acacia trees. The characters come in all forms from 2 legged like our breakfast companions the yellow billed hornbills to 4 legged such as the apple of my eye, the African elephant, each with their own script and story line and like all plays you have the laughter and heartaches.
My part in this theatre is subtle and simple, I see myself as an interpreter, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, my passion and jubilation comes from saying those thousand words. I lean more from these animals than I will ever learn from any book or literature. The most beautiful things in life are often the simplest, you don’t get and simpler than sitting on the deck with drink in hand watching nature take its course. I love nature, I love people and my job combines the two and makes it all so adequate. It’s safe to say I LOVE WHAT I DO AND I DO WHAT IS LOVE.
African Sunset
The evening orchestra brings an end to another riveting day in the African savanna, as you stand on the deck the evening silhouette embraces you in its warmth like Romeo embracing Juliet. Peaty the yellow billed hornbill caqueting as he spreads his wings as if daring the sun not to set. A lilac breasted roller soars in transcendent beauty of colour magnified by the orange rays of sunset only to be matched by the whistling of the wings as a pair of mourning doves takes flight.
Reclining on the deck chairs in front of the elephant pool your breath is taken away as you watch a herd of elephants make their way down the ridge, silent as mice with the occasional rumble and trumpeting, Africa’s very own jazz band playing its greatest hits, between these pillars of legs you watch in awe as calves stumble and run about yet no harm comes to them, these truly are Africa’s gentle giants. You are smitten as you watch these colossal creatures greet each other in a way that would leave us humans green with envy, ears flapping as their trunks wrap around each other and spin around with joy, as if having a waltz.
They approach the pool without a care in the world and you watch them as they push and shove like school children, only to be brought in line by therumbling of the matriarch. You gaze up at these mighty giants just a pool between you as they drink, hearing the water guzzle down their throats till they get their fill and slowly shamble away.
As you get into bed you would be forgiven for thinking the day is over, for somewhere deep in the Somalis area the mighty Bhubesi is walking, head held high, mane thick and heavy, tail swishing side to side. He truly is the king of the jungle and as if to prove it with a mighty roar he brings the day to an end, the lion roar truly is the sound and voice of our beloved Hwange.
With that you can’t help smile but fall asleep to the intoxicating sound of our African lullaby.
Reclining on the deck chairs in front of the elephant pool your breath is taken away as you watch a herd of elephants make their way down the ridge, silent as mice with the occasional rumble and trumpeting, Africa’s very own jazz band playing its greatest hits, between these pillars of legs you watch in awe as calves stumble and run about yet no harm comes to them, these truly are Africa’s gentle giants. You are smitten as you watch these colossal creatures greet each other in a way that would leave us humans green with envy, ears flapping as their trunks wrap around each other and spin around with joy, as if having a waltz.
They approach the pool without a care in the world and you watch them as they push and shove like school children, only to be brought in line by therumbling of the matriarch. You gaze up at these mighty giants just a pool between you as they drink, hearing the water guzzle down their throats till they get their fill and slowly shamble away.
As you get into bed you would be forgiven for thinking the day is over, for somewhere deep in the Somalis area the mighty Bhubesi is walking, head held high, mane thick and heavy, tail swishing side to side. He truly is the king of the jungle and as if to prove it with a mighty roar he brings the day to an end, the lion roar truly is the sound and voice of our beloved Hwange.
With that you can’t help smile but fall asleep to the intoxicating sound of our African lullaby.
LION
Hwange is the biggest National Park in Zimbabwe and home to many species of conservation concern. Not surprisingly, most of them are prone to conflict with local rural communities. This is the case with the African lion, the King of the jungle!
Everyone loves to see lions on safari and no matter how many times you have travelled you can never see enough, unfortunately lion numbers are decreasing so for every lion you see a lot of work is going on behind the scenes ensuring their conservation and seeing to it that they are protected from not only themselves but us as well.
A sad but true fact is that today more lions die from conflict with humans rather than natural mortality, because when a lion attacks livestock people retaliate by killing the lion, this is not just a Zimbabwean problem, and it’s throughout the African continent. So what are we as conservationists doing to combat human wildlife conflicts and is it working?
For starters, we have projects like the Cattle Boma Initiative which done in partnership with Elefence International, The Hwange Lion Research Project and African Bush Camps. The bomas are simple to put in place and they work, the community or village herd their cattle to one area which is enclosed with simple white plastic sheeting (PVC), the curtains are lion-proof and can house up to 250 cattle (each boma is 25 x 25 square meters. once the cattle are inside even if lions come they will not jump over the fence or see through it despite the smell and sound made by cows. No cattle have been attacked ever since the start of this project earlier on this year in March. Not only are the cattle safe but the manure deposited by them within the time they are there leaves a fertile piece of land in which the owner can grow his crops after the boma has moved on to another area.
Then there is the WILDCRU Long Shield Lion Guardian Programme which began in 2012, this is a combined effort by conservationist and communities with the use of mobile phones to communicate and keep each other informed on the movements of the lions, once located the lion guardian and his colleagues take dogs and vuvuzelas to make noise which drive the lions away. For those of you who watched the 2010 world cup in South Africa I believe you know how noisy these instruments are and the lions are no fans of them. The noise will make the “monkey bite its mother!”
Together these initiatives have actually cut down the human-wildlife conflict as fewer cattle have been attacked and with increased food security. Lots of praise goes to these unsung heroes who are ever ensuring that these tawny hypnotizing cats are there for us to see and appreciate for many more years to come.
Many thanks to the anonymous reviewer who refuses to be mentioned in this article. This reviewer has helped me with figures and statistics.
For more and detailed information on lion conservation and how you may help be part of this amazing work go to africanbushcampsfoundation.org
Hwange is the biggest National Park in Zimbabwe and home to many species of conservation concern. Not surprisingly, most of them are prone to conflict with local rural communities. This is the case with the African lion, the King of the jungle!
Everyone loves to see lions on safari and no matter how many times you have travelled you can never see enough, unfortunately lion numbers are decreasing so for every lion you see a lot of work is going on behind the scenes ensuring their conservation and seeing to it that they are protected from not only themselves but us as well.
A sad but true fact is that today more lions die from conflict with humans rather than natural mortality, because when a lion attacks livestock people retaliate by killing the lion, this is not just a Zimbabwean problem, and it’s throughout the African continent. So what are we as conservationists doing to combat human wildlife conflicts and is it working?
For starters, we have projects like the Cattle Boma Initiative which done in partnership with Elefence International, The Hwange Lion Research Project and African Bush Camps. The bomas are simple to put in place and they work, the community or village herd their cattle to one area which is enclosed with simple white plastic sheeting (PVC), the curtains are lion-proof and can house up to 250 cattle (each boma is 25 x 25 square meters. once the cattle are inside even if lions come they will not jump over the fence or see through it despite the smell and sound made by cows. No cattle have been attacked ever since the start of this project earlier on this year in March. Not only are the cattle safe but the manure deposited by them within the time they are there leaves a fertile piece of land in which the owner can grow his crops after the boma has moved on to another area.
Then there is the WILDCRU Long Shield Lion Guardian Programme which began in 2012, this is a combined effort by conservationist and communities with the use of mobile phones to communicate and keep each other informed on the movements of the lions, once located the lion guardian and his colleagues take dogs and vuvuzelas to make noise which drive the lions away. For those of you who watched the 2010 world cup in South Africa I believe you know how noisy these instruments are and the lions are no fans of them. The noise will make the “monkey bite its mother!”
Together these initiatives have actually cut down the human-wildlife conflict as fewer cattle have been attacked and with increased food security. Lots of praise goes to these unsung heroes who are ever ensuring that these tawny hypnotizing cats are there for us to see and appreciate for many more years to come.
Many thanks to the anonymous reviewer who refuses to be mentioned in this article. This reviewer has helped me with figures and statistics.
For more and detailed information on lion conservation and how you may help be part of this amazing work go to africanbushcampsfoundation.org