Hello everyone
On the 5th of January I spent my first night at Urikaruus and it definitely will not be the last! The evening activity began as 4 cheetahs came down to the waterhole for a drink at sunset. The afternoon was extremely hot, so this was the first of many sightings for the night. They spent about 30 minutes with us before disappearing over the dunes. We had a lovely braai and whilst we were sitting and enjoying the warn evening, I caught a glimpse of something about 3 meters from our chalet no 2. I knew it was a leopard so I jumped for my torch out of excitement and focused on her
. She was very relaxed and she made her way to the waterhole for a much needed drink. She stayed with us for about 5-10 minutes. So now we were wide awake and excited for another sighting.... so we waited, probably for only 10 mins, when an african wild cat came down to drink, soon after it arrived a jackal came out of the moonlight and the scared the cat off... The jackal proceeded to have a few sips from the trough. What would be next? Sipping on a glass of red, I was in my same position as earlier... waiting.. waiting... then, another movement from the same side as earlier, I thought Leopard! but what were the chances? Up to get the torch and yes it was another slightly younger one... She stayed closer to no 2, sniffing and looking around and then slowly walked to the waterhole... She drank for about a minute when my dad said to me "what are those eyes in the distance..."
I moved the torch up and there were 2 lionesses coming down from the dunes into the river... the Leopard didn't see them for a few seconds but as soon as she spotted them she dashed straight passed no 2 again... Man the excitement was incredible!!!
The 2 lionesses came closer and had a lengthly drink.. the one came closer to us and was looking into the small bushes and grass about 12m away from us. I kept the spot on and all of a sudden a Cape Cobra came slithering out! The lioness kept an eye on it but cleverly left it alone... Both the lionesses then went to sit down in front of no 4.. Well now it was 11pm and with all the excitement we were not going to bed, we decided to hang around and see what was next!! A few minutes later 2 sud-adult hyena's came walking from No 1. They were sniffing around but did not see the lionesses... I thought to myself, here comes trouble for the two!! Then the one sub-adult came for a drink at the waterhole, immediately the one lioness went into stalking mode....
Seconds later she was after the hyena, the hyena only saw her a few seconds later and the chase was on.. the sub adult was wailing and laughing, the lioness was practically on top of her when she all of a sudden backed off.. the hyena scurried away into the darkness lucky too get away.. Seems like the lioness just wanted to show it who is boss!!! What an evening, I will be back in December, this time for at least 3 nights!!!!!!!!!!!!
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