The Days Of The Short Grass

It's a yearly cycle...Every year we burn the Pilanesberg, burn the grass I mean. And the reason for this is to remove and clear dead, old and useless grass. This then paves the way for new tasty grass to re-grow.

'Out with the old, in with the new so to speak'.

I have to admit...For photography purposes I love the short grass. It makes it easier to not only spot the animals but to get some great photo opportunities. So I'm pretty happy that over the last few weeks we have been burning sections/ blocks around the park. There has also been this constant haze in the air from the smoke which has given an interesting quality to the light, making the colors and light in the images really interesting.

I started at Ivory Tree Game lodge in Dec 2010. I found my favorite road to drive on when I got here to be Thutlwa drive. Almost every day I found Lion’s there and especially a group of 5 lionesses. One of these lionesses was most certainly pregnant. I happened to come across her one day just passed Thutlwa grave yard in the open plain. I picked her up from about 300m off and walking towards us, easy to do so as the grass was short and green just after the first bit of rain. (See pic attached) She came closer and closer and eventually noticed a couple of blue Wildebeest on the opposite side of the road…..She began to stalk….My guests and I could hardly contain our excitement. She continued to stalk and moved closer, eventually crossing in front of my car. The Wildebeest then saw her, alarm called and then scattered. The lioness was just not close enough to spring her attack and immediately gave up.

It's an amazing experience not only to witness the stalk and attempted hunt of this beautiful animal, but also to see the emotions of intensity while stalking and the disappointment showing all over her face once her cover had been blown.

This lioness now has 5 cubs. I have not been lucky enough as yet to see them. A couple of our rangers have had the good fortune of seeing them, but only once...I hope they are still all ok...I hope I get my chance to see them soon.