30 Nov 2009
After a long and increasingly hot dry season, the rains finally arrived at Pafuri about 10 days ago. All of the hundreds of head of game - elephant, buffalo, zebra, kudu, impala, nyala, waterbuck and others - that had been crowding the banks of the Luvuvhu River now have other options to slake their thirst and are glorying in a new period of abundance.

For one old buffalo bull, well known to camp staff, it was just too late. He dragged himself from his habitual wallow on the river's edge and expired on the bank opposite camp, even the crocodiles seemingly respecting his dignity and not feeding on the carcass. These ancient aquatic reptiles killed an nyala instead and fed on this in front of camp.

For those who survived the dry season, the rewards have been tangible. The impala ewes have all given birth and are suckling tiny lambs, the birds have been re-energised by the rains and of course species like the cuckoos and coucals are calling madly, trying to attract mates and take advantage of the food availability at this time of the year. Others, like the Little Bee-eater pictured opposite, simply waited out the showers, looking bedraggled and miserable.

The rain has of course stimulated plenty of amorous attention and male rivalry as well, both of which are clearly depicted in the photos at left where a male and female Spotted Bush Snake were seen 'lovingly' intertwined, and also in two male Red-billed Buffalo-Weavers who took out their frustrations on each other while trying to impress a mate or three.

Story and images courtesy of Russel Friedman.