NAMIBIA DIARY

Sunday 27th March.

By Wednesday afternoon we were able to begin with the routine activities, one team getting to grips with the data input while the other went out on the game count. The follow-up team had their introduction to telemetry (and came across a male cheetah spoor). One day before the full moon and a reasonably clear night, we walked along the dried-up river bed and up on to the damn wall in the evening to appreciate the night sounds and glowing animal eyes.Thursday was quiet with a dramatic storm, making telemetry impossible, but Friday and Saturday brought new signs of considerable cheetah activity: signals were received from cheetah no. 2 as well as nos. 15 and 16, the brother coalition. Just to the east of the farm, perhaps they are responsible for spoors located next to the two northern box traps. Spoors were also discovered along the eastern fence line, presumably from uncollared animals. Waterhole observations have brought a close encounter with a warthog family and yesterday we were able to observe bat-eared foxes. Though usually shy, this group seemed unperturbed by our presence. Now at the end of the rainy season there are lots of little waterholes amongst the greenery, many filled with turtles. Meanwhile everyone has settled into the rhythm of life at base camp. The night time animal invasion much talked about over breakfast on Friday turned out to be donkeys. The horses have also chosen the camp as a grazing ground once we leave the camp fire at night.