DECEMBER 2010
Our rains have started and Xmas looms. The 2010 season was disappointing due to the floods and the world recession. But economies might be showing a slight improvement in some countries and bookings and enquiries for 2011 are trickling in.
The 2010 floods restricted access to many of our usual haunts but Savuti compensated as more and more game was attracted to the flooded marsh. To see Savuti return to its former glory with the water reaching almost to Gardenia Island is gratifying indeed. The 'wet' ecology is re-establishing itself. Former dry grasslands have been turned into verdant green expanses with shining stretches of water. Water is life. It has attracted numerous elephants, groups of buffalo and increasing numbers of wildebeest, tsessebe, assorted waterfowl, etc.. A new group of five male lions drifted in, killed a resident lioness and one of her cubs then mysteriously left Savuti for points north. They are expected to return with the annual zebra migration which is pouring into Savuti.
We had many excellent sightings this year but, as we reminisced we felt that there were no particularly memorable sightings during 2010. But then we realised that what may seem routine to us might be exceptional to others. One delight was a young leopard at Savuti who took her impala kill up a tree right close to camp one evening. She allowed us good viewing and at one stage climbed down to lie under a camp chair and watch us. She later fed till past midnight. One sees many elephant bulls but one exceptional bull was found on the Mababe, south of Savuti, in early December. His heavy ivory was way above average but it was his massive body that stood out - simply enormous - probably one of the largest elephant seen over the past 10 years.
The floods of 2009 and 2010 and the rains that have now begun promise an explosion of wildlife and great game viewing throughout our safari areas in 2011.
We wish everyone all the very best for the festive season, that peace and prosperity will come in abundance.
With love
Lloyd & Daph
