If you're a regular reader of The Africa Safari Blog here at TheWildSource.com, you've probably read about Bill's most recent trip to Botswana which featured stops at Selinda Camp and Zarafa Camp in the Selinda Reserve among others. Bill actually provided a very detailed Selinda Camp Review - which is definitely worth reading.

Selinda Camp News

As of earlier this month, there is some news from Selinda Camp courtesy of Wilderness Safaris. Here are those highlights:

• African Wild Dogs - have been somewhat hard to find in previous months, but have been spotted and photographed regularly as of late. It even appears that the alpha female is pregnant.
• Lions - The lion pride in the area is frequently spotted with their cubs, and more may be on the way as one of the lionnesses appears to be pregnant.
• Selinda Spillway - The water is high again this year, and the Okavango Delta and Linyanti joined along the Selinda Spillway at mid month - much earlier than in 2009. The Selinda Canoe Trail is already accessible. Bill has highlighted the Selinda Canoe Trail many times on this blog, and it certainly provides an unforgettable experience.

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The Wild Source's Africa Video Channel - safari videos taken by The Wild Source founder Bill Given

   

By this time, Bill has moved on from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.  I'm still playing catch-up with all of the great stories and photos that I'm getting from Africa.  Included in this blog post are Bill's final text message (and Tweet for those of you who follow on Twitter). We also have a couple of photos that Bill took while in Tanzania for your enjoyment. For his full itinerary and links to his entire trip, click on the appropriate link below:

• Leg 1: Arrival in Nairobi, Kenya (Aug. 24th)


• Leg 2: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania - Lemala Mara Camp (Aug 25-28)
• Serengeti National Park August 27th Text Update
• Serengeti National Park Videos
• Lemala Mara Luxury Camp
• Final Serengeti Game Drive
• Leg 3: Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda (Gorilla Trekking!) - Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Aug 29-31)
• About Gorilla Treks
• Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
• Leg 4: Overnight in Johannesburg (Sep 1st)


• Leg 5: Victoria Falls, Zambia - Tongabezi Safari Lodge (Sep 2-3)
• Tongabezi Lodge, Zambezi
• Leg 6: Okavango Delta, Botswana - Mapula Lodge (Sep 4-7)
• Mapula Lodge Accommodations and Guiding
• Leg 7: Okavango Delta, Botswana - Sankuyo Bush Camp (Sep 8-9)

Bill's Last Text Message From Serengeti

On the last day in the Serengeti for this trip, Bill texted me this which contained information about his final game drive:

Last game drive at lemala 2 nice lion sightings, a very interesting interaction with a young spotted hyena probing a large monitor lizard that reared up in defense a couple of times before sescaping to the water before the hyena could figure out how to properly attack, and a huge finish with a cheetah - a mother with 2 1 year old boys. Afternoon rains have kept a huge portion of the migration in the area with astounding numbers and the constant sound of wildebeest in camp round the clock -- next from Rwanda -- Bill

Photos Bill Has Taken This Week in the Serengeti

Great Photo of a Leopard Cub in the Serengeti

Two Cheetahs With Full Bellies

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The Wild Source's Africa Video Channel - safari videos taken by The Wild Source founder Bill Given

   

We recently processed and uploaded videos of separate groups of cheetahs from Bill's Tanzania trip in 2008 to The Wild Source Channel on YouTube. It is also worth noting that TheWildSource channel on YouTube format has changed quite a bit due to new updates over at YouTube. Also note that with this latest batch of updates, there are about 60 videos that have been added to the channel in all.

This first video is of a cheetah named Eleanor and her six cubs. Bill took this video in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and it shows the cubs investigating the safari vehicles and then walking off with mom.

This next video is a bit more graphic and was also taken in the Serengeti. This is part one of a three part series. For the rest of the sequence, be sure to check out TheWildSource channel at YouTube. A male cheetah has killed a Wildebeest calf and is looking for a suitable place to begin feeding - he is apparently very wary of potential threats to steal his meal and continuously looks around nervously.

The final video of this blog post is of a mother and her 4 very large cubs (who are around 9 or 10 months old) feeding on the remains of the wildebeest kill made by the mother. After feeding, the entire group washes up.

   

Safari Blog Post of the Day - July 22nd, 2009

Elephants Battle to the Death in Kenya

When we can, we'll be updating you with quick stories from around the wildlife blogosphere - primarily safari blogs - that safari goers may find interesting.

Today's story is from the Milgis Trust. The Milgis Trust was established in 2004 for the purpose of protecting wildlife and the way of life of local people in Northern Kenya. The Milgis Trust comprises 8000 square kilometers, and its location in Kenya can be viewed in the map below:

This blog post is a short read posted by Helen Douglas-Dufresne of the Milgis Trust which recaps a story of two elephants fighting to the death. Apparently one of the elephants was able to pierce the other's lungs with his tusk leading to his death. The tusks were actually removed from the carcas of the loser of the battle to prevent poachers from collecting the tusks. A photo of one of the tusks along with more details is provided within the blog post.

It is once again time to get everyone up to date on what is going on in the world of safari blogs. All of the safari blog posts here, as well as much more safari related information can be found right here at TheWildSource.com in our Africa Safari News section. I'd also like to point out that we have just discovered a few new blogs that we'll be working into our news section in the near future. These are great safari blogs directly from the camps that I'm sure you'll enjoy.

Safari Blogs This Week!

1) National Geographic - Albino Whale

Although this isn't something you'd typically see on the Okavango Delta or in the Serengeti - it is still a very interesting natural phenomenon. Migaloo - an albino humpback whale was spotted off the coast of Australia this week. This post over at Nat Geo provides all of the details - including video of the easy to spot humpback.

2) WWF International - Rhino Horn Poaching on the Rise

This is obviously unfortunate news. This Report from WWF International documents how rhinoceros poaching in Africa and in Asia is on the rise as demand in Asia for the horns continues to be strong. Some countries believe the horns have medicinal value. It is a popular misconception that some in Asia covet the horn for its alleged aphrodisiac properties - this is not the case. I did some digging and found this article over on the Nature website at PBS.org which describes that the horn is primarily used for dagger handles in Yemen and as a fever reducer in traditional Chinese medicine - and a completely ineffective one at that.

3) Wilderness-Safaris.com - Cheetahs, Lions, and African Wild Dogs

Cheetah Catches - and is chased off of Impala Kill
In this blog post, from the Chitabe Camp in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, the story is told how a hungry looking female cheetah is able to take down an impala. The cheetah feeds while a hyena continuously lurks unable to locate her. The cheetah managed to get quite a large meal in despite the screams of nearby animals including vervet monkeys, squirrels, and birds that alerted the hyena to the kill in the first place. Overall, a good description and timeline of a typical Cheetah kill.

New DumaTau Lion Coalition
Also this from Wilderness Safaris - a blog post about a new male Lion coalition beginning to form. Three of the five sub-adult males are slowly starting to break away from the rest of the pride. The lions leave on excursions only to later meet up with the pride. It is thought that in the near future - all 5 sub-adult males who are approximately the same age - will leave to form a nomadic coalition before challenging to take over a pride.

African Bees Overpower Lions
Finally, from Wilderness Safaris, we get this - a blog post about a pride of lions that was chased off their African Cape Buffalo kill by a swarm of bees. Apparently, the lions disturbed the hive and were repeatedly stung until the calf was eventually dragged away from the stinging horde.

4) Tarangire Lion Project - Lion Mating

We last checked in with the Tarnagire Lion Project back when Bill was on his 2009 Tanzania Safari. This installment describes how project members have come across a collared female who had recently had cubs yet was about to mate with a new male lion. The team suspects this new lion was probably responsible for infanticide.

5) Desert and Delta Safaris blog - Lion Tracking on Foot

A really interesting read about lion tracking from Xugana Island Lodge in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. The guide spotted lion footprints of a pride that was most likely stalking African Cape Buffalo that had just moved through the area. The guide was able to take them to within a good viewing distance of both the lions and the Cape Buffalo.

In a related post, be sure to check out my own experiences with wildlife tracking, as well as what is involved with tracking animals on safari in my previous blog post.