New and Old

Not been updating for a very long while, and no excuse for that.

Going to try and fill you in with everything that has happen over the last few months, hopefully is would be a VERY long update, So not going to beat around the bush, lets get started.

The most popular individuals would always be the predators, but for the start of this update we will start on all species, starting with the Elles:
 
The last few months we have been very fortunate to see quite a lot of Very young babies in varies herds, and these little ones always seems to provide a lot of laughter.
Take this little male for instance, we approached the herd to get better view of the babies, little did I know what was in line for us. The baby elephant decided that he would be the one to protect His mom, so he did what mom does when she's upset, and that is showing signs of aggression.
He first started rocking onto his hind legs and followed up with a charge, combined with a trump. Threw the hole commotion, my attention was more fixated on mom,  just to make sure she was relaxed with us being there, while the little ones was mucking about.
By now he realizes that we were not moving away and that he's not as close to his mom as he was, he turns and bolts back to the safety of moms legs and as he gets there, trumpets, turns and runs strait back towards us, but a simular aged baby elephant got in his way and reseved the brunt of his tantrum.

Continuous headbutting, climbing and pushing was at the order of the day. We eventually had to leave after this entertainment and as we left, the little male gave us a last charge, just to say "better not come back"

An interesting notion is a possibility of twins on the reserve. I took some of the staff at the lodge too have a look at some elephant close to the lodge. The herd was fairly big with at least 5 very small babies, all accounted for by a big mom, except one. By spending time with this little one, he moved to a big female with a baby (same height and age) and stayed together permanently. So this is very rare occurrence in elephants, but it happens.

One thing that makes the bush in Africa so special is the sunsets/sunrises, with its beautiful colors
On misty/foggy mornings, I normally look at the sun with binoculars, just as the sun peeks up above the horizon to the east, the sun would still be deep red in color and the fog/mist would also "block the rays".  NOW WHY would I do want to do that?
For a opportunity to maybe see SUNSPOTS. Sun what????
a Sunspot.
"Sunspots are regions on the solar surface that appear dark because they are cooler than the surrounding photosphere, typically by about 1500 K (thus, they are still at a temperature of about 4500 K, but this is cool compared to the rest of the photosphere). They are only dark in a relative sense; a sunspot removed from the bright background of the Sun would glow quite brightly. Sunspots develop and persist for periods ranging from hours to months, and are carried around the surface of the Sun by its rotation (a fact known to Galileo)."
To be able to see these wonders with your own eyes, is something which would not easily be forgotten.


Moving on; animals that we don't see that often, Cheetahs, has moved into the Western Sands on a more frequent basis. Having these speedsters with us, means it ads extra value to the drives.
A young male and his sister has left the company of there mother and most likely looking to establish there own territory in the west, HOPEFULLY!!!!!
2 other cheetahs has also been seen in the wast, but these are males walking separately.
Spending time with these cats you would be able to see activity not often see cheetahs do, like climbing trees, and to see a full chase and kill.
To be honest, the trees are semi pushed over and the cheetahs basically run up the tree. This is done to have a better view of there surroundings so they can plan there attack. Termite mounds are used for the same purpose.  

Cheetahs has over time modified there behavior to be active during the day, "preventing" loss of there meal to other bigger and stronger predators, like lions, leopard and hyenas. But that's not always the case. 


After the heavy rains we had in summer, the sand river fulled up and there would be no way to cross for game viewing to the north of the river.

After about 4 months it was able to cross the river and explore "new frontiers", as this area was left unviewed for more tan 5 months.  
Time to see what Thlangisha (the playful one) was up to. This leopard female is one of the nicest leopards to follow, for she will climb trees on a regular basis just for the fun of climbing.
After a lot of attempts from various guides, she eventually was found, but there was something different about her, she was lactating? She has cubs, how many? and where are they?, so many questions and this would make the area north of the river a hotspot for the next few months. A few weeks passed and still no cubs, and the the call came over the radio, CUBS, 2 of them.
The den site was established and we started to make our way there.  2 Month old little bundle of joy. The den site will consistently be changed to keep the little ones safe and den site odorless. So, welcome to the 2 new ones.
As all ways, the leopard dynamics in the Sabi Sands is out of this world. Dawone male has injured himself AGAIN, serious limp on the left front leg and even at times not even putting pressure on it, and that may be why Njaleti (stars) leopard male is starting to take over Dawone's northern territory.
As mentioned before, Njaleti is a worthy "replacement" and is becoming a big favorite among some of the guides in the Sabi Sands, including me.
His been seen often with Xicavi (river bush willow) leopard female or just strolling down the road.

video clip:
Njaleti taking down a big impala male in                  front of  Michelle and I
          NEVER A DULL MOMENT

Now for the bulk of the update.

Maybe the last 2 of the Selati Males

The lion dynamics over the last 3-4 months was very intense. It all started with the males from the northeast (Majingilaans) that came to the west and came into contact with one of the Selatis (Male lion of the west). He had to fight off 4 Majingi lions at the same time and haven't been seen since the incident, the next morning the second Selati male had to swim a very strong current across the sand river to save its own life. Is this going to been a total takeover?, both female prides still have sub adults with them and the youngsters would be in danger it the takeover take place. 



The Majingis left the west and returned to the Northeast and the dynamics could return to normal, so we thought.
After a few weeks they were back and it doesn't look like they are leaving soon.
The females with the sub adults are never in the same place for  long, constantly on the move

HOPEFULLY your still out there !!!

                                                    Video Clip: The New BLOODS. 
                                                                     Majingilaans

There 4 males has recently killed a buffalo cow and her calf. The carcass not even fully consumed jet and they were seen north of the reserve following pride of females. Showing the intent of these males.

The wild dogs has also been visiting the western part of the sands and by the look of the Alpha and Beta females, denning is very high on the priority list. 

Well, I think that I've covert all the bases, but if something pops up, I'll update.

PHOTOSHOP:

Even with my graphic work I'm so behind, but will share the latest wallpaper I did. This was a 2 step proses, but a very long and precise one. 

1. chose a picture which does not have a very "busy"  background, not going to need it and will make life a lot more easier when getting to the point of deleting the smaller texture you don't want

2. Now desaturat the pic and bump up the contrast so that there is a difference in the outline of your object and the background.

3. Now use the curve tool and divide even more between black and white, it is at this point were you decide which part of the pic gets deleted, the black or the white.

This step takes the longest.

4. Use the magic wand tool to select the color choice, and pres delete, if you only have one layer, the deleted area will appear as checkerboard.

Once your satisfied that all the chosen color has been deleted, overlay the broken image onto a background of you choice and modify until happy. 

REMEMBER: Photoshop basics is all about layer work, master that and the program becomes more enjoyable. 

                                                           HOPE YOU ENJOYED !!!!!!!!!!!!

 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path"

PSALM 119:105