THE WILDEBEEST HAVE STARTED CALVING!
The plains and woodlands around Ndutu are alive with wildebeest. Wherever we drive, we pass vast herds of bulls, adolescents and mothers, most of whom have given birth to their biscuit coloured youngsters who stick close to their sides.
Such a plethora of babies is all due to the interesting survival strategy wildebeest have evolved by synchronising their births. I’m sure I’ve said this before but it’s worth repeating, since the figures are so amazing, scientists estimate that up to 8000 calves a day are born over the main three week calving period. In fact this year, the main wildebeest expert, Dr Estes, reckons that the peak calving period took place in a brief one week. The first calves that are born are at great risk from predators such as lions, hyenas and also cheetahs. But as the calvings increase the predators are just swamped by so many and each individual then has a far greater chance of going unnoticed in the crowd. The last-born calves are again at greater risk as these wobbly, shaky youngsters stand out from their stronger siblings.
Many guests have seen actual births. One person timed a little calf getting to his feet a few days ago. He was on his feet and staying up in just under 5 minutes, suckled successfully after 9, and was running with his mother within 14 minutes. Evidence, indeed, that out of all the antelope, wildebeest give birth to the most precocious young.
As a result of a very wet January, the normally, parched yellow plains are now a vibrant green with a carpet of yellow, mauve, blue and white flowers. With 241 mm it was the wettest month ever recorded since our rain records began 18 years ago. Because of this, the area around the lodge has been much refreshed, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen it looking so beautiful. The lodge water hole itself is full of water, which is attracting my favourite animals, the elephants. They’ve been coming to drink and swim most days over the past week. Last night they left heaps of steaming evidence to show that they had silently passed between the guest rooms on their way to drink.
Unfortunately they don’t have a monopoly on the water hole. Giraffes, zebras and, to a lesser extent, wildebeest also come to drink, but have to patiently wait for the elephants to finish before drinking themselves. Apart from the elephants, the herds face another new problem. A hippo has taken up temporally residence in the pool and guards his new territory jealously. Marceli, a waiter who is in his 35th year at Ndutu has never known a hippo in the lodge water hole during his time. So we’re really lucky to have the most unusual and grand sight of watching the hippo grazing peacefully in front of the rooms in the late evening. He’s probably come from nearby Lake Masek and is enjoying the fresh water, which must be a pleasant change from the brackish water at Masek. But he’s outnumbered when 30 or so elephants pile into the pool like children on a summer outing, however once all the trumpeting and splashing of the elephants has stopped, he always seems to emerge unscathed and none the worst for the disturbance.
If last month was the cheetah month, then this is the month of the serval cats and the caracal. Lots of elusive spotted serval cats have been seen lately. I think they are the most beautiful of all the cats, even including leopards, and I always enjoy watching them stalking and then pouncing on rodents in the tall grass. The caracal, which is an African version of a lynx with long ear tufts are by far the most difficult cat to see at Ndutu and I haven’t seen any for over a year. Then, suddenly, I’ve seen three in a week. Last night we watched a young caracal being harassed by two black-backed jackals not far from the lodge. Although there was lots of snarling from the caracal, I don’t think either party was particularly bothered by the other.
One of the radio collared, European white storks, which I mentioned last month has arrived in Tanzania. He’s called Felix and has landed about 300 kilometres East of Ndutu and we’re hoping he’ll make it all the way here sooner or later.
For sheer numbers and variety of game, these past few weeks have been, and still are amazing. It really is a very exciting time, for nowhere else in the world can you see hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, huge herds of zebra, and so many fat, contented lions. To add to our excitement a newborn baby elephant was seen yesterday. All this adds up to an unparalleled spectacle of wildlife, which makes Ndutu the place to be.
Ndutu Safari Lodge
21/2/02
