Mushara Bush Camp to Anderssons Bush Camp Monday, October 19, 2015

Monday October 19  This was our most amazing day of the trip so far.  I really didn't want to trim my report  - so it is unusually long.

When we reached the Chudop waterhole near the East gate of Etosha Park there was a fair number of animals nearby but none were at the water's edge.  A quick scan of the nearest cover (small, bushy trees) revealed three Lions across the pond from us.  One of them was obviously eating, but we could not tell what kind of animal was on the menu.  

There were at least a half dozen each of Black-back Jackals and Spotted Hyenas near the Lions.  The Jackals appeared to be trotting within a few feet of the Lions.  They and the Hyenas were waiting for their turn to clean up after the Lions left the remains unattended.

We waited a while and almost decided to leave.  Then one of the Lions got up and wandered slowly toward the water hole.  The others followed.  They all had a drink.  Their faces were covered in blood up to their eyebrows except for where their  respective tongues could clean their faces.

When the last Lion left the Hyenas and Jackals moved in as though they were being sucked in by a vacuum.  One of the Hyenas got a piece of the kill and ran off with it.  Another Hyena was in hot pursuit - but finally gave up.  When the last Lion to leave turned back toward the carcass for a moment the Hyenas and Jackals became more wary but did not disperse.

Last Lion leaves the kill; scavengers move in

Lion turns back toward the kill, scavengers become wary

There must not have been much left; the site of the feast was soon void of even the scavengers.  The kill must have been a relatively small one.  These Lions did not appear to be full.  Their bellies did not appear to be bloated and they were not breathing with shallow breaths.  After the Lions had had their drinks they laid in the bowl of the waterhole on the side away from us.   

A pair of warthogs walked (what we considered to be) dangerously close to one of the Lions; then retreated with most of his dignity.  After doing that a few times he and another Warthog went to a place that was about a quarter of the way around the waterhole from the nearest Lion and had a drink. While they were warily enjoying their drink one of the Lions positioned herself behind them; then ran a few steps toward them.  One Wart-hog went left and the other right.  The Lioness did not get close to either one.

After a while the Lions found a shady spot under a bush about 50 yards from the site of the feast and got comfortable.

About that time a Black Rhino started coming in from the left.  He weaved around some bushes between where he became visible and wandered indirectly toward the Lions. When he was about 25 yards from the Lions he started sauntering toward the pool.  One of the Wart-Hogs got his attention and he chased it across to the far side of the pond and back again.  Then he chased an Eland about 50 yards.  He trotted over in front of the Lions and posed for a shot with them and a Wart Hog for us before he wandered off into the bushes on the right side of the pond.  He never did go to the water for a drink.

In the meantime more of the grazers and browsers were showing up for their morning drink.  Zebras, Impalas, Springboks, Giraffes, Kudu, Oryx were assembling to our right.  Some Elands also came in.  This was the first time we had seen them.  They are the largest of the Antelope and weigh up to about 2000 lbs.

Eventually one of the Giraffes went to the water's edge and nervously had a drink.  Then he was joined by other Giraffes.  Then all of the assembled grazers and browsers went in for a drink.  What a sight.

Giraffe, Zebras, Wildebeest, Eland 

Zebras, Kudus, and an Impala

Kudus and Impalas

At another water hole we saw a family of Lions that included two young cubs.  They were enjoying the shade of a solar collector that was used to pump water to the waterhole.

  

We also saw Ostriches that were close enough that we could see them clearly.  --and of course Elephants.  One small group had a youngster that just wanted to play.  He was constantly messing with his older sibling.  Unfortunately, his antics could not be recorded in a photo, but the video is good.  We also saw Red Hartebeests for the first time, including the ones locking horns.

The Big Elephant shown in the photo is on ground that is about 1 to 2 feet above the car, but he IS big.  

He was following another big fella on a path where they were preceded by a procession of over 100 Springboks and a Blue Wildebeest.  They were going down to a large plain where there must have already been over 500 browsers and grazers (my estimate is probably very low) of all descriptions.  It was an amazing sight.

During dinner at Andersson's Camp three Lions and a Rhino visited the waterhole at our bush camp.  We could hear Lions doing low roars to communicate with each other as we were going to bed.  They sounded very close but I could not see them with my small flashlight.  The electric fence to keep them out of our cabin was on the railing of our deck.
Andersson's Camp was an interesting place.  The waterhole was within 50 yards of the open air restaurant and it had a "Hide".  A Hide is a place where you can view the animals safely from 5 to 50 feet away - at water hole level.  Think "bunker."  The entrance is a tunnel so animals cannot see you enter the hide.  Viewing is through an un-windowed slot.  The private housing units consist of a structure made from baskets of rock - similar to what we use here along highways to prevent slides.  The shower had no inside wall or curtain.  While taking a shower we stood in a feeding trough-type tub.  The floor of the tub was about 14" below floor level.  Kinda wierd; but kind of cool in a way.