The Mighty Mapogos

[fursan syed]

The Warrior Mr T

I promised Tee Mapogo I would share any stories or experiences about the Mapogo. I was very lucky to have captured images of Mr T in 2009 both the day before and day after a big hunt.
The morning after at the watering hole, T and Shaka were together with some of their females and lots of cubs.
When we arrived T and Shaka were drinking at the little dam very unperturbed by any of us or the game vehicles but certainly quite aware of our presence.
T had his morning drink and then stood and looked off across the dam towards where the females and cubs were playing.
He then walked towards us and right by the side of the vehicle and for those who have never been to Sabi Sands the vehicles are rather open and exposed. So it's a bit spine chilling when a beast like this walks right past the vehicle and could very easily climb in if he wanted to and he was close enough you could reach out and touch him but no thank you 

*This image is copyright of its original author

:D
He then just walked casually past the vehicle in no rush at all but also somewhat checking us out that we were no threat to his cubs or family and then just walked to where the cubs were playing and plonked himself down.
Then the fun began with the cubs starting to play with him and annoy him. Being the warrior he had come to be known as and having a somewhat grumpy face that morning and a short temper he was actually extremely good with the cubs even though they persisted to continually annoy him.
It was a very interesting sighting and experience so see a serious force to be reckoned with be so gentle with his offspring. This was such a magical morning to sit and watch them and something I will never forget.
You can see a very familiar tail sticking in from the left of the frame in the one photo.

Writing and Photo Credits to Mitchell Krog

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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