Baboons - there's no escapimg them

In October we spent a few days collecting data (and enjoying the views) at Zambezi National Park. We stayed at the part-completed camp by the Chomunzi Rapids. The views over the river are marvellous all the time but Sue got up early one day to capture some lovely photos of dawn over the river ……

There are always plenty of birds to be seen along the Zambezi. A Fish Eagle caught something just above the rapids and landed on a small island to eat…..

 

But there were bigger animals at the camp as well. Leaving our tent one morning I heard something climbing down a nearby Sausage Tree and looked up in time to watch a beautiful Leopard leap to the ground. He gave me a brief, disdainful glance then trotted away down river. When Sue joined me with the camera she spotted the reason he had been in the tree – a dead baboon draped across some branches …

  I’ve mentioned before that I’m no great fan of baboons and after two recent raids on our house at Sinamatella I’m even less keen but when this one was brought down from the tree it was hard not to feel some compassion for it with its sad face…..

And all too human hands….

  In a recent blog I wondered why animals don’t eat Sausage Tree leaves and seeing as the tree the baboon had been in was that species I was reminded to pick a leaf and taste it. I now know why nothing eats them. Taste – nasty, texture – awful, over-all verdict – terrible! 

 One of the highlights of our visit to Zambezi was a twenty-four hour mammal count at Chamabondo Vlei. Trevor has worked hard on behalf of Bhejane Trust to get the viewing platform and a nice sleeping-shelter built at number three pumped pan. From the platform there are great views up and down the vlei…..

 

 And we had animals at the water almost throughout the time we were there. Elephants and Eland came at night but Zebra…

Warthogs…..

And Sable were around most of the time….

Oh yes…. And baboons…

   We were reluctant to leave Chamabondo at the end of the count but of course, we could hardly complain with the Zambezi waiting for us for one more night……

We’re back at Sinamatella now and it’s a huge contrast with the Zambezi – still dusty and dry in most places. The views are not as pretty as they are along the river and I’m looking forward to the time when the harsh yellows and browns of the dry season view from the hill are replaced by a bit of green. Every day there are clouds, the elephants have already left for greener places elsewhere. The rain can’t be far away. Maybe when there's some natural food available out in the Park the baboons will leave our kitchen alone - but I doubt it!