When the Mongooses Came to Visit

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Geo: -24.7655, 26.2917

On my way to the hide this afternoon I came across a troop of Banded Mongoose. There are quite a few varieties, the type that come visit the lodge are banded mongoose. I stayed and watched them for a little while as they crawled all over each other and made little chirping like sound.

At the hide there was a little terrapin sitting on a rock in the waterhole sun baking- lucky for it there were no elephants around at this stage. Otherwise they would have disturbed it with their drinking, splashing, swimming and large size!

From out of the corner of my left eye I spotted an elephant, a teenage one. It was quickly leading the rest of the herd to the fresh water at the side of the waterhole. The rest of the herd soon appeared, comprising of two adults and three young ones. This herd didn't stay for too long, after a quick drink they disappeared back into the bush.

Soon after a dazzle of zebra came along, but they went to the wetlands and not the waterhole where the hide is, so it was hard to see them.

I then went back to the staff village. The mongooses were still around, so I watched them for a while. They were unfazed by my presence and went on with their antics while I took photos. The mongooses started off by climbing all over each other, causing them to become tangled. They then sniffed each other, had a little rest and then started gently biting each other. Mongooses are so animated and very interesting to watch.

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Photos

01 Cute
One of the cute mongoose that I found in the staff village.

02 Lookout
This one seems to be on the lookout.

03 Three
Three of the mongoose.

04 Sun Baking
A terrapin sun baking on a rock in the waterhole.

05 Leading
This young elephant is leading the herd to the water.

06 Flapping
On the way to the water it is flapping its ears.

07 Nearly There
The elephant is nearly there.

08 Rest
Here come the rest of the herd.

09 Breeding Herd
The breeding herd is made up of many young elephants.

10 Satisfied
The leader is satisfied now that he has drank some water.

11 Zebra
A dazzle of zebra coming down to the wetlands for a drink.

12 Zebra
A close up of the zebra on their way to the wetlands.

13 Climbing
The mongoose climbing all over each other.

14 All Over
These two mongooses are all over each other.

15 Tangled
Three mongooses all tangled up with each other.

16 Sniffing
Now they are sniffing each other.

17 Resting
This one is taking some time out from playing with the rest of the troop.

18 Sniffing & Resting
Four of the mongooses sniffing each other while they are resting.

19 Biting
This mongoose is biting the other.

20 Lying Down
Mongooses laying down.

21 Front Teeth
This mongooses two little front teeth are visible.