The Wait

A hyena stands beside an old giraffe carcass under the storm clouds

A hyena stands beside an old giraffe carcass under the storm clouds

The Okaukuejo plains are silent. It is that time of the year when the big herbivore herds move to other parts of the park in search of food, water and whatever else interests them. The meat-eaters need to be patient as they ride out this famine.

Lions sit around empty waterholes, perhaps reminiscing on their dry season exploits. Hyenas wander around aimlessly searching for whatever they can find, and chew on old bones and leather from carcasses that are several months old. Vultures sit on their treetop homes, waiting for killers to do their job so that they can do their part.

The full moon brought with it the storm clouds. And the rains. The herbivores will now return. There will soon be much to feast on.

A lion waits near the Olifantsbad waterhole

A lion waits near the Olifantsbad waterhole

A juvenile white-headed vulture's yawn

A juvenile white-headed vulture’s yawn

A white-backed vulture taking-off from its perch

A white-backed vulture taking-off from its perch

A spotted hyena yawns as it walks into a pan

A spotted hyena yawns as it walks into a pan

Hyenas chewing on old bones and leather after a downpour

Hyenas chewing on old bones and leather after a downpour

A hyena chewing on old bones

A hyena chewing on old bones

A full moon peeks through the storm clouds over the Okaukuejo plains

A full moon peeks through the storm clouds over the Okaukuejo plains

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