Trips

The Animals

Below is a table listing the animals that we saw. The links are to the section where there will be pictures of these animals. You will have to use the BACK arrow on your browser to return to wherever you were on the web page.

Other than seeing these animals live and often right in front of you, we were most amazed by the way they occupied the same spaces at the same time. Especially in the savannahs (grasslands) you could look out and see elephants, giraffes, impalas, warthogs, waterbucks, wildebeests, and others all grazing in the same open spaces. It was very interesting to see how they all got along and respected each other's territory.

It was interesting to observe the behavior of different animals. Most of the smaller antelope were skittish and would run when the safari vehicle got too near. The big cats, on the other hand, basically didn't move or barely altered the path they had chosen to take when we were near. You will see this, especially, in the lion pictures below.

The Big Five (we saw four of them)   Antelope
       Cape Buffalo          Bontebok
       Elephant          Common Dkuiker (no photo)
       Leopard          Eland
       Lion          Grysbok
           Impala
African Giant Porcupine          Kudu
Baboon          Nyala
Genet (no photo)          Puku
Giraffe          Red Lechwe (no photo)
Hippopotamus          Sable Antelope
Hyena          Steenbok
Jackel          Tsessebe (no photo)
Mongoose          Waterbuck
Monkey          Wildebeest
Serval Cat    
Spring Hare (no photo)   Fish
Warthog          African Pike
Wild Dogs          Silver Barbel – Catfish (no photo)
Zebra          Walking Catfish
     
African Giant Millipede   Insects
Painted Reed Frog         Termite
           Black Ant
Reptiles          Sugar Ant
       Crocodile    
       Monitor Water Lizard    
       Puff Adder    
       Python    

The Big Five: Cape Buffalo, Elephant, Lion, Leopard

We did not see any Rhinos

Cape Buffalo

These are regarded as the most dangerous of the animals that we saw. We saw them in medium to large sized herds. On one occasion, in Pafuri, a Cape Buffalo came charging out of the brush and ran right straight at the side of the safari vehicle. Fortunately, our guide banged loudly on the side of the vehicle and he stopped his charge. It was a little scary.

Mommy and Baby (almost cute)

Red-billed Ox Pecker birds on the Cape Buffalo's face

Red-billed Ox Pecker birds giving the Cape Buffalo a nose job to rid him of parasites

 

Muddy fellow - keeps off insects and parasites

 

A Cape Buffalo who didn't make it

Elephant

We saw hundreds of elephants. There are supposed to be over 45,000 in Zimbabwe alone. They are impressive animals! Elephants and the Cape Buffalo were the only two animals that we found frightening. Both are big and agressive. We were charged by both in the course of the trip.

 

This guy charged the back of our safari vehicle. Our guide Trevor banged on the side of the vehicle and he stopped. Grace, who was in the rear seat nearly had a heart attack.

A nice dust bath

 

A nicer mud bath

This one was challenging us. It was Gale's turn to hold her breath.

This is an aroused young male who was blocking our path for awhile. We waited for him to decide where he wanted to go.

 

 

They are so clever with that trunk.

 

Let us see your tonsils!

 

The elephants travel pretty much in herds, especially when there are babies. Whenever anyone approaches, the herd surrounds the babies and protects them. It is very interesting to watch.

 

Lunch time!

 

Protecting a really little one.

 

 

What big feet you have!

Feet are not all that is big! You probably don't want to step on one of these!

 

Caught in the act - where's the pooper scooper?

 

Creating a lake

 

The pictures below show examples of elephant damage to the trees and plants in the region. An elephant doesn't just nibble on a branch or two, it tears down the whole tree and rips up the forest. The damage is amazing. I may never complain again about what the elk do to our trees and shrubs!

 

 

 

Leopard

We saw one leopard at night in Pafuri and those below in the Okavango Delta (Botswana) and Kafue National Park in Zambia.

First daylight sighting. He was just strolling along, pausing now and then to mark his territory.

We got pretty close, but he just went on about his own business.

 

This territory is mine!

Who's there?

 

Older kill taken up the tree by the leopard to keep other animals (lions, cheetahs) from stealing it.

 

This guy strolled down the road and then circled back through the brush in the opposite direction.

Then he hid in the brush. Nearly invisible!

 

Fresh kill - an Impala - possibly done by a leopard but could have been a cheetah

 

 

Lion

Lions are truely majestic and the king of the beasts, at least in the way they act - like you aren't there. We saw some really big males, some cubs, and even got to watch a pride of 12-14 try to stalk a herd of Wildebeest. They are lousy hunters, even when very hungry.

 

This is our Lion poster boy - there were 4 safari vehicles within 15 ft. of him and he just sat there.

 

Pafuri - the first lions we saw - these two were strolling through the bush
 

He paused in his stroll for a rest

 

Lioness sitting out at dusk
 

Our poster boy again

 

As we were driving around one evening at Hwange NP, the driver came around a bend in the road and there stretched out in the road were 7 lions of various ages and sizes. A couple more appeared in the bush as well. At first I thought they were dead.

 
 

Finally a couple put up their heads - did any of them move? - no way! We had to back up and turn around.

 

 

 

When we left for our first morning drive in Hwange NP (Zimbabwe), we almost immediately came upon a pride of 12-14 (some of the little ones were hiding, making counting difficult) lions about to try to hunt up breakfast. Our guides said the group hadn't eaten for about 2 weeks so they were getting desperate. Below is the series of photos taken while we sat and watched for at least 45 minutes. Lions are notoriously bad hunters. In viewing the photos, you may see why. You will also notice that it is the females who do the hunting while Daddy relaxes and watches.

 
 

This is the outpost

 

Now, what will be the best approach?
 

Creeping through the grass

 

First helper joining the hunt - that's Daddy lying back by the tree
 

On they go - termite hill between the safari vehicle and the stalkers

 

Wildebeest herd - maybe they won't see me here
 

Surely they must need some help

Here I come

 
 

A youngster and Daddy taking a little interest

 

Four little ones looking on from a distance
 

Who is coming to join us now?

I am!

 
 

This is too much!

 

Looks like the quarry has moved off
 

Giving it up

 

The lion on the left just gave it up and went around the safari vehicles. The wildebeest, who weren't fooled for a minute by the lions' clumsy stalking, eventually moved off. When the lions realized the quarry was flying the coop, so to speak, they tried to give limited chase. You would think that with at least 6 lions participating in the hunt that they would try something other than a straight line approach, like a flanking maneuver, or whatever. No wonder they are hungry!

At least this whole thing was really entertaining!

 

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