A week in Moremi
9 May
I have come to the Earth Touch film camp to assist Jason, while Brad is on leave. I have been friends with Jason since we worked together 2 years ago in the Makgadikgadi pans and I jumped at the chance to join him in Moremi. The last time I was here, was over the New Year and a lot has changed. Most areas are almost unrecognisable. It’s all due to the annual flood of the Okavango Delta having arrived in the last month. As such, my week has been rather interesting. It quite remarkable to witness how the flood has affected the roads and crossings of Moremi. Some crossing are now impassable and home to large crocodiles; floodplains, once dry, are now small lakes; roads have become rivers.
All this has made getting around and following the Xakanaxa pride interesting to say the least. There was 3rd Bridge being closed for repairs, well to vehicles anyway, but not the big Xakanaxa male lions. Then the very next day, her sister bridge, 4th Bridge, collapsed under our very wheels as we followed the rest of the Xakanaxa pride. Now that bridge needs repairing, which is underway and should be completed soon.
The Xakanaxa pride themselves, have covered much of their territory during the week under the cover of darkness. First arriving from the south, crossing back over 3rd Bridge onto Mboma Island, then returning east. With most of their days, being spent sleeping in the shade.
With the constant drenchings from driving anywhere in Moremi, a fair amount of our time in camp has been spent under the film truck, checking the oils of gearbox, differentials and transfer case for water. Luckily the seals are holding and the oils and grease are still water-free.
All in all, it has been a memorable week, spending time with the Xakanaxa Pride. My week’s highlight was a first for me, the fight between the 2 Mboma males. In 12 years working with African wildlife, that is something I had never seen and will remain with me forever.
With more water coming, filming in the Moremi will only become more and more challenging.
Who knows what the next week will bring?
- Leo Hughes
Good luck and look forward to your posts and adventures!
Another bridge down! Looks like this water is doing some serious damage.
I wonder the effect on general game viewing that this much water is having in Moremi, has is pushed or dispersed animals out of the Mopane Tongue to drier land?
Thanks for the updates guys, keep up the good work but try not to destroy more bridges, leave some for us
Adios
Great posts. We hope to be at 3rd Bridge at the beginning of June. What are road conditions like/ Can you get in and out of your camp to south Gate?
Hi Manu
Cheers, but unfortunately my adventure is going to be a short one.
I’ll be doing a couple more posts before I leave.
Thanks
Leo
ps: I’m considering chaining myself to the film truck.
Hi Dani
The higher water has not seemed to have affected the animals movements too much. It is really only the buffalo that have stayed out of the Xakanaxa area, but there are a couple of herds on Mboma Island, around the 2nd Bridge area.
Jason
Hi Mike
Thanks for the support.
The roads are very wet, but passable. Stick to previous tracks and you should not have any major problems.
We use the Xakanaxa – South Gate road to get in & out of camp, it is the best bet at the moment.
Cheers
Jason
It is really a nice post, its always great reading such posts, this post is good in regards of both knowledge as well as information. Thanks for the post.
Agreed, it is a nice post, tame in comparison to australia at the moment, ours thoughts are with those families.