In Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe

A few years ago, we donated a water hole in Hwange National Park, i.e. the borehole, the pump, the solar system and the photovoltaic system for the pump power. At Ray's pan, as the well is called, we also met our old friend Calvet, who once helped unveil the plaque commemorating us. Unfortunately, the well had very little water during our visit, as the elephants had massively enlarged the basin by removing the mud they needed to protect their skin. In addition, countless elephants drink from this well every day. As a result, the water supply could not keep up. A few weeks later, however, the well was filled with sufficient water again.

The rush for the arteficial water hole is continues unabated.

Our guide Trust (left) and Calvet (right) at ‘our’ water hole

Gisela, Calvet and Wolfgang at the water hole with unfortunately little water at the moment

But there was plenty of water at another well.

The next day we tracked down the mum leopard with her 2 cubs.

As always, a farewell visit to the 1 km long Victoria Falls

Visit to the Victoria Falls Antipoaching Unit (VFAPU)

As soon as we arrived in Victoria Falls, our friend Charles Brightman, the long-time head of the unit, welcomes us on the Zambezi.

Charles Brightman and Wolfgang Hennig on the Zambezi

We have Charles ...

... and his team I handed over an important and expensive piece of equipment to improve the fight against poaching.

Then we went on patrol with Charles.

However, the wound on his arm was not caused by a grazing shot, but by a thorn of a branch.

At the same time, his team found a young elephant.

When he was smaller, he had become entangled in a snare. As he grew, it had cut deep into his skin.

The elephant was anaesthetised and thus immobilised ...

... the snare was removed and the wound surgically treated.

The removed snare.

Help us to continue to support the anti-poaching unit with donations!

At the Chobe River

The Chobe River is a border river between Namibia (Caprivi Strip) and Botswana. It is characterised by a particular wealth of wildlife on both banks.

 

All the animals are thirsty and come to the river.

Not only the elephants, but also the buffalo swim in the river.

The hippo has a pigmentation disorder and is therefore avoided by other hippos.

Giraffes are particularly vulnerable when drinking.

Fish eagle

Crocodiles come in all sizes.

In the floodplain of the Linyanti River

We then travelled from the Okawango Delta to the Linyanti floodplain in northern Botswana. This area, which is relatively water-rich even in the dry season, provides a habitat for many animals.

For 2 hours, we followed the tracks of lions that had passed through our camp at night from our off-road vehicle. These were then lost in the tall grass. Our guide and his tracker then continued the search on foot and found what they were looking for. If they had stepped on a lion cub, however, there would have been big trouble with the mothers.

3 lionesses had given birth to a total of 11 cubs at the same time. These are now being raised together. The mothers take it in turns to provide services such as hunting or nursing. This means that every lion cub can suckle from every lioness, regardless of whether it is its own mother or not.

We had already discovered the daddies the day before. They had killed a huge giraffe.

 

The guide and his tracker search for the lions in the tall grass. Both are very experienced and brave.

The search was successful. 11 lion cubs were found

... and the 3 mums belonging to them

When breastfeeding, it doesn't matter whether it's your own child or not.

Resting or sleeping during or after breastfeeding

... or played.

After the big meal, daddy lion takes a long nap in the shade. (There were 2 other large male lions with him). The pictures were deliberately not edited to remove the grass. Then the pictures might have been nicer, but no longer authentic.

The number of cheetahs has already been reduced so much by the ever-shrinking habitat that in Zimbabwe, for example, all cheetahs are genetically related as if they were siblings. This poses a major threat to their population.

These two cheetah brothers stay together for life.

Elephant nursery in Harare

We then travelled from Lake Kariba to Harare. There we were warmly welcomed by the wildlife vet Dr Richard Hoare and his wife Sian Brown. We visited the elephant orphanage, which is also supported by our organisation and is officially called ZEN (Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery) and is part of the Wild is Life Foundation.

elephant nursery home (vlnr.) Jane Hunt (lion protector), Jos Danckwerts (leads with his mother the elephant nursery home ), Sian Brown, Dr. Richard Hoare, Dr. Wolfgang Hennig

They take loving care of the baby elephants

But there are far more animals who find a place...

... e.g. the crone crane

In the Okawango Delta

The safari started in the Okawango Delta in Botswana. The Okawango River rises in Angola and forms a delta in Botswana. It is 250 km long and has a difference in altitude of only 60 m. The lower reaches of the delta are marshy. Here reaches of the delta, the water supplied by Angola seeps into the Kalahari sand. It is therefore understandable that peripheral arms of the delta sometimes have no water during the dry season. The Okawango Delta is very rich in wildlife and therefore good for observing mammals and birds. The government in Botswana is very tough and protects the animals.

2 cheetahs (brothers) in the Okawango Delta

Cheetahs are on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List. Living in southern Africa, they are listed as "endangered" to "critically endangered". The reason for this is that humans are taking away more and more of their habitat. In Zimbabwe, therefore, there are only very few left, as Dr Lovemore Simbanda told us in a conversation. In Botswana, however, we were able to see some. Most of them live in Namibia.

The cheetahs that are still alive are genetically so closely related that organ transplants can be carried out like identical twins. The male cheetahs live mainly in associations (mostly litter brothers, as in the picture), while the females usually live alone after rearing their young.

Cheetahs are the fastest mammals in the world. They are thought to be able to run at speeds of up to about 120 km/h for short periods of time (just a few seconds).

There are still numerous lions in both Botswana and Zimbabwe. Especially in Zimbabwe, like all other wild animals, they are endangered in the long term due to increasing habitat loss.

Crowding of the lion cubs while suckling

Wilhelm Busch would have said about the crowd at the breakfast table: "And Papa looks silently, all around the table."

For the good meal there is a kiss for the mum.

After that, the cub can rest a bit and watch the world.

Wildlife of Africa

Observing wildlife in a largely untouched natural environment is something fascinating. Our association is committed to ensuring that this will still be possible in the future. Everyone can make a small contribution to this.

The hippo on the front page had received numerous fresh skin injuries from its rival.

Martial Eagle (Size ca. 0,80 m, Wingspan 1,90 - 2,40 m), male ca. 3,3 kg, female ca. 4,7 kg)

The white breast and belly feathers, interspersed with black spots, are characteristic of the Martial Eagle.

The martial eagle has just killed a impala the size of a European roe deer.

It is not entirely by chance that the Goliath Heron appears at the Kariba Lake in the evening sun. He still wants to have his evening meal. What happens next? Just scroll through.

Goliath Heron, Size ca 1,43 m, Weight ca 4,3 kg

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Anti-poaching unit CWF

The CWF's anti-poaching unit (https://www.conservationwildlifefund.org/) is supported by African Bushcamps (https://africanbushcamps.com/) and Imvelo Safari Lodges (https://www.imvelosafarilodges.com/), among others. After the Corona lockdown, foreign tourists can now come to Zimbabwe again. This gives the lodges the opportunity to better support the anti-poaching unit financially. The Field Co-ordinator of this unit is our old friend Steve. We met him 4 times. 

CWF Logo

Near the railway line on the north-eastern edge of Hwange NP is the camp of the anti-poaching unit.

The two dogs are Steve's constant companions.

After poachers made countless wire snares from the disused telephone line along the railway line on the north-eastern edge of Hwange National Park, Steve and his team dismantled many km of the wire.

Telephone wires removed by the Anti-poaching Unit

Steve and his team are always on the job (as in the giraffe rescue described below).

Vic Falls Anti-poaching unit (VFAPU)

Vic Falls Antiwilderei-Einheit VFAPU

From Vic Falls we also visited the Vic Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (VFAPU) in Vic Falls National Park. We were welcomed by the founder of this unit, Charles Brightman. He not only gave us a PP presentation about the work of this unit and led our safari through the park, but he even took us on a patrol of his anti-poaching unit. This unit had just recovered 22 (!) very well hidden snares. The day before, a buffalo had been cruelly killed by a snare. In all anti-poaching units we were told that most animals killed by snares die completely in vain, as the poachers do not collect them after death. They probably do not find the well-hidden snares themselves.

In 1999, Charles Brigthman founded this unit. Since its inception, it has removed over 22 000 wire snares from its area of operation and arrested over 750 hardened poachers.

The unit works closely with the Zimbabwe National Parks, Wildlife Authority and the Zimbabwe Republic Police. It is funded by animal rights activists, local stakeholders and supporters from around the world. VFAPU's existence is only possible through generous donations.

VFAPU is concerned with preventing poaching by apprehending poachers before they commit their crime or removing snares set out in time.

However, it is committed to educating the people in the neighbouring villages. They even tried to integrate former poachers. Unfortunately, this is only possible in Zimbabwe. However, the park borders the Zambezi on a wide front. On the other side of the river is Zambia. Poachers enter from there on a large scale. Here, the prophylaxis of poaching through education and support of the population is very limited.

First we went on a wonderful safari through Vic Falls National Park with Charles Brigthman.

Elephants passed close to our car.

A wonderful bird life also revealed itself.

Lilac-breasted Roller sitting ...

... and in flight.

The White-fronted Bee-eater is happy about its prey.

The Pied Crow presents itself nearby.

Then Mark Brightman took us to the Zambezi. At this point it is shallow, so it is very easy for poachers to get from Zambia to Zimbabwe at night on foot or by small boat.

Poaching hotspot on the Zambezi River

Later we joined the patrol of the anti-poaching unit. The rangers had previously discovered 22 (!) snares. Just the day before, a buffalo had died a gruesome death by a snare. 

In the bush with the patrol.

These brave men risk their lives as the poachers will stop at nothing.

Here the rangers present the snares they have found.

In the bush, these hidden snares are barely visible to humans and animals.

Here Charles shows us a snare.

As a thank you for the very good and also dangerous work, we presented the head of the anti-poaching unit Charles Brightman with 2 pairs of binoculars from Steiner Optik Bayreuth. These support the rangers in their work.

fltr. Wolfgang Hennig, Charles Brightman, Gisela Hennig

Rhinos near Victoria Falls

Near the town of Vic Falls there is a private protected area for rhinos. For interest's sake, of course, we also visited it, as for many years the rhinos have been reproducing well here thanks to extreme protection with 10,000 V-fences and a very effective, tightly organised anti-poaching unit.

 

 

Rhinos have been around for 50 million years.

It is so sad and appalling that they are so threatened by poachers.

They are killed for their nose horn.

In Chinese medicine, the horn is believed to be a potency and anti-cancer agent.

But the horn is only made of keratin, the same substance as our fingernails.

Um so dankbarer müssen wir sein, dass es Menschen gibt, die diese Tiere mit einem enormen finanziellen Aufwand schützen.

This rhino sanctuary was acquired by the late Sheikh Adel Aujan and made into what it is today. The rhinos are so protected that they are no longer even cut off their horns as a prophylactic measure.