Morning at Mala Mala

Up and out by 6:15 this morning with Donald as our guide. In the truck this morning, Caroline and Sally out for their last ride before moving on to their next destination. This morning was one of the coldest drives and I was happy there were blankets and extra jackets in the car. We have been so fortunate that we have not had rain on any of the drives.


Right outside the gate were elephants. Not as many as yesterday but probably 12-15 of them eating and moving around. One of them was pushing at a small tree trying to knock it down. We have seen many trees knocked down in the bush. The rangers tell us the destruction is mainly from the elephants. They are too lazy to reach up for the branches. They simply knock down the tree!

We saw a kudu eating at an acacia tree. The acacia tree has thorns. Donald told us the tree can sense when the animals are stripping it too much and it is threatened. It will release a bitter tannin taste in its leaves. Then the animals will not eat it and it will have a chance to regenerate.


There are less than 200 wild dogs in South Africa. There is a pack of 11 that has been living on Mala Mala property. This morning we were lucky enough to encounter 8 of them. We followed them for about 20 minutes as they made their way across the bush and then to the river for a drink.


Leaving the dogs, we saw a Cape buffalo with a rhino standing next to it. Donald told us it is not unusual for rhino to travel with the buffalo. The rhino turned and walked off with the buffalo not too far behind. Moving on we encountered 6 more rhino. Some were older and laying down. A younger one, around 6 years old kept making a small whining noise. Donald said he was calling his mother. Another one was rubbing her nose on a big rock directly under her face. When I mentioned noticing large rocks in the middle of the pathways some mornings, Donald told us the rhino like to move the rocks around. Next up - soccer! Rhino vs. elephants!


We found 2 ostriches with babies in an open area. We were so busy watching the ostriches we paid very little attention to the wildebeest right next to the truck! Behind us we heard a screeching and saw a jackal. Three warthogs were amusing to watch as they dug with their snouts for grass roots. They bend their front legs so that it looks like they are on their knees while they root around. They even walk forward a few steps while on bended front legs.


Back for breakfast on the deck and to say good bye to Sally and Caroline.