When last did you play THIS game? Eye spy is still a ‘thing’, even in 2020. However, it is not usually played during a game drive. But for purposes of this posting, I thought I would re-invent it with a twist by adding some interesting facts about the animal species we came across during our drives.
Fun fact: The roar of a full-grown lion can be heard up to a distance of 8km.
K is for Kudu…Correct! This is a young male kudu and we know that because it has horns which have not yet got a spiral in them. Kudu females do not have horns, but I have seen a female with a rather deformed pair! A number of reasons were postulated, but no finite reason was given.
An interesting fact: The dung of the kudu is used in the ‘sport’ of dung-spitting. Field guides will often introduce international guests to this pastime where the object of the exercise is to see how far a participant can spit a dung pellet. The world record is 15.56m, set in 2006 by Shaun van Rensburg.
It could be B for Baboon…or it could be W for Warthog. Seeing both species are in the image, both answers are technically acceptable. Both species have been much maligned in the past. Baboons are often seen as vermin/pests and warthogs because EVERY international guest refers to them as PUMBA…Disney has a LOT to answer for.
Factoid: When warthogs run, they hold their tails erect. This is done so that the rest of the family can use it as a ‘follow-me’ signal.
L is for Lion, or is it C fro cub? This youngster, that had just finished drinking, was part of a pride that consisted of seven individuals. 3 males and 4 females from 2 mothers. The territorial male is the father of all the current cubs and is the only male on the property, hence there is no threat that these cubs will be killed.
Definitely B for…Baboon…This large male stayed behind to keep an eye on me while the rest of the troop wandered off to eat,
DID YOU KNOW? Baboons are very intelligent animals. Legend has it that a baboon named Jack was utilized by a double leg amputee railway worker back in the late 1800s to change the signals (under supervision).
Z is for Zebra, caught in the late afternoon light. One of my favourite animals to photograph. No two are the same and the light on the coat shows how well their camouflage works.
Interesting fact: Some guides will tell guests that the stripes are used as a means of camouflage, while others will say that they confuse predators or that the foals use them as identity markers. However, scientists now seem to be of the consensus that the stripes are utilized to ward off biting, disease-carrying flies.
Just to be ‘different’…S for stalking! Another cub from the pride mentioned earlier. This one was about 8-9 months old. Still dependant on its mother for food it will only learn to fend for itself at around 2 years.
H is for Hippo, as it vanishes beneath the surface of the dam. Much like the iceberg that sank the Titanic, the majority of a hippo is beneath the surface constantly. And that is what makes it so dangerous. It can totally submerge for up to 6 minutes and can attain speeds of up to 30kph on land and in 8 kph water, faster than Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps.
Factoid: An open mouth is not a yawn but a sign of aggression. Hippo are only territorial while in the water.
L is for Leopard, well hidden in the F for Foliage. This female certainly played games with Matthews our guide. Like leopards often do, she hid in dense bush, popping up every now and again to give us the runaround. Finally, when she had got us into a position where we could not quickly extract the vehicle, she took the opportunity to cross the road together with her cub. We, of course, only caught a quick glimpse as they vanished into the vegetation on the far side of the road.
Did you know? These felines are incredibly agile and can leap 3m vertically as well as 6m horizontally.
R is for Reflection as we have already had a Z… With water dribbling from its muzzle, this zebra contemplates its reflection as it enjoys an early morning drink.
Did you know? Not all animals can recognize themselves in a reflection. Certainly, this zebra would be unable to comprehend what it was looking at in the water. However, elephants and certain of the great apes are able to recognize themselves.
J is for Jackal… a sneaky bushveld character. Often seen loping along behind major predators in the hope of snagging a quick meal, the jackal, together with the Vulture and hyena, have an important role to play when it comes to cleaning up the carrion left behind after a kill.
Fun fact: In many African myths and legends, Jackals are depicted as wily, cunning with the ability to adapt to almost any circumstances. Their images have be found on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs, where they are often portrayed as gods.
S is for sunset, One of the highlights of any evening game drive.
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