Vumbura Plains, Okavango Delta Africa

The Wild Dogs are always on the lookout for danger.

The adventure continued at Vumbura Plains.  We saw many wonderful sights.  The guides and trackers we had throughout our travels helped make our trip special.  The tracking skills and general knowledge of these people were an integral part of a successful safari.  They had stories to tell and information to share about the animals we came across.  While in Duma Tau we had seen three young lions that appeared to have lost their pride.  The trackers thought they had become separated and were searching for a way to become reunited.  Another theory was that they were old enough to be chased away from their pride.  The day we saw them would be their last in the area.  

Our guides knew where baby leopards had last been seen.  Their mother leaves them hidden while she searches for her next kill.  Once she has food for them, she returns to retrieve her offspring and take them to where she left their meal.

This baby leopard was hidden by its mother while she went hunting. 

Nap time.

Leopard in a tree.

 The guides all work as a team.  If one guide finds something of interest everyone else is notified by radio.  It was encouraging to see that the private reserves carefully protect their animals.  Depending on where we were only two or three vehicles were allowed to be near the animals at one time.  We alternated positions so that everyone in the area had an opportunity for a viewing.  I think this also helped the animals to feel secure.  It was amazing being so close to these wild animals (some of them extremely dangerous) and yet we felt reasonably safe (some of the time).  Often times the animals appeared totally unconcerned or bothered by our presence.  The animals certainly didn’t always ignore us.  The elephants in particular let us know if they were unhappy.

There are crocodiles lurking in the water.

Blue Starling

The wild dogs are extremely nervous approaching water.  They know there are crocodiles in the water waiting for the opportunity to grab one of them. 

It was warm and one Wild Dog decided to take a chance and go for a dip in the water.

Fish Eagle

Nyala with a bird eating ticks and other bugs.  The birds help keep them clean and comfortable.

The elephants have been through here.  They love eating the bark off of trees.

A herd of Cape Buffalo.  They create dust that can be seen from great distances.

Sunset.

A live termite mound.  The darker areas being pointed to were created the night before.  These mounds go way below ground to where there is water.

Hyena

See if you can find the Hyena stalking the Impala.

The Impala seems to fly over the grass.

It's always exciting having elephants walk right by us.

Unlike at a zoo where each type of animal is kept in their own separate enclosure, in the wild they all share the same space.  Creatures can live side by side peacefully.  For many it is a symbiotic relationship where one warns another of danger.

The Impala's and Baboons are comfortable sharing the same area.

This Cape Buffalo is being cleaned.

The bird continues its work.

The giraffe chewing away.