Red Billed Hornbill
While at the lodge waiting for the drive, our wart hogs visited. I could have practically touched them they are so close to us.
Both previous afternoon/night drives have been eventful here at LK. So we expected the same again. And it was. Once getting out on the road, Hobbs and Mike spotted cheetah tracks, multiple ones. We followed the tracks. They stopped and got out of the vehicle and looked around. The took out their binoculars and scanned the surroundings. They knew by the lay of the land where the cheetahs would be. After all, this is flat land with tall grass, cheetah territory. We went cross country, though swaps to an mound with a hill. They got out, checked the mound no tracks. More cross country, and some chat on the radio with two other jeeps. Bingo, they triangulated on our guides data and we got them.
When we arrived on the site, we found a large male Red Lechwe, an antelope - dead. In the woods on a mound a few yards away, two leopards. They are typically skittish. We parked and waited along with two other jeeps.
After a while, they came out, slowly, cautiously. And then they resumed feeding. Then a third came out. Hobbs recognized them. They were brothers.
They took turns eating, sometimes alone, sometimes in pairs, sometimes all at once. The rest of the time, lying down resting. They were eating with a purpose. They were eating quickly. Who knows when a lion or jackal or hyena would come upon them. They could defend themselves against most of these animals; but, as we were told, cheetahs are smart. They know they are great hunters and can score another meal. Better that than get injured in a fight.
You will notice they will not puncture the stomach. Too stinky etc, that's for others, not them.
At one point the three jumped to their feet at looked into the distance. A noise startled them. It was another Red Lechwe in the distance in the tall grass. They couldn't see it, but they heard it. Amazing. Once they figured there was no threat, they were back at it.
Back at the ranch, another great meal. Tomorrow 0600 game drive ending at the airstrip formour flight to our third camp - Kwando Lagoon.
