Ndutu Day II Part I (Mist, Dung Beetle and Elephant Mudbath)

I drag myself out of our tent at 05:45 only to find that the world outside is enveloped in a thick mist this morning.

It is not easy to spot any animals in the thick pea-soup surrounding us. These hartebeest are so close to the vehicle it would be hard to miss them, but goodness knows what else is hiding behind nature's grey cloak.

The sun is trying its best to burn off the low cloud, which it manages eventually, but meanwhile it turns the mist a delicate shade of pink.

The morning mist has also ensured that dew drops on the spider's webs glow delicately in the low sun.

With cute little babies.

Life is always more colourful with a Lilac Breasted Roller

Another one. They're common as muck around here.

We find a suitable place in the shade of a tree, with no obvious predators in the vicinity, to stop and have our breakfast.

David doing his artistic bit

We are soon on our way again “to see what nature has to offer us” out here on the Short Grass Plains.

With a tiny baby, no more than than two weeks old.

The wildebeest have scent glands in their hooves helping the others to follow the leader. The theory is: if their man (beast) at the front gets through, then it must be safe.

That is why you often see them walking in a single file, keeping their heads down.

As always, lots of dust being kicked up.

It makes such a pleasant change to see these ungulates standing still rather than running away from us for dear life.

Or rather, just her eggs. I have no idea how Malisa manages to spot these things as he is driving along, they are so well camouflaged!

Those of you who followed my blog from Tanzania last year, will probably remember my fascination with dung beetles.

This little stretch of land is Dung Beetle Central! Everywhere you look there is a beetle rolling its prized poo ball across the plains.

So what's the collective noun for a gang of dung beetles? Shitload. Not sure if that is the official term, but it sure fits!

As the original recyclers, dung beetles are probably the most industrious resident on the savannah, clearing up the mess left behind by other animals.

Imagining the savannah knee-deep in excrement, makes you appreciate the importance of these tiny animals.

“Let me whisper sweet nothings in your ear...”

“Lean on me”

We see a hyena hiding in the undergrowth and drive nearer to take a better look, by which time she has completely disappeared, so I guess she has a den hidden somewhere in the grass.

Keen to locate a big cat of some sort, Malisa drives from tree to tree, copse to copse to check out what is hiding in the shade, but no luck.

We do see a few other birds and animals though.

It is strange how the distribution of animals is so different from this same week last year – so far we have seen more steenbok in the first couple of days than we saw on the entire trip in 2016.

Another Long Crested Eagle – this one is having a bad hair day.

When eating, the flamingo shift their legs up and down to disturb the algae, a movement Malisa likens to a dance. To me it looks more like little kids hopping from leg to leg shouting: “Mum, I need to pee!” Malisa agrees with me and finds my analogy particularly amusing.

The elephants love to cover themselves in mud as this helps to get rid of any ticks.

The small herd look like they are really enjoying their wallow – I expect the mud is nice and cooling in the midday sun too.

They are so ungainly when they try to get out of the water!

This little one is rubbing her belly on the ground to ensure the mud sticks.

In their breeding plumage. Here seen with a Blue Capped Cordon Bleu.

To me, this is the quintessential African safari scene – zebra and giraffe grazing on a dry, flat savannah.

Nothing worse than being photobombed by a giraffe.

It always amuses me the way they have to kneel when they eat because their neck isn't long enough to reach the ground.

Apart from this guy at the back who seems to have perfected the art of eating standing up.

Another giraffe photobomb.

Giraffe are at their most vulnerable when drinking. Despite their long necks, they have to get themselves into a very awkward yoga pose in order to reach the water. Not only do they then struggle to get up again, they are also not able to keep a close eye on any predators that may be approaching.

Not that it looks like there is much water there.

As soon as the giraffe stands up, a number of oxpeckers fly off.

The oxpecker has a symbiotic relationship with many of the larger animals on the savannah, cleaning its host by feeding on the ticks, horsefly larvae and other parasites that make their home on the skin. The bird also acts as an early warning signal, alerting the other animals to danger by making loud chirping and hissing noises.

It seems they are enjoying themselves.

In Lake Masek

Normally we like to stay out all day, taking a picnic box with us for both breakfast and lunch, but today I thought it would be nice to go back to the camp for a meal in the middle of the day as it is our wedding anniversary.

There is only us staying here these last two nights, but they have made us an impressive spread with a choice of dishes: spaghetti with a bolognaise sauce, okra curry with rice and mixed vegetables. Soup to start and fresh fruit to finish.

After another amazing morning's safari with Calabash Adventures, it is time for a short break before we go out exploring again.