Ruckomechi lion

Winter seems to be over and as the bush dries out so the animals venture down to the river more each day. Inland pans are slowly shrinking and the vegetation is opening up to reveal more areas for spectacular game viewing.

The Ruckomechi elephants are now as common as the staff in camp and one has to negotiate a path around them while walking through the camp. Guests often have to be escorted to their rooms throughout the day and it is always a treat to watch the elephants wander past the front of their rooms during siesta. These elephants are also beginning to utilise the islands in front of the camp and some of our guests have had wonderful experiences witnessing herds of elephant swimming across the river to feed on fresh plants.

Our lion sightings have been really good this last month and one morning around five o'clock, a male lion walked through the camp and a few hours later, two different groups of lion were spotted behind the camp stalking buffalo. The buffalo were aware of the lions and had grouped together for protection, keeping their young in the middle of the ring of adults. The first group of lion comprised two males (which are new in the area) and the second was a female and two sub-adults. Fortunately for the buffalo both groups were unsuccessful in their attempt to hunt and soon gave up.

Ruckomechi birding is always a pleasure and this month we have seen a total of 137 species. The African skimmer has returned once again this season much to the excitement of the guides. This season they are going to have a tough time breeding as the higher river level has flooded many of their breeding islands. The Carmine Bee Eaters are returning slowly with more being spotted each day and we always look forward to seeing them in their nests in the high river banks each year.

Let us not forget
that wilderness is not a place,
but a pattern of soul
where every tree, every bird and beast
is a soul maker.