The camp management and owners of Impala camp would like to extend a massive “Asanteni sana” - thank you all - to our guides who have worked tirelessly this season to keep guests satisfied, engaged and never failing to make their time here special and varied in nature. They independently choose different bush breakfast and safari locations, so one day is never the same as another for guests visiting. Again a huge thank you for the work you do here, a safari camp is only as good as its guides - and so, we are an amazing camp because of you! Next time we will add pix of two guides who are on leave and the boat drivers.
Igor and Lydie Kostianovsky sent us a stunning Leopard shot taken in Selous in November, while staying with us for 8 nights.
Written by Ezra Liomo and Crystal Koetzer
Newsletter Photos by Kharidi Mtili
From Left to right: Omari Ally Mahanja, Gerard Willy Mwakila, Dennis Mchopa, Festo Raphael Ntayaye and Ezra Liomo
On an afternoon game drive Ezra and Kharidi were alerted by a group of Colobus monkeys in the Lake Mzizimia forested area. The monkeys’ loud screeches, cries and bush jerking made them think there must be a predator around. And they were right, as the next moment they spied a leopard, who was moving from one tree to another.
A male and female spotted hyena were caught on camera together. You wouldn’t guess that the bigger one in the background was the female! Female spotted hyenas are 25 % larger than the males and have fake male genitalia. The hyena clans are also led by the females.
These hyenas have lost their fur, probably as they are older individuals. The cause may also be related to thermoregulation (the way an animal cools down or heats up) as the Selous is sometimes hot, and so less fur allows for keeping cool easier.
This male hyena has had his ear ripped off somewhere along the line – poor guy. Hyenas have a poor reputation and were until recently only understood to scavenge for prey – but in fact, they are extremely good hunters and have very powerful jaws, capable of biting through a giraffe’s leg bones!
selous impala news feb 2017
On one early morning game drive, this iconic picture was taken depicting a lovely scene from the Selous.
A giant hippo moving back to his protective lake, a giraffe warily staring at us from a distance and wild dogs moving quickly past in a determined morning hunt.
A female yellow baboon with her baby, taking a moment to drink at Lake Nzerekela. Mother baboons will nurse their young and keep them attached for at least 4 weeks. Only after 2 years the young baboon will have grown and developed enough skills to fend for itself. Big black freshwater mussels can be seen on the lake’s edge, these are a part of the diet of many of the fish species in the lakes.
A male bush buck finds an ever shrinking puddle of water to drink from.
Crocodiles dominate sites where animals have fallen ‘prey’ to the muddy lake shore. Animals search for drinking water and get stuck in clay rich soils. Tired and distressed, they lose energy over days and perish.
Sharing space - Impalas drink while hippos and crocodiles seek shelter in drying remnants of the lakes.
Hippos and crocs in close quarters. Adult hippos are not afraid of predation by crocodiles.
This year lion prides having been doing very well at securing prey, which are abundant and predictable in their search for water and shrinking grazing habitats.
The camp’s camera trap, which was set up by a temporary wetland just outside of camp, caught some graceful giraffe and weary warthog on camera doing their daily activities. Camera traps allows us to view animal behaviour without the influence of humans in the immediate environment.
At first glance this picture may be depicting some elephant love. But it is the contrary in reality. Ezra and Kharidi, while doing a morning driving safari, were lucky to witness two unrelated elephant herds, one of only 3 elephants and the other a much larger herd, getting to know one another. They watched carefully as the elephants sniffed each other’s temporal glands, a liquid secreting gland on the sides of their temporal bone on the head (seen in the picture) and smelling each other’s saliva which has a unique signature for every individual.
This movie depicts the baby elephant of the small herd pushing away the other elephants from the other herd. It obviously didn’t want to share its Jackalberry tree. The female had to keep the calf under control or in our terms discipline the young elephant. The adult females quickly intercepted the calve’s antics, especially protecting the calf when the other elephant became a bit too pushy and aggressive towards the small calf.
By the end of the day the smaller herd of three elephants were nudged out by the large matriarch of the other herd, as depicted in the image above. Perhaps, because of the naughty behaviour of the little one.
GUEST COMMENTS
Jan 3rd, Steve and Dana Stindt, (U.S.A)
“Thank you for hosting us on our honeymoon. Your hospitality, Facilities and Scenery are exceptional. We hope to return soon! Best Wishes in 2017!!’’
Jan 4th, Howard and Jenny Dawe (UK), guided by Ezra and Gerard
“It has been like heaven with the gate shut, no WiFi, no TV, NO Mobiles, my family and the Impala family all around us. We could not have wished for more. The best Christmas and New Year ever. Thank you all so much. You’re the best team we have ever met in Africa. Back in June. Asante sana until then.”
Jan 20th, Anna and Kathleen (USA)
“We have had a great time at Impala Camp. The staff have been wonderful. We loved our time with Festo and had fabulous game drives. Thank you for everything.”
Jan 27th, Sally and Fletcher Nicholson (UK)
“I don’t think we have the words and adjectives to cover this wonderful experience. The knowledge of Dennis, smiles of the staff made us feel like a million dollars. Thank you so much for everything.”
Jan 28th, Martin BEARD, Maureen Erny and Rosemarie (UK)
“A wonderful experience, our best Safari ever. Thank you to Gerard for his superb guiding and to all the staff for their skills and friendliness. A big thank you to Nick and Crystal for their wonderful hosting. We have seen so much of Gods wonderful creations and we are grateful”
Jan 30th Claire Felmingham and Raimah Ahmed, (Australia)
“Thank you for a wonderful time at Impala Camp. After two weeks of Safari around Tanzania this has been the most special. Omari and Rajabu have been excellent Safari companions – very knowledgeable, enthusiastic, friendly and generous. We have had a special 4 days.”