Drought - Changes in the Pongola River

[BRICKBURN]

The same stretch of the Pongola River inside the PONGOLA GAME RESERVE

Large Elephants waded across this river and were submerged two thirds of the way up their body.
Hippos hid in the pools and swam up the river under water.

July 2011

A little drier and a few sand bars were showing
July 2013

July 2013

Not even a trickle
February 2016

Shortly after this photo was taken a trickle came running down after a heavy rain up stream in the hills.

 

[siml]

Wayne, I was down there in January, looked terrible.

 

[BRICKBURN]

It's hard to believe that the reeds in the third picture were high enough to hide entire herds of Elephants completely.
It made for some interesting Kudu hunting when the over sized Grey Ghosts were walking in those reeds.

To see that river totally dry is just shocking. I can only imagine how tough it has been.

 

[siml]

The elephants are destroying the trees at rapid rate to get food.

 

[enysse]

That picture says a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CAustin]

Striking drought situation Wayne!

 

[BRICKBURN]

The elephants are destroying the trees at rapid rate to get food.

They took out a lot of trees when the growth was good. I can only imagine what they are doing when there is no other source of food for them.

 

[Dinsdale]

Hunted on the property right next door; that was the end of the dry season about 10 years ago and there was some flow in the river even then.

 

[BRICKBURN]

February 23, 2016

09:39

09:42

 

[thi9elsp]

What a difference. One's approach to finding the animals must completely change in those differing circumstances. Hope the rains pick up the last few months here for everyone over there.

 

[jeff]

I hunted on the Pongola game reserve in 09 or 10 and it sure looks different now!