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Ivory Tree Blog
Night drive in the Pilanesberg.
It was Friday, and my guests had decided to skip the afternoon drive and go on a night drive instead. The previous morning we had seen lions hunting wildebeest in the road, but unfortunately for them (but lucky for the wildebeest!) the lions where unsuccessful. After dressing up warmly for the night drive (yes it can get chilly in Africa!!) we headed off to start our exciting nocturnal experience. After getting an update on lions calling near Tilodi dam we headed there, realizing we where the only people in the park! After about half an hour we reached the dam, and I turned off the engine. hoping to hear the unmistakable guttural roar.. After a few minutes, it came. a loud powerful vocalization from the dam! My guests where stunned into silence as they listened in awe. then it came out.. With my lights off and a full moon out, this massive lion came out of the shrubs and down to the dam to drink.. The only light provided by the beautiful moon, followed by his brother, another massive pale lion. It was the two central pride brothers, who had recently conquered that part of the park from their arch rivals the Eastern pride males. After their late night drink they left the dam straight towards the road, where we followed them for about 45 minutes as they marked their new territory by scent marking the trees and shrubs along their patrol route, all the time still calling out loudly, daring anyone to challenge them. On our way back to the lodge, we drove by an old hippo carcass where we found a jackal and FOUR Brown Hyenas feeding on the decaying bones. We got back to the lodge cold yet happy and I fell asleep dreaming of that amazing experience.
Nyiko Nkuna
Ivory Tree Game Lodge
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MARCH 2010
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