нацпарк Водопады Мурчисона | Murchison Falls NP
Львица встала, потянулась, и, как будто бы не замечая косящихся на неё газелей, скрылась в камышах. Припарковавшись неподалеку, в ожидании её возвращения, мы наблюдаем за самой опасной работой в Африке. Озеро Альберт разлившееся перед нами кишмя кишит бегемотами, и буквально в нескольких метрах от них рыболовы забрасывают свои сети. При этом бегемоты считаются самыми опасными зверьми в Африке, уносящими тысячи жизней ежегодно, и большинство смертных случаев, это именно стычки бегемотов с рыбаками. Самцы бегемотов весьма территориальны, и иногда принимают приближающуюся к ним лодку за соперника посягающегося на их владения. Львица так и не вылезла из своего укрытия, и мы отправляемся дальше. Не проехав и сотни метров, мы вынуждены остановится - на дорогу перед нами выскочила импала. Легким прыжком она скрылась в кустах, но тут же за ней повалило все стадо - десятки, даже сотни голов. За ними последовало стадо угандийский козлов (Ugandan kob), потом стадо жирафов, и, наконец, на дорогу вышел слон. Нам пришлось прождать минут десять пока дорога расчистилась, и мы смогли продолжить наш путь.
Gallery | Галерея
Lioness got up, stretched its back, and hid in cattail marsh, not paying an ounce of attention to the gazelles sheepishly looking at her from only a few dozen feet away. Hoping that she is preparing an ambush, we park nearby awaiting her return, while watching local men engage in the most dangerous work in Africa. The shallow bay of Lake Albert in front of us is swarming with hippos, but local fishermen in flimsy boats are casting their nets only meters away from them. This is exactly why hippos are called the most dangerous animals in Africa, taking thousands of life every year. Conflicts between fishermen and hippos account for most of these fatalities. Hippo bulls are quite territorial, and often mistake fishing boats for a rival bull trying to steal his harem.
Lioness didn't leave her hideout, so we've moved on. But not having driven even a hundred meters, we were forced to stop again - an impala jumped out on the road in front of us. With a graceful leap, she disappears into the bushes, only to be followed by the rest of the herd - tens, if not hundreds heads strong. Following them, was a herd of Ugandan kob, then giraffes, until the bushes parted once more and an elephant stepped out onto the road. We spent a good tem minutes waiting for the road to clear until we could continue on our way.
Gallery | Галерея
Lioness got up, stretched its back, and hid in cattail marsh, not paying an ounce of attention to the gazelles sheepishly looking at her from only a few dozen feet away. Hoping that she is preparing an ambush, we park nearby awaiting her return, while watching local men engage in the most dangerous work in Africa. The shallow bay of Lake Albert in front of us is swarming with hippos, but local fishermen in flimsy boats are casting their nets only meters away from them. This is exactly why hippos are called the most dangerous animals in Africa, taking thousands of life every year. Conflicts between fishermen and hippos account for most of these fatalities. Hippo bulls are quite territorial, and often mistake fishing boats for a rival bull trying to steal his harem.
Lioness didn't leave her hideout, so we've moved on. But not having driven even a hundred meters, we were forced to stop again - an impala jumped out on the road in front of us. With a graceful leap, she disappears into the bushes, only to be followed by the rest of the herd - tens, if not hundreds heads strong. Following them, was a herd of Ugandan kob, then giraffes, until the bushes parted once more and an elephant stepped out onto the road. We spent a good tem minutes waiting for the road to clear until we could continue on our way.