Well it might be an over statement on the title front, but  we did manage to pull a ranger out of a ditch.

This morning we decided to head out West, which is an area we are unable to access during the flood and so we make the most of going out there whilst we can. On our way we tracked for the released elephants Pula and Nandipa, and caught up with them and Nandipa’s calf Ntongeni very close to camp. They were busy feeding in the terminalia and kept us on our toes as we tried to keep up. They are all looking very healthy, particularly Nandipa who is looking decidedly FAT. This is very unusual as she has also been a rather skinny elephant and so I am putting 2 and 2 together and getting 10 – but I am rather hoping that she is pregnant. Ntongeni is 2.5 years now and so she could well be about to have another one.

Whilst we were with them all we spotted two jackal running through the grass. Not so unusual you may be thinking, but on the contrary these are the 1st jackal I have ever seen in this area and I have often wondered why they are not found here. I have put it down to the low predator numbers, but maybe they had a population crash and are only just recovering – only time will tell.

After we got our focal data on Pula and Nandipa we headed out West and it was pretty empty. A ranger had spotted 4 cheetah there yesterday, a mother and her three cubs and so we were on the look out for them.

Whilst we were out there we had a call from Thapelo, a ranger, he had driven into a ditch and unable to get out. He was not far from our lock and so were with him soon, and he certainly was very stuck, his front end was very low, having been consumed by a well hidden hole. No problem we could easily pull him out. We drove over and hopped out to get the chain from behind the seat……. but it was not there. Someone had removed it   as the spade so we could not even try to dig him out. I was not happy. I was annoyed at myself for not having checked but really annoyed at the person who borrowed the equipment and did not return it – the same for the chap who removed Thapelo’s stuff.

We collected some wood but the gradient of the hole was too much and so we only had one choice, I had to go back to camp and source some chain. This took a good 1.5 hours and then a minute to pull him out on my return.

In repayment, Thapelo tracked down two male cheetah’s on a male impala kill. A good way to end a rather long and hot day in the bush.

The lesson learnt is BE PREPARED and ALWAYS CHECK as someone may have borrowed your stuff!!!!!!