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On photographic safari with Cindy Wheeler |
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Day 2 - Following the Gemsbuck spoor and life at the watering hole
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On day two I took a different route running and followed the road at the river. Spotted some Impala on the Botswana side and yet again some Waterbuck on my way back to the lodge. After breakfast, we decided that we would go and investigate a game trail I mentioned to Cindy and en route stop over at blind no. 2 - Chris and Ann were in Blind no. 4 hunting.
Once again, armed with books, and the necessary lunch in a backpack, Cindy and I set off. We took the game trail but to my disappointment it did not lead where I wanted it to go and we ended up in the main road. We decided to stick to the main road and go settle in the blind. In the loose sand I picked up a Gemsbuck spoor and pointed it out to Cindy. I'm still a rookie at the tracking thing, but there are now a couple of spoor that I can comfortably identify. My philosophy is to try and learn at least one new thing when going on these trips.
Closing in on the hide, I saw some dust in the wind - we were down wind and I knew that something must be feeding at the water hole. It was a Red Hartebeest that startled when it noted us approaching but to my right a Gemsbuck snorted and ran away , must say the rookie was quite proud of the fact that the track was a Gemsbuck's and I was spot on.
We once again settled in the blind. By now it was close to eleven.  It did not take long before a Warthog family approached and were munching away and snorting at each other. Some of them are quite aggressive as far as the lucerne is concerned and it always makes for good entertainment. Cindy was just clicking away having the time of her life.
Some Grey Loeries joined us in a tree. They are known to be the "Warning birds" much to the dismay of hunters. They make a warning sound when detecting humans and it sounds as follow "Kwe".  We were just about to have lunch when Ann and Chris came by - Ann took quite a large Warthog and it was her first clean kill with a bow (the bow shot did not have to be followed up by rifle) and it was a nice Warthog I must say. The tusks measured 12" and we had a very proud and happy Ann with us.
Cindy and I decided to pack it up and we went to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, most went for an afternoon rest and I went to practice shooting the bow. I told Chris about the Red Hartebeest that we ran into at the watering hole and he told me that Red Hartebeest, for some or the other unknown reason do not eat lucerne. Apparently, in times of drought they are the first animals to die due to their reluctance to feed on supplements such as lucerne.
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Self catering