This morning’s safari activities at Africa on Foot began extra early when everyone in camp was woken up by an animal commotion at 04h30! The unmistakable sound of a buffalo in distress bellowed through the darkness, while the determined growls of lions making a kill added to the frightening calls. Quick as a flash, the rangers were up and piled into the game viewer, breathless with anticipation. The site of the action was right in the middle of Africa on Foot camp, between the rangers’ block and the treehouse… where two Africa on Foot guests had spent the night! Watch Kevin’s interview with them after the event, here.
With no fences surrounding camp, we have become accustomed to the wildlife activity in and around the guest chalets, camp kitchen, and swimming pool – our camera traps show evidence of what goes on at night, and other animals arrive in plain sight! Our blog archives are brimming with stories about wild dogs killing an impala in camp, elephants drinking at the swimming pool, buffalo browsing through the grounds, honey badgers raiding the scullery, and a leopard killing a duiker just outside the land owner’s front door. This time, at 04h30, it was the Mapoza male lions and one of the Ross Breakaway lionesses catching and killing a buffalo just outside the treehouse!
This is what Kevin had to say about the events of early this morning:
Myself, Greg, Luan and Jen all woke up because we could hear a buffalo bellowing close by. That was 4:30am. We got the vehicle and found the lions still killing the buffalo on the access road at the treehouse. We could see the guests that were staying in the treehouse on their honeymoon were shining their spotlight to try see what was happening. We then left the sighting to pick them up in the vehicle and bring them down for a closer look. We identified the lions as the 2 Mapoza males and 1 Breakaway female (the older one with scar on her eye), and then went back to the lodge to get coffee and gather the other guests.
Greg and Enoch loaded their guests into the vehicle and went to get a closer look at the lions before heading out on their morning walking safari. The younger Mapoza male was a bit nervous so he kept his distance from the kill while the female and older male fed. When I went back there in my vehicle both males had moved off and only the female was eating.
This is the magic of the Africa on Foot treehouse! Out in the wild, sleeping beneath the stars, raised from the ground with a great view of the bush below. Our guests were on their honeymoon and had opted for a romantic night in the wild, but no one could have predicted just how wild it was going to be!
The lions have moved off for the time being, perhaps to drink and relax in the shade, but it is likely that they will go back to their meal in the cooler hours of the day. Hopefully we will see them return to camp later on!
Leave a Comment