After breakfast, we set out on a bush walk with Voster and Jesse. Both had loaded bolt action rifles. Before we started, we were instructed to follow Voster's signals: a fist in the air meant freeze, a hand up meant stop and a hand parallel to the ground meant get low. Under no conditions were we to run as that means we are prey.
Voster started by showing us a huge indentation in the sand which meant an elephant had possible laid down. Elephants don't usually do that as it is hard to get up. When they do rest down low, they may lean against a termite mound.
Speaking of termites, we learned their colonies are similar to ants. Depending on the size of their mounds, they can be hundreds or thousands of years old. We looked at one that was six hundred years old. They build them with spit and one grain of sand at a time. Some termite mounds have holes at the top used for "air conditioning" as the hot air is released. Sometimes termite mounds are abandoned after the queen dies. Then they become dens for hyenas (such as the one in the video I sent) or wild dogs.
Voster pointed out some yellow thrashing grass which is used for roofing because nothing eats it. Other facts: Hyena poop is white because they eat bones. Then turtles eat the poop to strengthen their shells. You can count the lines on a shell to determine the turtle's age. Impalas can hold onto their babies for up to 28 additional days if there is no rain, and the babies might not survive in extremely arid conditions. It takes 8 years for a baby elephant to get skilled with his trunk. Elephants are left or right handed. The longer tusk shows the favored "hand."
Zebras run together to confuse predators. Every zebra has a different pattern. Mom and babies know each others stripes. They have stripes because they have to forage for food for long periods of time in the hot sun. The black and white stripes act like convection to cool them off. The stripes also irritate insects so they are less likely to land.
More facts later!
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