BOAT CRUISE SIGHTINGS

Boat cruises along the Mzinene River are fantastic, and most times I am surprised by something we see. Often they include crocodiles, water monitors, and an amazing array of birdlife. This particular boat cruise included something very out of the ordinary. From a long distance off we spotted something white, floating in the river, we all got our binoculars out and started debating on what it was, crocodile? Plastic bag? Bird? Barbell? We just could not figure it out. Even once we had gotten very close it took a few minutes to uncover the mystery. It was a large male nyala, you could not see the body, only the neck, which was contorted backwards, and head, with the lower jaw sticking out the water. You could see crocodiles and fish feeding on the carcass which was already degrading. Although this was a fascinating find, the stench made us flee.

Posted: Phinda by Felicity Swanepoel, Date: 21 September 2010