PhotobyBarryPeiser

WILDLIFEREPORTSINGITAKRUGERNATIONALPARK,SOUTHAFRICAForthemonthofJune,TwoThousandandSixteen

Temperature RainfallRecorded Sunrise&SunsetAverageminimum: 13.3°C(55.9°F) Fortheperiod:6.5mm Sunrise:06h33Averagemaximum: 26.7°C(89.6°F) Fortheyeartodate:109.5mm Sunset:17h11Minimumrecorded: 10°C(50°F)Maximumrecorded:32°C(89.6°F)WinterisinfullswingnowandtheWinterSolsticehasjustpassed.Daysarefinallystartingtolengthenagain.ThemorningshavebeencrispandchillyandwhenthecoldfrontsblewinsomecloudcoverfromtheCapewehadmistlyinginthevalleysasthesunroseabovetheLebombos.Itissomoodywhenonegoesoutintheearlyhourswiththemistswirlingthroughthetrees.Ashadowofagiraffeoranelephantbeckonsinthevegetationandallthebirdsarequiet,waitingfortheheatofthesuntoburnawaythecloudandbringsomewarmth.Thebaboonsarefunnytowatchfirstthinginthemorningastheyallcomeoutofthetreesandsithuncheduponthegroundinthesunlight,tryingtogetridoftheshiversofthenightandgetsomeenergytogoandfindfoodoutintheveld.Squirrelsalsocomeoutoftheholesinthedeadtreesandbatheintheearlymorninglight,happytohavesurvivedanotherdarknightinthedangerousAfricanwilderness!Manyofthetreesstillhaveafewleaves(althoughmostofthemaregoingyellownow)aswehavenothadanyseriouslycoldspells,althoughwhatremaininggrassthereisgolden-brownandallthenutrientshave

beenpulleddowntotheroots.TheCentralDepressioniscompletelybareofgrassnow.TheN’wanetsiRiverstillhassomepools,particularlyneartheweirandatDumbana,butthewaterlevelsaredropping.HyenaPan,inthehills,hasdriedupandthereisnownostandingwaterinthehills.GudzaneDamiscompletelydryandwehaveresortedtopumpingsomewateratPonyPan,whichisattractingafairamountofgeneralgame,particularlyimpalasandgiraffe.Ourwildlifereviewforthemonthisasfollows:

Buffaloes: PhotobyBarryPeiser

Wehavenotseenmanybuffaloesintheconcessionthismonthduetothelackofgrass.Thelargerherdshavemovedtoareaswherethegrazingisbetter.TherehavebeensmallgroupsofDaghaBoysvisitingtheriverneartheN’wanetsiCrossingandnearHyenaPan(whenitstillhadwater).Thename‘DaghaBoy’isaSouthAfricancolloquialtermmeaningapersonwhoworkswithcement.Itusuallyreferstobuilders.Sincethemalebuffalosthatleavethelargeherdsandeithertravelaloneorinsmallbachelorherdstendtoenjoywallowinginthemud,theyoftenhaveagreycoveringontheirskinsthatlookslikecementhasbeenspilledalloverthem.Whenlargemalebuffalosgettoastagewheretheyarebigenoughandstrongenoughtodowithouttheprotectionofthelargeherdstheyoftenleavetheherdandliveamoresedentarylifeinareaswithgoodgrazingandnearwater.Althoughtheseanimalsareextremelydangeroustheyarestillvulnerabletoattackfromlionsandthereforearequitesuspiciousofanymovementaroundthemanddonothesitatetochargeanyperceiveddanger.Itistheselargebullsthathavegainedthenastyreputationthattheyhave(forbeingveryaggressive)andwere,inthepast,oftenreferredtoas‘blackdeath’bythehistoric‘GreatWhiteHunters’.Manyahuntercametotheirdemisewhenhuntingtheseformidablecreaturesandeventodayguidesthatoperateinareaswheretheseanimalsoccurhavegreatrespectforthem.Ontheafternoonofthe5thofJunewewerebusytryingtotrackdownthelargerportionoftheShishPride.MargauxhadjustcomearoundthecornernearOstrichLinkFlyCampwhenshespottedthelionsneartheN’wanetsiRiver.Shehadjustcalledinthesightingwhenalargemalebuffalocamerunninguptheembankmenttowardshervehicle.ThisDaghaBoywasbeingfollowedbytheprideoflionsthatMargaux

hadjustlocated.Thelionssurroundedthebuffaloanditchargedthemafewtimesbeforeitdecidedtotryandtakerefugebehindhervehicle.ObviouslyMargauxcouldnotallowthebuffalotocometowardsthevehicle,asitwouldposeadangerforbothherandherguests,particularlybecausethelionsweretryingtobringitdown.Shemovedthevehicleandthelionssurroundedthebuffaloagain.Wethoughtthatthelionswouldmostcertainlybesuccessful,butthesub-adultswereobviouslyquitefearfulofthebulland‘pussy-footed’aroundit.Thebuffalotookadvantageofthehesitationofthelionsandmanagedtoshrugoffthefewlionsthatweretryingtograpplewithitsrump.Thebuffalothenraninanortherlydirectionawayfromthelions,andbeforethecatsknewwhatwashappeningithaddisappearedintothethickbushes.Thelionsthenattemptedtorelocatethebuffalo,butwereunsuccessful.Weweresosurethatthebuffalowasgoingtomeetitsendthatafternoonandifitwerenotforthelackofexperienceofthesubadultlionsitprobablywouldhave.Luckilyforthebuffaloitmanagedtoescapeand,therefore,livetoseeanotherday.Amazing!Leopards: PhotobyJonathanMcCormickTheleopardviewingduringJunewasphenomenalforthisarea.Wehadatleastforty-ninerecordedsightingsoftheseelusivecatsduringthemonth.TheNdlovuMalewasbyfarthemostprominentleopardintheconcessionthislastmonth.HewasseenregularlyintheareafromDumbanaRocks,alongtheN’wanetsiRiver,totheweirinfrontofcamp.Atthebeginningofthemonthhewasseennear‘FigintheLeadwoodTree’,lyingonthebankoftheN’wanetsiRiver,watchingsomewaterbuck.Thewaterbuckwereslowlymovingcloserandclosertothelargecatandwewereexpectingsomethingtohappen,butintheendthewaterbuckslowlydriftedawayfromhimagainandwelefthimsleepingthere.Onthe4thMargauxwasdrivingonSisalLine,closetotheNyokengValleywhenshefoundtheNdlovuMalewalkingeasttowardstheMozambiqueborder.Shefollowedhimforashortwhileandhethenstartedsniffinginsomebushestothesideoftheroad.Hethenproceededtopulloutanimpalacarcassfromtheshrubbery.Margauxassumedthatperhapsanotherleopard(shehadseensomefemaleleopardtracksintheareabeforeshespottedthemale)hadkilledtheimpalaandthenhadhiddenitinthebushesandtheNdlovuMalehadsniffeditoutandstolenit.LateroninthedayCollenwatchedashedraggedtheimpalaintoatreeatthebaseofarockycliff.Thateveningwefoundhimrestingnearbythecarcassandwhilehe

waslyingtheretwospottedhyenasfromtheNyokengClanarrived,havingsmelledthedecayingmeat.Theleopardsatupimmediatelyandstaredatthehyenas,thatdidnotseetheleopardlyingthere.Thehyenascouldseethecarcassupinthetreebutwereunabletogetaccesstoitandthenleft.Onthe10thMargauxfoundtheNdlovuMalewalkinginsideMozambique,ontheothersideoftheborderfence,althoughhehadreturnedintotheconcessionbythe13th.Afewdayslaterwefoundhimnear‘CrocView’waitingtoambushimpalaastheycamedowntodrinkwater.Onthe18ththeguideswereluckyenoughtofindhimneartheN’wanetsiRiverwithanunidentifiedfemaleleopard.Lovewasintheairandafterashortwhilethetwoleopardswereseenmating,accompaniedbylotsofgrowlingandthemalegivingthefemalelove-bitesonherneck.Thesetwoleopardswereseenmatingagainintheafternoon.ThislastmonthwealsosawtheN’wanetsiMale(theNdlovuMale’srival)afewtimes.Theterritoriesoftheselargemaleleopardsseemtooverlapveryclosetothecamp.TheterritoryoftheNdlovuMaletendstobecentredalongtheN’wanetsiRivertothenorthofthecamps,whereasthatoftheN’wanetsiMaleiscentredalongtheriverfromwhereitturnseasttowardsMozambique.TheXinkelenganeFemale(possiblyourmostrelaxedfemaleleopard)wasnotseenverymuchthismonth.Sheseemstobemovingfurthernorthintheconcessionthanshenormallydoesandwasfound,towardstheendofthemonth,feedingonanimpalathatshehadplacedinatreetoavoidotherpredatorssuchaslionsandhyenasfromstealingit.AtthebeginningofthemonthBrianandhistracker,Charles,wereinvestigatingthealarmcallsofsomefrancolinsinthevicinityofHyenaPan.TheyhadbothgottenoutofthevehicletocheckoutathicksetofbushesnearthedrainagelinewhenCharlesspottedatinyleopardcubrunningupthesteepembankment.Itdisappearedintothevegetationandwasnotseenagain.WeassumethatthiscouldbeanewcuboftheNhlanguleneFemale.Howexciting!Cheetahs:

PhotobyBrianRodeWehavenotseenmanycheetahsthislastmonth(atotalofeightsightingswererecordedbytheguides).AsinglemalewasseenafewtimesalongtheH6publicroadbetweenthecampandthestaffresidence.Possiblythesamemalewasseeninthevicinityof‘GumbaCrossing’atthebeginningofthemonth.A

femalewithfourcubswasalsoseenontheS37ononeoccasion.Adifferentfemalewasseenwithherthreesub-adultsfeedingonanimpalathatshehadjustkillednearShishangaanonemorning.Twoadultmalecheetahswerealsoseenontwooccasionsinthenorthernareasoftheconcession.Elephants:

Wehavehadsomegoodelephantviewingthislastmonthandhaveseenthesegreatgreybeastsalmosteverydrive.WeoftenseetheminthelatemorningscomingdowntothewatertodrinkalongtheN’wanetsiRiver.Withthelackofgrasstheyhavebeenknockingoverquiteafewtreesinthehillstogettothenutrient-richroots.Onthe3rdofJunealargemaleelephantwasseenchasingaleopardawayfromthewaternear‘EuphorbiaCrossing’.Onthe22ndafemaleelephantandhercalfwereseenchasingaprideoflionsaroundinthe‘StickyThorn’thickets.

PhotobyBarryPeiser

Lions:TheLebomboConcessioniswellknownforlionsightings.Theguideshavereportedseeinglionsonatleastseventy-nineoccasionsthismonth.Lionswereseenalmosteveryday.ThemainpridesintheareaaretheShishPride(boththesmallerportionandthelargerportionoftheShishPride–withthewhitelion),theShishMales(thedominantmalesinthearea),theMountainPrideandtheXhirombePride.OnoccasionwealsoseetheNorthernPride,theSouthernPrideandtheCollaredPride(whospendmostoftheirtimeinMozambique).Otherlionsaresometimesseenonthepublicroads.

Withthedryconditionsintheareathehipposarestrugglingwithlackofstandingwaterandgrasstofeedon.Manyofthemareinpoorconditionandsomeofthepridesoflionsintheareahavestartedtakingadvantageofthefactthatthehipposareweakerthannormalandarehuntingandkillingthem.Thisisveryunusualforthisarea.AtthebeginningofthemonththesmallerportionoftheShishPridewereseenfeedingonahipponear‘N’wanetsiWest’.Onthe13ththissamepridewasseenattackingahipponear‘XinkwenyanaCrossing’,butthehippowasluckyenoughtoescapefromthebigcatswithonlyafewdeepgougesonitsrumpandback.Ontheeveningofthe23rdthreeofthelargeShishmaleswerewitnessedattackingandkillingasubadulthippo.BarryPeiserwasoneoftheguideswhowitnessedthisincrediblesceneanddescribesitlaterinthisreportundertheheadingOtherInterestingSightings.TheLargerportionoftheShishPrideseemstohavelostafewoftheyoungermales.Thesesub-adultmalelionsarenowoftheagewheretheyshouldbeleavingthepridesoon.Itispossiblethatsomeoftheseyoungmaleshavenowleftor(hopefullynot)beenattackedbyotherbigmalesinthearea.Thesub-adultmalewhitelionwasseenonafewoccasions.Heisstillmovingwiththerestoftheprideandislookinghealthy.Ontheafternoonofthe15ththelargerportionoftheShishPridewereseenhuntingaporcupine,buttheywerenotsuccessfulandtheporcupinemanagedtoescape.Unfortunatelysomeofthelions

PhotobyJacquesBriam

learnedanimportantlessonfromthelargerodentandwereseenleavingtheareawithquillsstuckintheirnecksandchests.ThesmallerportionoftheShishPrideseemtoknowthesespikycreaturesbetterandwereseenfeedingonaporcupineontheafternoonofthe25th.WehavehadafewsightingsofthelargerShishMalesthismonth.Itdoes,however,appearthatoneofthefivemalesismissingandweareonlyseeingfourofthemnow.Thegrumpymale,whooftenchargesvehicles,hasbeenseenafewtimeswiththeMountainPride.Heseemstohaveinjuredoneofhisbacklegsandwasseenlimping.Onthe8thoneoftheShishmaleswasseenfeedingonanimpalathathehadcaught.Onthemorningofthe26ththemaleswereseenagainfeedingonanimpala.ThemembersoftheMountainPridearedoingwellandthesevencubsaregrowingupquickly.Theyhavebeenseenonafewoccasionsinthenorthern,hillyareasoftheconcession.ThegrumpyShishMalehasbeenseeninthecompanyofthisprideafewtimesthislastmonth.Onthe17ththeMountainPridewerefoundinthehillsfeedingonanadultwaterbuck.Twodayslatertheywereseenwiththreeofthelargemalesfeedingonabuffalointhesamearea.TheXhirombePrideseemstohavesplitupnowandthetwofemaleshavebeenseenseparatefromthemale.Heisnowoftheagewherehewillneedtoleavetheareaorfacethewrathofthelarger,dominant,territorialmales.Heisnowgoingtobefacingadifficulttimeinhislifewhenhewillbewanderinglargedistancesandavoidingdominantmalesintheareasthroughwhichhetravels,untilhebuildsupenoughstrengthandmuscleinordertobeabletoconfrontthemandpossiblytakeovertheirterritories.Spottedhyenas:

PhotobyBarryPeiserTheNyokengClanhaveprovidedsomeamazingviewingthismonth.Thereareatleastfivesmallcubsattheden-sitenow.Threeofthemarestillblackincolourandarelessthanthree-months-old,whereastheothertwohavejuststartedgettingtheirspottedcoats.Wehaveseenthemregularlyatthemouthofthecavethattheyareusingastheirden,eithersucklingontheadultfemalesorchasingeachotherandplayingtogether.TheH6densitehasalsobeenactivethislastmonth,withatleasteightindividualsseenonafewoccasions,atnight.

FigTreesoftheLebomboConcession ByJacquesBriamFigtreesarewidespreadthroughouttheworldandcanbefoundonallcontinentsexceptAntarctica.Infact,thereareover1000differentspeciesoffigtreesrepresentedintheMoraceaefamily(figsandmulberries).Mostfigtreesareevergreensandprovidefoodforvariousspeciesthroughouttheyear.Thefruits(whichareactuallytheflowers)aresweetandfavouredbyparrots,hornbills,monkeysandbaboons,amongothers.Figtreesarequitedistinctiveandcanbeeasilyrecognized,‘bythecombinationofalternateleaves,milkylatexandadistinctiveconicalstipulethatcoverstheapicalbud.Thestipuleisdeciduousandleavesanobviouscircularorsemi-circularscaronfalling.FlowersofallMoraceaearetiny,inconspicuous,andclusteredintooftencomplicatedinflorescences-forexamplea‘fig’-whichisahollow,vase-likereceptaclecontainingnumeroustinyflowers’(FieldGuidetoTreesofSouthernAfrica,vanWyk&vanWyk).Althoughfigsareadelicioustreatthatmanypeopleenjoy,mostfig-loversarenotawarethatthefigtheyareeatingisactuallynotatruefruit,buta‘syconium’(anenclosedinflorescencewherehundredsofmaleandfemaleflowersgrow).Thesweet-tastingsyconiumattractswasps(particularlythewingedfemalewasps)whichlaytheireggsinthesyconium.Themalesarewinglessandwillemergefromtheireggs/gallsbeforethewingedfemalewasps.Themalewaspsmatewiththefemaleswhiletheyarestillinthegalls.Oncethefemaleshatch,themalescutopenstamensandofferpollentothefemales.Themalesalsocutthroughthesyconiumtoallowthefemalestoflyawayinsearchofanotherfigtreethatshecanusetohosthereggs.Oncethesyconiumhasbeenopened,andthefemaleshaveflownaway,thesyconiumripensrapidly,andattractsanimalsandbirdsthatwillensureseeddispersal.Byacceleratingtheripeningprocess,thewaspsensurethatthefigtreecompletesitslifecycle.Thisrelationshipbetweenfigandwaspisknownas‘obligatemutualism,’wherebyboththewaspandthefigtreedependoneachotherfortheirownsurvival.Inotherwords,ifthewaspdidn’thavethefigtrees,andthefigtreesdidn’thavethewasps,theirsurvivalwouldbecompromised.Furthermore,pollinatorwaspsareusuallyhostspecific,wherebyonlyacertainspeciesofwaspcanpollinateacertainspeciesoffig.HereatSingitaKrugerNationalPark,variousfigtreescanbefoundontheN’wanetsiconcession.Herearethreeofthemoreprominentspecies,alongwithabitofinformationabouteachone:

Large-leavedrockfig Commonwildfig SycamorefigPhotobyJacquesBriam PhotobyBrianRode PhotobyBrianRode

- Large-leavedrockfig(Ficusabutilifolia)

o Generallyfoundonornearrockyterrain/outcropsandalongwaterbodies.o Therootscanextendveryfarunderground(upto60m)insearchofwater.o Oneofthefewrock-splittingfigs.Therootsofthistreeoftengrowthroughthecracksin

rocks.Astherootsgrowbiggerandbiggertheycan,onoccasion,causetherocktosplitapart.

- Commonwildfig(Ficusburkei(prevFicusthonningii))

o Distributionofthistreehassignificantlyincreasedduetoplanting/agriculture.o UsedforshadeonmanyfarmsthroughoutSouthAfricaduetodensefoliage.o Oftenuseestablishedtreesasaprop,whichtheyutilizeinordertogainaccesstosunlight.

Asthefiggrowslargeritmaysurroundthetrunkofthe‘host’treeandintheprocessitmaysmotherit,henceitsothername,theStranglerFig.

- Sycamorefig(Ficussycamorus)

o Widespreadthroughoutsub-SaharanAfrica,andevenoccursinsomepartsoftheMiddleEast.

o Thesyconiums(fruits)growinclustersonthebark.o TheSycamoreFigwasmentionedseveraltimesintheBible.

Fruit-eatingbatscommonlydispersetheseedsintheirexcrement,andseedlingsoftenstartoutasepiphytes(plantsthatgaintheirnourishmentandmoisturerequirementsfromtheair)onbrancheshighintherain-soakedcanopy.Allofthefigtreesmentionedabovehave‘fruits’thatareedibletopeople,althoughtheyarenotassweetandpalatableasthosethatarecultivatedforhumanconsumption,andareofteninfestedwithwormsandwasplarvae.FigtreesalsohavemilkylatexorsapthatmanyAfricanscookuptoformastickysubstancethattheycanuseasbirdlimebystrategicallyplacingitonbranchesinordertotrapsmallbirds.Otherinterestingsightings:Wehavehadquiteafewinterestingsightingsthismonth.Honeybadgersightingshavebeenmoreregularnowthatwinterisuponus.Theseferociouscreaturesoftenvisitthecampsduringthewintermonthswhenfoodisscarceinthebush.Theyhaveahabitofraidingtherubbishcagesnearthekitchens.Theyareextremelystrongandtoughandhaveevenbeenseentobendtheexpandedmesh,metalcagesthatwehavetoprotecttherubbishbins,inordertoaccessthetrashcans.Onthe6thofJunewefoundaninjuredhoneybadger,nearN’wanetsiWest,scavengingontheremainsofahippocarcass.Thisindividualhadsomeseriouswoundsonhisrumpandbacklegs.Ontheeveningofthe29thaleopardwasseenfeedingonanimpalainatreeontheaccessroadtothelodges.Thenextmorningtheguideswerehopingtofindtheleopardstillinthesamearea,butwhenJacquesarrivedtherehewassurprisedtofindahoneybadgerthere.Thebadgerhadobviouslyusurpedthecarcassfromtheleopardandwasbusyfeedingonitinthetree!OneofthemostintensesightingsforthemonthwaswhenthethreeShishmalelionswereseenkillingasub-adulthippo.BarryPeiserdescribesthesightingasfollows:"TheusualexpectationfromthelionsasweapproachedthethreemalesonDumbanaandOstrichLinkJunctionwastofindthemfastasleep,andsoitwas.Noindicationfromthemmadeusthinkthatjust20minuteslatertheywouldbejumpingontothebackof,andkilling,asub-adultfemalehippo.WeleftthemalesunattendedandcontinuedsouthalongtheN’wanetsiRivertothepositionoftheShishpridewiththewhitemalewho,whenwearrived,startedshowingsignsofwakingupandbecomingactive.Thepridedidtheirtypicalstretching,groomingandinteractionwithfacerubbingandplayingwitheachother.Thepridethenbecamemobileinanortherlydirectionparallelwiththeroadandlookingabouttohuntimpala.Theyseemedtowanttomove

westandthereforeIstartedsayingtomygueststhatwewouldn’tfollowthemastheyweregoingtomoveintoaninaccessiblearea,butasweleavingthepride,fieldguideMargauxcalledontheradiothatthesamethreemalesofShishpridewerebusyhuntinghippo.So,Itoldmygueststhattherewasasmallchancewecouldseethelionssuccessfullypullingdownahippoanditwouldbedifficulttowatch,butitwasaonce-in-a-lifetimeexperienceIhadn’tevenexperienced.WecalledourselvesintothesightingandmadeourwaybackuptheN’wanetsitofindthemalesbusyrollingthehippooverandbitingatitsneckandstomachtoholdthefightinganimaldown.Themalesheldthehippodownandduetothehipposalreadyweakenedconditionfromtheonsetdrought,thelionsbegantobitethehippo’sthroatandtryingtosuffocateit.However,theone-eyedmalecontinuedtobiteatthestomach,avoidingthekickinglegs,andopeneduptheanimal'sgut.Therewasmuchbellowing,andthehippokeptattemptingtobitethelionsastheyrepositionedthemselves.Thispersistedforabout20minutes,whilethehippo'sintestinesstartedtooozeout.Fromthispointtheanimalwasbleedinguncontrollablyandwouldliestillforasecondortwobeforeregainingenergytotryandfightback.Thelionscontinuedtopinthehippodownandcontinuedtoopenthestomach.Thiscarriedonforanother45minutes,asmoreinternalorgansspilledout.Theanimalbeganthrashinglessandthemalesbeganbitingitsfrontelbowtopreventitfrombeingabletogetupandmoveaway.Oncetheyopenedthechestcavitythehippolaystillanddying,whilethelionsbegantofeast.Thisexperiencewasanadrenalinerush,butnauseatingandupsettingtowatch.IamstillbreathlesswhenIthinkaboutthetraumathehippowentthroughandhowcruelnaturecanseem.Thenextdaythelionswerefullandbymid-morning,themaleswerechargingatanddrivingoffhundredsofvulturesandsomejackals.Adaylaterafterlions,jackals,vulturesandhyenasweredone,therewerejustbonesleft.Natureisamazingandnothinggoestowaste."

AnothergreatsightingforthemonthwasofanAfricanwildcat,duringtheday.BrianRodedescribesthesightingasfollows:"Wewereondriveafewdaysagoandhadjustcrossedtheweirinfrontofcamp.Itwasabeautifulmorningandwewerewonderingwhatweweregoingtofindoutthereinthebush.Westartedheading

PhotobyBrianRode

towardsthegranophyres,whichisastunningridgeoflargeboulderscoveredwithcandelabratrees.Wehadjustgonearoundacornerwhenweheardthealarmcallsofsomeguineafowlinthenearbybush.Westoppedthecarandlookedforthebirds,hopingtoseewhathadalarmedthem.Wefoundtheflockofguineafowlsnearafallentree.Theywereallgatheredtogetherstaringatthebaseofafallenbranch.WethennoticedthatrightinbetweenthemwasanAfricanwildcat(Felissilvestrislybica)-arealcatamongstthepigeons(sorry...wrongtypeofbirds!).WedonotseeAfricanwildcatsveryoften,sothiswasquiteanamazingsighting,particularlyduringthedayastheyaretypicallynocturnal.Thecatstaredatusforashortwhileandthenattheguineafowlthatwereslowlyadvancingtowardsitinanalmostthreateningmanner.Thecatthenobviouslythoughtthatitwouldbewisertomoveoffandquicklyranaway.Theguineafowlthenrealisedthattheyhadtheupperhand,nowthatthecatwasretreating,andflewafterthecatsquawkingallthewhile,andensuringthatthecatkeptrunning.AfricanwildcatsweretamedintheMiddle-eastbetween6and10thousandyearsagoinordertoprotectthegrain,collectedbypeople,frommaraudingmiceandotherrodents.Todaysdomesticcatswerebredfromtheseoriginal‘tamed’Africanwildcats,andeventodaythetheylookremarkablysimilartoferalcatsthatonemightfindincities".JunemomentsintimeYoungelephantsplayingwitheachother.PhotobyBarryPeiser

ThewhitelionfromtheShishPride,atDumbanaRocks. PhotobyBarryPeiserOneoftheShishmalesatsunset.PhotobyJacquesBriam

Blackcrakesneartheweir.PhotobyBarryPeiserGiraffeinthelateafternoonlight.PhotobyBarryPeiser

ArticlesbyBrianRode,JacquesBriamandBarryPeiserPhotosbyBarryPeiser,JacquesBriam,BrianRodeandJonathanMcCormick

SingitaKrugerNationalParkJune2016