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Healthy beetroot smoothie

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“Believe in yourself! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”
– Hosea Ballou

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Lightbox Gallery

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Don’t forget to explore these things in Iceland

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Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora.
Torquent per conubia nostra
Per inceptos himenaeos.

Masters of Disguise: The Art of Camouflage and Natural Adaptation in the Wild

The rosettes of a leopard, the painted markings of a wild dog, the tawny coat of a lion, and the dazzling stripes of a zebra, each pattern tells a remarkable story of survival, disguise and camouflage in the wild.
In the African bush, camouflage isn’t reserved for predator or prey. It’s the story of adaptation, shaped by evolution. Nature’s ingenuity reveals itself in every coat, every colour, every clever deception.

In this post, we explore how natural selection has curated the art of blending in. From subtle hues to striking patterns, each one is a strategy in the endless dance of hunter and hunted. It’s what makes every safari an exhilarating challenge! Tracking creatures designed in blend seamlessly into the landscapes they live in.

Camouflage is nature’s art

Camouflage is a survival strategy that has been shaped by evolution. Whether predator or prey, animals have adapted with colours, patterns, and behaviours that help them vanish into their surroundings.
For prey, it makes them harder to be spotted and seen by hungry eyes.

For predators, it’s their weapon. Allowing them to move unseen as they stalk or wait to ambush their next meal from a bush. This invisible dance is a constant push and pull. As prey evolve better camouflage, predators sharpen their vision and instincts. Camouflage is a living conversation between hunter and hunted. It is an example of evolution that continues to tick, written in shades of shadow and light.

Is it a log? Is it a leaf? Or is it a cat about to ambush?

Mimicking ground cover, the textures of plants and the dappled light of trees. The range of genius adaptation is testament to nature’s limitless creativity.

From concealing colouration that allows an animal to melt into its environment, to disruptive colouration that breaks up the outline of a body, from mimicry and disguise, where animals imitate other objects or species, to counter-shading, which uses light and shadow to flatten and obscure. Each strategy plays a crucial role in the art of survival.

A pangolin’s scales mimic the dry leaves on the floor of the bush

A puff adder blends beautifully into the earth, perfectly designed to ambush prey

Fixed and active camouflage

The tawny coat of a lion allows it to blend seamlessly into the golden grass of the savannah. It’s an example of both concealing and fixed colouration. Especially during the dry season, when the land fades into dusty shades of gold honey and amber. This is the lion’s prime hunting time. Not only does its camouflage become more effective, but the thinning foliage makes prey easier to spot and stalk.

Look closely and you’l notice darker markings on the tips of a lion’s ears. These serve as important visual cues for young cubs following adults through tall grass or underbrush. It’s one of the subtle but vital ways a pride stays connected on the move or coordinating during a hunt.

Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon!

Often the first creature that springs to mind when considering camouflage is the chameleon. There are few animals that embody the concept of camouflage quite like this unique and distinct reptile. The chameleon is an example of active camouflage. It has the ability to shift its colouration in response to its surroundings.

Recent research suggests that a chameleon’s colour changes are influenced more by mood, stress, and social signalling (like feeling frisky or territorial) than camouflage alone. Like a living mood ring. Still, these ever-changing hues are only possible because the chameleon is already naturally well-camouflaged within its habitat.

Flap neck chameleons are commonly found in the Kruger and Botswana, if you’re lucky enough to spot one.
Their colour variation goes from pale yellow through green shades to brown. (Resting bright green)
This allows them to blend into the surrounding hues of the bushveld. The place to keep a eye out for these cute critters is crossing the road and during night game drives as the light reflects off of them making them easier to spot. It’s unforgettable when a tracker pulls over to show you one of these tiny, camouflaged creatures!

The are other animals that rely on seasonal camouflage. It means they change their appearance over time to match the shifting landscape. Take the Arctic fox, it is brown in summer and white in winter. Allowing it to blend in perfectly with snow-covered terrain and then the earth as the ice melts. Whether slow and seasonal or swift and reactive, these adaptations are all part of nature’s intricate strategy for survival.

Developmental camouflage

Hyena pups are born with dark, almost black coats, which gradually lighten and develop spots as they grow older.
This early dark colouration serves a purpose. It helps the pups blend into the shadows of their dens while their mothers are away hunting. They can wait in the entrance and remain somewhat hidden or scurry into the tunnels to escape danger. It’s a form of developmental camouflage, designed specifically for the vulnerable early stages of life.

In the case of hyena pups, it is not the season that changes but their role in the wild. As they grow stronger and venture out into the wilderness, their spotted, lighter coats serve as better camouflage.

The bold and the beautiful

Spots, stripes, and bold patterns serve a powerful purpose in the wild. They break up and fragement the outline of an animal’s body, blending it into the surrounding environment and making it difficult to detect. Known as disruptive colouration, it can be in stillness and in movement depending on the animal.

Since most mammals, including many predators, are colourblind and see primarily in black and white, this form of camouflage is particularly effective for prey and predator alike.

Animals such as leopards, cheetahs, kudu, zebras, and many ground-dwelling birds and reptiles all rely on disruptive colouration to avoid detection, to stealthily approach their target or to confuse them.

Why did all the zebra cross the road?

To confuse the lion?! Zebras (according to our eye sight) do anything but blend into the landscape. Their bold black and white stripes are a striking contrast to the subtle hues of the African wilderness.

To a colourblind predator, a fleeing herd appears as a confusing, chaotic blur. Stripes merge and shift, making it difficult for them to isolate a single target.

This dazzling effect not only disrupts vision (and is where their collective comes from!) but also plays into one of the most fascinating outcomes of natural selection. It is a survival strategy that has developed and relies on the safety of the group. Disruptive colouration in species like zebra doesn’t just protect the individual, it is has evolved with the species as a whole.

By guest, Paul Zimmer

Master of disguise

He/she-who-shall-not-be-found (unless he wishes), the ultimate master of disguise – the elusive leopard.
Its rosetted coat serves as disruptive colouration, breaking up the shape of its body and helping it disappear into the dappled light of tree canopies or the broken textures of dry bush. At the same time, its overall tawny colour allows it to blend seamlessly into its surrounding landscape making it a ghost in plain sight.

This combination of pattern and tone makes the leopard a master of stealth and disguise. An exquisite and beautiful example of adaptation perfectly designed for silent ambush.

Perhaps, that is what makes seeing a leopard one of the most enthralling encounters when on safari.

A leopard tortoise, part of the small 5

On safari, games drive and bush walks are like treasure hunts through the wild where nothing is quite as it seems.
A boulder that turns out to be a hippo, bark that turns out to be an owl, the swish of a tail alerting you to a lion laying down. Nature hiding its wonders in plain sight. Asking us to slow down and tune into the landscape and expand our awareness. To tap into our senses and to fully experience the wild not just observe it.

Explore our iconic collection of safari lodges and boutique bush camps in the Greater Kruger and Botswana.
Chat to our reservations team here to book your next wild adventure into the African bush

The striking horns and markings of a male kudu

Your Guide To The Wild: Meet Lozanne From Africa on Foot

This month we are celebrating remarkable women in wildlife. Meet Lozanne, our passionate head guide and manager of Africa on Foot.

Nestled in the heart of the untamed Klaserie, Africa on Foot specialises in immersive walking safaris.
A major drawcard not only for adventurous guests but also for guides like Lozanne who thrive on the rare opportunity to walk though Big 5 territory on foot. She is able to bring the bush to life, sharing her vast knowledge and passion for every intricate detail of the wild with guests.

Where did you grow up and what first drew you to the bush?

“I was born and raised in Pretoria, just north of Johannesburg. My family loved to go camping and granddad had a citrus farm with cattle on it where I spent most of my school holidays. Both my parents had a love for the bush and that resulted in me loving it and wanting to be part of it from a very young age. I always wanted to explore the bush and learn about it and be part of conserving it. Becoming a Field guide made it possible to explore the bush and to learn everyday by being able to show guests the bush and help conserve through educating.”

Do you remember your very first safari experience?

“I remember a Kruger National Park school trip we did in Grade 2. It was a week long and we did day trips through the KNP and even did the panorama route, visiting Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre and staying in the KNP camps. I distinctly remember the night drives, seeing the hyenas and the bushbabies.”

How did you become a guide? What was your journey like?

“I didn’t study to be a Field guide directly after school; I worked an office job in Cape Town first for about 3 years. Then an opportunity opened to go study Field guide at one of FGASA’s training providers. I did a 4-month course and from there it has been a self-study journey in my guiding career. From there I went to work at a wildlife sanctuary and took care of the predators they housed. I then moved to a commercial lodge where I worked and accumulated hours and experience so I could advance to the next level in the guiding qualification. I’ve always wanted to work in the Kruger area, so an opportunity opened to do volunteer conservation work, and I took it and loved it! But a few years ago, I wanted a new challenge, and I came to Sun Destinations and I’m now working in the Africa on Foot camp and enjoying it every day!”

How has your experience been as a female guide in a role that was traditionally dominated by men?

“It’s has been a journey of learning how strong you are when you do get push back where they underestimate your ability but MAN!!! The satisfaction when you prove them wrong is soo sweeeetttt! By experiencing being underestimated, you are also being pushed to test your own abilities and skills far beyond what you thought you are capable of and that to me is the beauty in it. For the more they want to prove that ladies don’t belong the more we as ladies are proving the opposite. And for me I honestly know that everyone has his/hers strong or weak points and that collectively makes us are stronger in a team regardless of if you’re a lady or a gentleman.”

How long have you been at AOF? What’s your favourite thing about the Klaserie?

“I have been with AOF since February 2025. My favourite thing about Klaserie… mmm.. I would say the variety of landscapes that allows for a variety of animal and bird life to occur which of course reminds us that there is never a dull moment in the bush.”

Africa on Foot evening visitors

What’s your favourite thing about living and working in the wild?

“The peacefulness of it, that after a long busy day in camp, when you go out for the afternoon drive and the sun is setting there is a peacefulness and quietness the just takes over which is just so contagious, and you forget about whatever was bothering you in the day. In the morning to see the bush wake up and the sun warming the cold landscape and life just starts awakening, it’s like the quiet before life’s daily storm hits.”

What’s the most valuable thing you ever learnt from the bush?

“Patience… and excepting that not everything has to work according to plan. Sometimes the bush will go its own way, and you should just trust it and go with it, it will all work out the way it should. Appreciate the good times when the bush is showing off all its secrets and beauty but also appreciate the quiet times when the bush is hiding its secrets.”

What are guests are often surprised to learn about safari life?

“The early morning wake-up!! That we as guides have a working schedule of 6 weeks full day schedule with 2 weeks off. That we are living on site and can call this home for 6 weeks (I think we sometimes take it for granted the privilege of it)”

Leopard hanging out in the Klaserie

Do you have a favourite animal sound or bird call?

“HYENAS!!!!! Love them to bits, I know they are stinky and do gross yucky things, but they are so important in the bush and have a very important role to play. They are very intelligent and can be silly at times!

But I love spending time with elephants, I always find it humbling when they let us sit with them being part of the herd and just allowing us to observe the intricacies of the herd and its individuals.

I enjoy the Burchell’s Coucal call, I love summer and love the rain and having them call after a rain shower just makes it special.

The call of the Double banded sandgrouse at sunset at a pan when they come to drink water.”

Any experiences or animal encounters that you’ll never forget or moments that stand out?

“Sjoe! There is so many I can think of…. How do you single them out…

Scariest – When I found myself facing an elephant bull in musth not knowing there is a breeding herd behind him, and he did not appreciate my presence and was very clear of it and made sure I practice my reversing skills as fast as possible.

Cutest – Seeing a newborn baby rhino discovering the bush with mom and their curiosity about everything, how they smell and taste everything. Once we saw a mom at a dam drinking water and the calf decided it also wants to try this. He came took a sip, spat it out as quick as possible. Turned around in disgust, whined and went to drink milk from mom.

Funniest – Seeing hyenas trying every possible trick or solution to get to a leopards kill in the tree. I have seen them trying to climb a tree, too clumsy for that, and trying to chew a tree down!

Intriguing – A hyena discovered a dam drying up and was busy catching catfish in a very muddy puddle. He would catching a slippery one, kill it, and walk away to go hide it close by in the bush, comes back and do it again, come back, eats one, hide one. Until at a point when you saw him stopping and thinking after stashing a catfish, he then went back to a different spot and took the catfish from that spot and hid is under the other spot, he most likely thought that the one spot was a better hiding spot then the one before.

Most Unexpected – One morning I was following a pride of lions, we discovered them feeding. The females were laying under a thicket and cubs of about 6 months was feeding on something, was difficult to make out what it was from where we were parked. Then as we watch the cubs feeding, one of the cubs lifted the leg of the carcass and I saw it was a lion paw… I was like, what?.. I repositioned and saw that the carcass was indeed female lion carcass… it was not one of the moms, so we don’t know who and where this female came from on which the cubs were feeding on.”

What do you hope guests take away from a safari with you?

“Respect… respect for the bush and its inhabitants but also experience the magic of being able to have been in the animal’s presence and to have been able to be part of their daily lives in the bush.”

Lozanne is a passionate and knowledgeable guide whose wealth of experience makes her an asset to the world of conservation and wildlife as well as Sun Destinations.

As camp manager at Africa on Foot, she ensures the tooth sailing of life at camp, all while inspiring others with her dedication and love for the wild. Whether behind the scenes or out on safari, Lozanne savours every opportunity to share the wonders of the wild with guests. A role model for all aspiring conservationists and young women considering a career in wildlife!

To explore the vast wilderness of the Klaserie, contact our reservations team here.

Radical Women That Have Shaped The World of Conservation

In honour of Women’s Day in South Africa, we are celebrating the trailblazing women who have made radical contributions to the world of conservation.

These remarkable role models have and are shaping a more sustainable, inclusive, and wild future for generations to come. We honour their legacies and the powerful impact they’ve had on how we protect, respect, and care for our Earth.

Gombe, Tanzania – Jane Goodall and infant chimpanzee reach out to touch each other’s hands. (National Geographic Creative/ Hugo Van Lawick)

Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall is one of the most respected and influential female conservationists in history. Her journey began in the early 1960s, when she ventured into the forests of Gombe, East Africa, to study wild chimpanzees. This bold move as a young 26 year old secretary from England would change the world’s understanding of primates.

This happened at a time when it was almost unheard of for women to work in the field of primatology. Jane broke these barriers and paved the way for future generations. Thanks to her, the once male-dominated field is now made up almost equally of women and men.

Her revolutionary discoveries included the first recorded observation of chimpanzees using tools and their emotional and social connection. These reshaped the world’s understanding of animal behaviour. It brought to light the social similarities and emotional connections between humans and chimps.

She found that “it isn’t only human beings who have personality, who are capable of rational thought and emotions like joy and sorrow.” She also observed behaviours such as hugs, kisses, pats on the back, and even tickling, what we consider “human” actions. Goodall insists that these gestures are evidence of “the close, supportive, affectionate bonds that develop between family members and other individuals within a community, which can persist throughout a life span of more than 50 years.”

Jane Goodall

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. what you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make”

Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall rose to fame and used this as a way to champion conservation efforts. In the 70’s she began a The Jane Goodall Foundation

She realised the vital importance of raising awareness about conserving chimpanzees and the shrinking wild spaces of our world. She has been a tireless advocate for preserving our natural world with a career spanning over 6 decades.

She continues to inspire countless individuals. She founded the Roots & Shoots programme which focuses on educating and empowering the next generation of conservationists. It has inspired tens of thousands of young people around the world to care for and take action in protecting nature and its inhabitants.

A documentary on her life Jane is worth watching. It has incredible footage from her early years in Gombe as well as depicts what life was like for Jane as both a mother and conservationist.

Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai was a remarkable Kenyan enviromental and political activist that founded The Green Belt Movement.

The Green Belt Movement encouraged rural women in Kenya to plant trees. Through planting trees it not only combatted deforestation but generated income for the communities and empowered the women. It conserved and uplifted the environment while vastly improving livelihoods. Since Maathai founded the Movement, over 50 million trees have been planted and over 30,000 women have been trained in forestry, food processing, beekeeping, and other sustainable, income-generating activities.

In 2004, this inspiring woman became the first ever African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

This speech depicts her practical, radical and sustainable approach that helped conservation efforts benefit communities. Lasting conservation uplifts and protects people, the land and wildlife.

“When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and hope”
– Wangari Maathai

Wangaari Maathai and Obama

Joy Adamson

Joy Adamson was a wildlife activist, naturalist, artist, and author. She is best known for her book Born Free which tells the extraordinary true story of Elsa, a lioness that Joy and her husband, George Adamson (a game warden in Kenya), raised and successfully rehabilitated into the wild.

Joy, George, and Elsa the lioness

Elsa was the first lioness ever to be reintroduced to her natural habitat and her story captured the hearts of millions. Published in 1960, Born Free became an international bestseller, spending 13 weeks at the top of The New York TimesBest Seller list. It was made into a box office movie which solidified Elsa’s story and Joy’s work as iconic in the world of wildlife conservation.

She went on to rehabilitate a cheetah named Pippa and well into her late 60’s, a leopard named Penny.
These amazing experiences are chronicled in her books The Spotted Sphinx and The Queen of Shaba.
They provided fascinating insights along with deeply personal stories that bridged the gap between humans and wild animals.

Joy was one of the founding members of the World Wildlife Fund and established the Elsa Conservation Trust.
She dedicated her life to raising awareness and funds for the protection of wildlife. She pioneered helping to shift public perception and policy at a time when conservation efforts were just beginning.

Daphne Sheldrick

Daphne Sheldrick was a conservationist and an expert in raising, rearing and reintegrating elephants into the wild for over 30 years. She founded the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. A haven for orphaned elephants and rhinos that rescues and reintegrates them.

Her story in conservation began when in the years 1955-76, she was co-warden of Tsavo National Park with her husband. During this time she rehabilitated all kinds of wild creatures back to the wild from elephants to elands, kudus, impalas, duikers, reedbuck, dikdiks, warthogs, civets, mongooses and birds. She became an authority on rearing wild animals and was the first to perfect the right formulas for young elephants that had lost their mothers. The Sheldrick trust continues on today and has saved over 300 orphaned elephants and many other wild creatures.

She wrote an autobiographical memoir on her life in Kenya and journey with conservation called An African Love Story: Love, Life, and Elephants.

Greta Thunberg

This young, straight-talking, fearless woman is a symbol of youth-led environmental activism and a powerful voice in the global climate justice movement.
Greta gained recognition during a solitary school strike that she did in Sweden at the age of 15.

Greta and other young activists

Since then she has challenged world leaders and remains dedicated to fighting for climate justice.

“How dare you? You have stolen my dreams and my childhood”

Watch Greta Thunberg’s speech addressing world leaders here

She began the Fridays for the future movement, a youth-led and organised global climate strike movement. It encourages youth all over the world to stand together and take action. Their call for action sparked an international awakening, with students and activists uniting around the globe to protest outside their local parliaments and city halls. Fridays for Future is part of a hopeful new wave of change, inspiring millions of people to take action on the climate crisis.

Zandile Ndhlovu

Zandile became the first black female free-diving instructor and is a passionate ocean advocate and conservationist based in South Africa. After her affectionate nickname, she founded the Black Mermaid Foundation .

The foundation organises ocean exploration programmes for children and young people across the country, where they learn to swim, watch penguins play, and discover the African Sea Forest, a vast underwater ecosystem. She saw the need for the ocean to become accessible for all South Africans. By sharing and exposing them to the wonders of the marine world and fostering a deeper connection to the ocean, it encourages African communities to also become part of the climate change conversation.

Follow her inspiring stories on instagram @zandithemermaid

Zandile is diving headfirst into creating systematic change, reshaping cultural narratives and inspiring ocean conservation

These inspiring leaders of change remind us that conservation is not just science—it’s a deeply human effort rooted in justice, courage, and care. We all have a part to play and we all have the ability to make a difference.
Their voices inspire hope, resilience, and a call to action. By protecting our oceans, wildlife and wilderness, we also protect one another and ensure a bright future for all to still come.

Experience the magic of the wild for yourself. Contact our reservations team directly here

Chacma Bush Camp Stylishly Reimagined: The Ultimate Boutique Safari Escape

Immersed in the wilderness, a bird’s eye of Chacma Bush Camp

Get intimate with the wild at Chacma Bush Cam p

With the recent stylish and thoughtful upgrades around camp, Chacma Bush Camp is more charming than ever. Located in the heart of the diverse and rugged terrain of the Maseke Balule Nature Reserve, this 8000 hectare reserve dotted with rocky outcrops and undulating hills offering expansive views and panoramic vantage points. The Olifants River flows through this wildlife-rich area ensuring a variety of landscapes in an uncrowded region. Every moment is bursting with adventure, whether on a game drive or while relaxing at camp.

Wildlife comes to you at Chacma

A major drawcard for Chacma is the small waterhole situated just in front of the camp. Watch the resident family of warthogs come to drink while sipping on delicious G&T’s around the pool. Enjoy lounging on deck chairs while terrapins sunbathe on the rocks alongside you. Unwind with a book in hand in the comfortable open-air lounge while elephants saunter by. The unobtrusive elephant fence around camp ensures they can’t wander into camp. There is never a dull moment at Chacma Bush Camp.

Every moment is an adventure in the wild

The newly updated lounge area offers guests an inviting space to relax and unwind at camp. Whether it’s curling up with a good book on the couch, watching the kids play in the pool from the comfort of the shade, or simply soaking in the beauty of the surrounding nature, this new comfortable addition creates the perfect spot to slow down and reconnect.

Quiet spaces to reconnect

Enjoy a delicious gourmet lunch in the lapa as a gentle breeze whistles through. Keep an eye out for the cheeky vervet monkeys. They’re known to drop by especially when something sweet is on the menu! Meals are served in the open-air dining area so you won’t miss any unexpected visitors who might wander in for a drink or a curious look. Indulge in gourmet dishes and refreshing drinks surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wild.

Lunch is served

Echoes of the wild all around

As the bush comes alive with the sounds of the night, gather around the crackling campfire in the boma, sharing stories beneath a sky streaked with shooting stars. It overlooks the waterhole where a floodlight ensures any nighttime visitors will not be missed.

Bush TV and good company

Luxuriously reimagined

Chacma is the ideal boutique bush getaway for intimate groups or family gatherings. Children of all ages are welcome at Chacma. With only 3 stone cottage rooms, it sleeps a maximum of 10 guests. All rooms have their own private patios. Bathrooms are en-suite and the Klipspringer Chalet has an outdoor shower for star and sun lit showers.

Steenbok chalet leads onto a private veranda overlooking the waterhole while the others enjoy garden and wild views. All chalets can accommodate children. Klipspringer and Grysbok are more spacious family chalets. Klipspringer offers the most space with daybeds that can be used to sleep children. While Grysbok is a family suite with 2 separate but connected bedrooms.

Klipspringer chalet

Steenbok chalet sits on the waters edge

Bunk beds in the Grysbok chalet are perfect for families with teens

The rooms have been stylishly and elegantly updated. From the dreamy beds with the highest quality linen – making the early morning wake up calls just a little bit more challenging as you will not want to leave the cloud you’re sleeping on- to the serene seating areas perfect for lazy afternoons post game drive. All rooms are all equipped with their own coffee and tea stations so that you can enjoy the peaceful views from bed while sipping on your morning brew.

Thoughtful design touches curated with nature in mind

Views from Steenbok chalet

Explore the uncrowded undulating reserve around Chacma on twice-daily game drives with expert guides.
This wildlife-rich region is full of rocky outcrops perfect for sighting lazing leopards, waterholes with resident hippos and predators on the prowl. Adventuring through the 8000 hectare reserve, game drives are packed with incredible encounters and unbelievable sightings.

Stay tuned for more exciting changes and updates on the way at Chacma Bush Camp.
To book your next boutique bush escape contact our reservations team here.

Predators of the Skies: Birds of Prey in Action

Dry season has been full of non-stop predator-prey action. Predators take their natural advantage of the thinning bush and transformed landscapes that the golden season brings. Not limited to land or the skies, birds of prey are some of the most fascinating and skilled hunters. With exceptional vision, lightning-fast speed, lethal precision, and razor-sharp talons, birds of prey are more than just awe-inspiring predators. They play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. By controlling prey populations and cleaning up carrion, they help sustain the delicate balance of life in the bush.

Masters of the skies

With over 500 bird species in Southern Africa along, birds add another level of depth and interest on safari. While the summer season brings colourful flocks of migratory birds returning to escape the northern winters, it’s the unfolding drama of birds of prey in action during the dry season that truly sparks flutterings of excitement among birders at this time of year.

From the iconic and haunting call of the African fish eagle to the striking appearance of Secretary bird as elegantly strides across the savannah in search of snakes to hunt. These creatures add a captivating layer of awareness to the bush. Not only do the add flashes of bright colour to the bush, birds are good bioindicators of healthy ecosystems. Where they thrive, life thrives.

Because of their ability to easily move and sensitivity to environmental shifts, birds often show the first signs of ecological imbalance.

Vulture perched atop a tree waiting for the next kill

Eagle-eyed

One the distinct advantages that birds have as predators is their extraordinary vision. The saying the eyes of an eagle or hawk exist for a reason! Eagles have the sharpest eyesight in the animal kingdom and are capable of spotting and focusing on prey up to 3km away!

This incredible vision is what sets them apart, the ability to detect the slightest movements and tiny details while soaring high above or perched from atop a tree.

African Fish Eagle

The iconic African Fish eagle with it’s hauntingly beautiful call will patiently wait perched high above a body of water in a tree top. It surveys the surface the water until powerfully swooping down with total precision to grab fish with its sharp talons. While fish make up the majority of its diet, the African Fish Eagle has also been known to prey on other birds such as flamingos, and even small mammals, including monkeys and hares.

Bateleur Eagle

The Bold Bateleur

Known for its distinct aerial acrobatics, the Bateleur Eagle is easily spotted by the side-to-side rocking motion it displays during flight.
Bateleur eagles will spend 8-9 hours in the air searching for food. Rapid, direct flight is their preferred hunting method. They will cover extensive areas, sometimes 100’s of km’s in search of their next meal. Their menu is a varied one and includes antelope, mice, birds, snakes, carrion, lizards and carrion from road kills.

Bateleurs are often first to arrive at carrion before vultures as they rely on thermals for flight.are occasional kleptoparasites which means they deliberately steal food from other animals. They’re known topirate prey from other raptors, engaging in dramatic mid-air confrontations to snatch a meal. Alternatively, they try intercept a raptor’s kill while the predator is still feeding, whether the kill is on the ground, perched in a tree, resting on a rock, or even moments after it’s made. Bateleurs may force their rivals to the ground, locking talons or trading blows with their feet in mid-air skirmishes.

Their direct competitor is the Tawny Eagle who is slightly larger. The Tawny eagle also changes between hunting live prey, scavenging, and aerial pirate attacks.

Who’ll win? 2 Bateleur Eagles battle 1 Tawny Eagle for scavengers rights

Hoo’s that?

Imagine sitting around the campfire in the boma beneath a blanket of stars as a deep ‘hoooo,hoooo’ rings through the crisp night air. These nocturnal hunters are the prevalent avian predators come darkness. An owl will call to defend territory and let other owls know it is there.

These creatures of the night are designed for nocturnal hunting.

Owls have enormous eyes which help them take in more light so aid them during low-light as well as the most forward facing eyes, adapted for tracking prey.

While their large eyes help them to collect more light it also restricts their mobility in the skull. Owls have a visual field of around 110 degrees while birds with peripheral vision from side-placed eyes have around 240 degrees field of vision. Nature, clever by design, overcame this for owls adapting them to have flexible necks that allow them to swivel their heads 270 degrees, enabling them to see in every direction even behind them.

King of the night sky

The Verreaux’s eagle-owl is the largest owl found in South Africa and has one of the most voracious diets of all owls. They are capable of taking down prey as large as scrub hares and vervet monkeys.
When hunting larger animals, these powerful owls will tear the prey apart, though they don’t always pluck the fur or feathers beforehand. This is regurgitated in a mucous covered ball known as a pellet. Lovely.

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Owls are masters of silent flight

Hearing is an owl’s super-sense. Their excellent hearing comes from having asymmetrical ears which helps pinpoint and capture sound waves accurately locating prey. While their large wing size in relation to their bodies means they don’t need to flap excessively and move swiftly and silently. Coupled with their ability to move with a quiet stealth through the air, they are successful hunters at ambushing prey.

Pale Chanting Goshawk

An unlikely duo

The hunting methods of predators of the skies are as varied as their land mammal counterparts. Equally as diverse and fascinating.

One of the few African species known to co-operatively hunt with the honey badger is the Pale (and dark) chanting Goshawk.

The tough-as-nails honey badger bulldozes its way through shrub as it forages, disturbing insects, rodents, and reptiles along the way. Goshawks follow in its wake, opportunistically gobbling up organisms the honey badger doesn’t eat itself. Not only have they been spotted following honey badgers and slender mongoose in hopes of capturing secondary prey but even a cape cobra.

(See here for images of the goshawk and honey badger in action)

This kind of interspecies relationship is called commensalism whereby one species benefits and the other is neither affected nor harmed.

Ground hornbill in flight

As dry season continues to unfold across the Southern African bush veld, every day is an action-packed adventure. Witness thrilling encounters of predator-prey action taking place both on land and in the skies.
This is just a taster of the remarkable birding action on display across the African wilderness.
Birds of prey play a vital role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. As skilled hunters, they help to regulate rodent and small animal populations. As scavengers, they act as nature’s clean up crew by removing carrion that would otherwise spread disease.

Their presence is a clear sign of a thriving, healthy wilderness.

Ready for your next adventure into the wild?
Contact our reservations team here to explore more

A Swainsons francolin territorial brawl

Bateleur Eagle with prey dangling from its mouth

The yellow-billed hornbill has its own unique and unusual methods for hunting. Like the symbiotic relationship it has with mongoose.

Expert Guides to the Wild: Chacma Bush Camp

Guiding is an art form. A dance between awareness, knowledge, and intuition. It is about noticing the subtlest of movements through the dense bush: the black tip of a tail swooshing past, a glimmer of colour, a shape out of place. It is about reading the landscapes, from the spoor in the sand to listening out for the alarm calls of birds or squirrels.

It is a wisdom learnt and earned through spending countless hours in the wild. With nature as our greatest teacher, guided game drives and walking safaris offer guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the wisdom of the wild. Guides interpret the language of the wilderness, helping guests’ to deepen their connection to and understanding of the natural world.

Guides are the storytellers that help make a safari an unforgettable experience. One where we learn not only about the bush, but also about ourselves and our place within the interconnected web of life.

Learning in the wild

Our passionate guides from the boutique Chacma Bush Camp share their favourite moments in the wild, what they love about the African bushveld, and why they love what they do.

Edward is an extraordinary storyteller. His bush knowledge has been honed from hours and hours (well, years really!) walking through the wilderness on foot.
After years working at some of the most iconic African reserves in the Lowveld, he found his wild home at Chacma Bush Camp. He takes guests on game drives at Chacma Bush Camp but his true passion and love of the wilderness comes from leading walking safaris.

What do you love about being a guide and working in the wilderness?

“My favourite thing about working in the wild is that no day is ever the same whether it’s a new face of a guest, an incredible sighting, the calls of nature and waking up to nature every morning is one of the biggest pleasures.”

What do you love about working at Chacma?

“My favourite part of working at Chacma and the area would most definitely be the landscapes and the elevations where together with good sightings is a view that our guests wont forget either with a morning coffee or afternoon sundowner. Im also very passionate about walking and thats just one of the perks of the job.”

What moment or experience is one that you’ll never forget?

“There is quite a bit that stands out working in the bush, and alot of sightings or moments il never forget but by far the best was on one morning where me and my tracker tracked lions on foot, where all of a sudden we heard and saw a warthog running full force towards us, we had to make ourselfes one with the big tree next to us as lions took it down right in front if us, just a few metres away.”

What about your most unusual sighting?

“My most unusual sighting was seeing 6 adult leopards feeding on a big male kudu carcass. Leopards are known for their solitude and for being highly territorial.”

What is your favourite sound or call in the bush?

“My favourite sound in the bush is the contact call of a scrub hare, it’s quite a deep sound, that you wouldn’t expect from an animal that size.”

Spring hare caught on camera by Paul Zimmer

What is important to you as a guide? What about the safari experience do you try and share with guests?

“One thing I often tell my guests is to take in everything from sound, smell, sight, and taste. A big part is also to enjoy the smaller things in nature just as much as the bigger things cause all and all everything together makes up a great safari experience.

I want for guests to find a true appreciation for nature and for what it is, its ever changing and unpredictable, as guides we have the passion and knowledge but at the end of the day nature should take all the credit and should always be respected equally.

Always expecting the unexpected and every drive/walk in nature is a fun exciting experience, never having to high expectations but to allow every moment on safari to rather surprise you. “

Trent and Edward

Trent Tamsen is the eagle-eyed, youngest guide and astute spotter at Chacma Bush Camp. He grew up visiting the Timbavati with his family. He recalls being when he was young and being so small that when he witnessed an elephant being darted, its toe nail was as big as his hand.

What do you love most about the bush?

“I love living in the bush because it brings us back to our roots when we used to live amongst all these animals. I love working in the bush because everyday is different and you don’t know what you are going to encounter and work with these animals humbles you.

Also just getting to see these animals every day and being very fortunate to do so as not many people get to see these animals.“

Nothing beats the deep guttural whuffing sound of a lion call.

“My favourite sound in the bush is a male lion calling.”

What’s the most valuable thing you have ever learnt from the bush?

That we are not the apex predator out here and that these animals deserve to be respected.

What do you hope that guests take home from a safari?

I hope the that I can send them home with a piece of my knowledge that I have shared with them and I hope that I can give them an unforgettable experience that they will remember forever.

Ruan is the latest member of the Chacma family. He spent his childhood escaping the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg and finding respite in the wilderness of the Kruger National Park on family holidays. His favourite place is out in the wild where no human noises or distractions can be seen or heard.

Ruan in his happy place

What is your favourite thing about being a guide?

“My favourite thing about working in the wild is that every day is unique and different in it’s own way. No 2 days or drives are ever the same.”

Can you share one unforgettably wild moment, one that’ll stay with you?

“I think I will always remember the feeling you get when a leopard looks you in the eyes and stares straight into your soul. Especially the cubs that have such an innocent look and don’t realise yet the beauty and power they hold.”

Epic encounter with Kadimba at Chacma Bush Camp by Matt

What is the most unusual animal behaviour you have ever witnessed?

“The weirdest animal behaviour I have seen was 4 male lions feeding on an elephant carcass and 2 rhino bulls walk up to smell and investigate what was going on, not showing any fear towards the lions but almost looking sad for the death of the elephant.”

What is the most valuable lesson you have learnt from the bush?

“The most valuable thing I learned from the bush is that small inconveniences don’t affect your life as much as you think they do. There is so much going on and working together that if one thing goes wrong, it will correct it self in the end.”

Immersed in the wild

What sound or call instantly reminds you that you’re in the wild?

“A leopard rasping will always be my favourite call. These animals live in isolation except when mating but when they decide to call, every person and animal knows can hear that call. If close enough even feel the vibrations as the call reverberates through your body.”

What do you hope that guests take home with them after going on a safari?

“I hope every guest can take a little bit of my passion away with them once they have been on safari with me and understand why it is so important that we protect and learn from nature.”

Hyena pup by Matt Smith

Next up, Matt Smith. Our British-born guide who first got a taste for the African bush working on a conservation project in the Greater Kruger. He is also the man behind the lens of the unbelievable wildlife photography that we share!

Meet Matt Smith

What is your favourite thing about working in the wild?

“It’s exactly that, the things you can be exposed to are completely wild. Some things can be explained, some things simply cannot. The wild does things on it’s own terms, we can only try and make educated guesses and assumptions but working in the wild always has a way of catching you off guard and surprising you. Is it going to be a leopard around the next corner, or is it going to be a fascinating interaction shared between elephants and lions? The suspense, is what drives us to continue working in the wild.”

Another incredible capture by Matt

What do you love about working at Chacma Bush Camp?

” It would definitely have to be the ability to jump off the vehicles and actually walk in the bush as nature intended. Sharing the small intricacies and finite details of the smaller things that you come across, whether that be animal Track & Sign, Insects, Botany/ Vegetation etc. This is not something that all lodges offer, so I consider myself lucky to be able to partake and share this wonderful experience with my guests on trail.”

Tracks in the sand

What moment stands out for you in the bush?

“Hard to choose but I’ll go with the first time I was leading a bush walk and managed to track the location of an elephant. But not just any elephant. The footprints & dung were massive. It was Ezulwini, one of the emerging tuskers of Balule.

In the distance I had spotted the group and they were making their way across a bushy plains towards a large game trail. I positioned our group to take a seat on a fairly large granite rock outcrop and we just had hoped they would make their way over to us. Luckily, they did. With Ezulwini the large tusker elephant bull in front they came directly past us, of course raising their trunks to smell us, or say hello, whichever way you want to interpret it in the moment!”

It’s a wild world. Photo by Matt

Anything you hope for guests to take home with them after experiencing the magic of the bush for themselves?

“I’d have to say a wider understanding of how the ecosystem operates, right down from the soil through vegetation to alas the animals at the end. I’d want them to experience the wonder and excitement of finding their first predators of the wild, and being humbled by the sheer size of some of the animals we share the land with”

Surrounded by the wild at Chacma Bush Camp

Join our remarkable guides at Chacma on twice-daily game drives exploring the undulating terrain of the Maseke Balule both morning and evening.

For intimate and boutique bush experiences like no other, visit Chacma Bush Camp.
Contact our reservations team here to book your dream stay.

Through the lens of a guest: Paul Zimmer experiences Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Guest Paul Zimmer shares his wonderful and insightful journey experiencing the wonders of Umkumbe Safari Lodge Riverside. Nothing brings us greater joy than experiencing a safari through the eyes (or lens, really) of a guest- except for maybe going on safari ourselves!

Please note that all the images in this post have been taken by Paul*

Spotting a couple of spotted hyena

Situated in the heart of the wildlife-rich Sabie Game Reserve, Umkumbe Safari Lodge offers an unparalleled safari experience. Sabie is the gateway between the Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger region. It acts as a wild buffer where animals roam freely between the national park and private unfenced reserves. Umkumbe overlooks the seasonal Sand river where incredible wildlife sightings are spotted right from the comfort of camp.

A leopard casually lounging right in front of the lodge

First off, thanks so much for sharing your amazing images with us! Please share a bit about yourself — where are you from and how did your passion for photography begin?

Hi there 🙂 My name is Paul Zimmer, I hail from the United States, born and raised in Southern California, but have been calling Redmond, Washington home for almost 2 decades now. My passion for photography started as a quick way to document memories, events, locations, and friends as early as my first year of college. I had friends at the time who were majoring in photography and tried their best to teach me their ways, but I was too dense to absorb their wisdom back then. It wasn’t until around 2018, I was dating an ex-photojournalist at the time and that sparked my interest in combining my life long love of wildlife with a deep dive into the physics, gear, and artistry of photography. My passion and my shot counts grew rapidly, to the point where I average over 20,000 photos per adventure, but more importantly, I keep impressing my friends with each new travel album. 🙂

Your wildlife shots were absolutely stunning — do you remember the first animal you photographed during your stay? How did that moment feel?

Thank you 🙂 It took me 3 days of travel to finally reach The Umkumbe Riverside Lodge, but once I’d finally arrived, Yuri escorted me around, explaining all the rules and locations. Right behind him were about 2 dozen elephants roaming the riverbed just beyond the camp. I had never seen so many elephants in my life and was having a hard time listening to Yuri while these beautiful beasts were snacking, walking, and playing right behind him.

Mother and calf

Are you a professional photographer? A wildlife photographer? How does wildlife compare other subjects that you might shoot?

I am (sadly) not a professional photographer. I’ve won awards and had prints accepted and sold in various local exhibitions, but I shoot for the fun of it. I’ve tried my hand at every genre of photography, from astro and landscape, to macro and micro, and I’ve learned that my favorite subjects are living creatures. I tend to see every situation like a “Candid Portrait Shoot”, where I’m studying a subject and trying to quickly capture moments in its behaviour without giving any direction or posing them artificially. This approach to photography lends itself to wildlife because wild creatures aren’t known for taking direction. I lose myself in the flow-state of observing and capturing life as it happens.

A kudu grazing

What kind of gear do you usually shoot with? Do you have a go-to lens when you’re in the bush?

For wildlife photography, most already know that a long telephoto lens is basically required, because most critters won’t let you get close to them. But I also happen to love bugs and spiders too, which require you to get up close and personal to see their little details. So I’ve chosen the Tamron 50-400mm and the Sigma 60-600mm for their abilities to both zoom in on distant creatures and magnify the small stuff up close. The Tamron is more portable and my usual go-to for travel, but I made extra room in my luggage for the much bigger Sigma for this trip to maximize my reach.

A starling, darling

Was there a wildlife encounter that really stood out during your time in the Sabie?

There were 2 that stand out. One I’m proud of, and one I’m amazed by:

1) Yuri had heard on the radio that a Leopard was spotted in our area and he raced over to show it to us. As we arrived, the original spotter had lost sight of it in a ravine. Yuri volunteered us to drive into that ravine and find it. As we dove in, slowly creeping through the vegetation, we were all struggling to see anything in the dense greenery. After a minute or two we were starting to think we’d lost the cat for good, but out of pure luck, I caught a glimpse of a tail and 4 legs BEHIND US. I yelled to Yuri, who sounded understandably skeptical that a guest would see what a seasoned driver and paired tracker did not, but he put the jeep in reverse and grilled me for more details on what I had seen. After an exciting few more moments maneuvering backwards, we relocated our Leopard resting just behind a bush and just below the peak of the ravine! We got to spend another 10 glorious minutes with it lounging just a car length away from us.

A sensational shot and close encounter with this elusive and majestic big cat

2) On my first drive back to the lodge after sunset, our tracker was scanning the road and wilderness ahead with his spotlight. Going 15km/h, in pitch darkness, this super human individual spotted a green chameleon in a green bush. Yuri stopped the jeep so we could all struggle to see it, and after a minute, we all eventually spotted it for ourselves and were stunned at the skill it must take to see such a camouflaged creature in those impossible conditions. It’s hard enough in full sunlight to see a green chameleon in a green bush, but at night and at speed seemed to defy the laws of physics. He then did this THREE MORE TIMES during my stay and I will never forget it.

The smaller but no less exciting sightings

How do you balance enjoying the moment versus capturing it through the lens — especially when nature surprises you?

I may be biased due to my love for photography, but in most situations I prioritize “getting the shot”. My rationale for this is, my memory is far from perfect, but I remember events much more vividly when I have a photo to jog it, and those photos keep that memory alive much longer than if I didn’t have one. It’s also much easier to share these memories when the viewer has something to look at while I narrate.

Capturing the perfect moment

What tips would you give to amateur photographers hoping to capture great safari photos — even if they’re just using a phone or basic camera?

I can absolutely share the same tips that were taught to me over the years:

* If you’re on safari with only your phone, instead of taking pictures, record short videos in the highest resolution your phone can do (4k or 8k would be nice). Phones are usually better at videos than taking photos and if you still just want a photo, you can cut out one of the frames of the video anyway.

* Aim your camera at the animal and wait for it to do one of the following: Look at you; Show the full side of its head: Yawn; Lick; Eat; Anything else interesting. Those will be the most appealing shots to share.

* When taking pictures of animals, do your best to make sure the animal’s eyes are in focus. When we look at creatures we usually look at their eyes and if they’re in focus, the whole shot will feel properly focused.

Eagle eyes take on a new meaning

* When you’re in a jeep, you can’t really move around on your own to get the best angle, so, working from wherever you’re sitting, frame the animal(s) and the scenery in such a way that there is always more space in the photo in the direction the animals are looking. So if an animal is looking slightly left, frame the animal slightly to the right in your photo, leaving more room on the left for the animal to look into.

Framing is everything. The charismatic yellow-billed hornbill

* Don’t sweat having to take a photo of every single thing. Sometimes the animal is too far away, or too hidden, or giving you the “African Salute” (A term Yuri taught me, meaning “When an animal turns its back on you.”), so in those moments, just enjoy the fact that you’re on safari, which for most of us is pretty rare and exciting! Take in the scenery, and bide your time for the next critter you’ll have a better angle on.

Outside of photography, what did you love most about the Umkumbe Lodge experience?

Umkumbe left me with nothing I could complain about. The staff were kind, patient, and knowledgeable; The food was delicious and filling (I especially loved the beef tongue jerky); The location is surrounded by creatures that will come and go as they please and let you watch them peacefully; The weather was perfect; The rooms were spacious and comfortable. If I HAVE to pick a favorite it’d be the animals that walked around and inside the camp, like the monkey that liked to drink sap from the central tree, or the little striped lizards that sun themselves on the deck, but run when people show up to do the same.

Cheeky visitors

Playful and inquisitive, vervet monkey

Sun-worshippers

Do you have a social media account for others to follow you?

I don’t really have a social media presence, but I do have a website: www.okbokehphotography.com

Thank you for these exceptional images and your insightful experience, Paul. We love receiving feedback from guests about their experience as well any photography from their time in the wild! If you have anything you’d like to share with us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch here.

Quintessential African sunset

Awakened a deep longing for the African bushveld and wanderlust for your next safari adventure?

Contact our reservations team today to enquire about seasons, availability and any other information about booking your next safari adventure.

Predator-Prey Action: Hunting Methods in the Wild

Unpacking the fascinating hunting styles of Africa’s predators reveals more than survival. It tells the raw, unfiltered truth about life in the wild. In the bush, especially in dry season, predator-prey action takes centre stage. What may appear to be chaos to come is, in fact, a complex dance of instinct and adaptation.

Each predator has its own unique strategy. For some species, hunting is a game of patience.
Waiting for just the right moment to spring an attack. For others it’s all about speed, endurance, or sometimes unlikely teamwork.

Each predator has evolved with its own way of navigating the brutal necessity of the hunt. While it can appear harsh to the outside observer, it is simply nature taking its course. There is nothing like the wild to teach us about the delicate balance of life and death. It is not cruelty nor chaos. It is pure survival.

Within it there is a deeper understanding of resilience, instinct, and the extraordinary design of the natural world.

Kings and Queens of the savannah

These kings and queens of the savannah don’t rely on solo or solar power.
Lions (especially lionesses) are masters of teamwork, using coordinated ambush tactics and the cover of darkness to hunt with deadly precision.

As stalk-and-ambush predators, lions rely on stealth and timing rather than speed alone. Once a lion spots potential prey, it will approach slowly and deliberately, crouching low with ears flattened to avoid detection. They often position themselves downwind, letting the breeze carry their scent away from their prey. Every movement is calculated. For life depends on their ability to catch prey.

A successful hunt at Chacma Bush Camp

When in striking distance, they burst into action. Lions can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h but only for 100-200m. To outmanoeuvre their prey, they will work together to cut off escape routes, increasing the odds of a successful meal.

They will hang on with their powerful claws until they bring the animal down. For larger animals they will typically suffocate them with a crushing bite to the throat or over their mouths. While smaller prey are killed with a lethal bite to the spine.

Lionesses are the ones who will work together and do most of the hunting while males will typically spend their energy defending their territories.

Lioness with a giraffe kill.

Cackles, calls, and clans

Nature’s clean up crew at Africa on Foot

Known as the savannah’s scavengers but actually hyena remarkably efficient and intelligent hunters in the bush.

Contrary to popular belief and Disney narrative, hyenas are not just scavengers. In fact, spotted hyenas hunt up to 80% of their own food. They will often work as a team using their astounding endurance to wear prey down. They are almost opposite to lions who ambush prey, they will exhaust prey and are successful due to their stamina and persistence.

The cackles and calls of hyena in the night are more than simple the soundtrack of the bushveld. Hyenas have incredibly complex social structures and their varied vocalisations are a form of communication that helps them to coordinate.

Ever noticed how the whooping call of one hyena will be responded to by another in a different place?

Leopard at Nambu Camp. Photo by guest, Caroline Culbert

Master of stealth – The leopard

Unlike hyena who really on their calls for hunting, the leopard relies on its silent stealth.

Silent and solitary, they can slip through landscapes totally unseen. These elusive big cats are rarely seen or heard which makes them thrilling to encounter.

Whether in dense forest, rocky hillsides, or open savannah, they have perfected the art of being invisible until it’s too late. They hunt alone, mostly in darkness and rely on stealth and timing to hunt.

They will then haul prey, sometimes 2-3 times their own weight, up a tree. This remarkable display of strength and power allows them to protect their hard-earned meal from predators and scavengers as well as eat their meal in peace.

Leopard fiercely guarding a kill at Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Tenacious and tough, the honey badger

The most audacious predator out in the wild might be this small but fierce creature. Honey Badgers are tough. They are master infiltrators are that fearless and fiercely intelligent.

Despite their small size, honey badgers have been known to take on lions, leopards, and even buffalo. With a hide that’s thick and loose, they can twist nearly 360 degrees within their skin, allowing them to bite back even when pinned.

They’re infamous for their thieving habits and have been caught red-handed raiding kitchens and food stores (check out the video from nThambo here). You definitely wouldn’t want to corner one of these fierce little warriors.

Perhaps their fierce reputation comes from them being fearless snake-hunters. Immune to the venom of some of Africa’s most dangerous snakes, honey badgers routinely go after puff adders, cobras, and other deadly species. They aim for the head, and even if bitten, may only become temporarily immobilized, often waking up, shaking it off, and finishing their meal like nothing happened.

They are cunning thieves. Much like a grumpy version of Winnie-the-Pooh, honey badgers get their name from their absolute love for honey. They’ll raid beehives, completely ignoring thousands of stings and use the chaos to access honey and larvae. They’ve also been observed following honeyguide birds to locate hives.

Persistent and clever, honey badgers are a built for survival and are a remarkable example of adaptation in the African wilderness.

Teamwork makes the dreamwork

Wild dog are perhaps the most successful hunter in the African wilderness. Relying on speed, stamina and their incredible social bonds.

If there’s one predator that proves teamwork makes the dream work, it’s the African wild dog.

These highly-social canines are the ultra-marathon runners of the bush. They hunt in well-coordinated packs and have incredibly complex vocalisations, they are able to strategise and wear their prey out until they collapse from sheer exhaustion.

They run their prey to complete exhaustion over long distances, taking turns to keep the pressure on until their target simply can’t run anymore.These hounds can maintain speeds of 60-70km/hr for 4-5km – that’s an insane endurance athlete!

It is no wonder that they need to eat at least once a day if not twice a day!

Their rapid digestive system that caters to their high energy demands of a rapid metabolic rate. The amount of energy they exert in their hunting means it is vital for them to eat often and to not lose their hard-earned meal to other predators.

African wild dogs exhibit what almost seems like altruistic behavior when it comes to their pack mates. At a kill, the youngest dogs eat first, followed by the subordinate members of the pack. Everyone takes their turn and if there isn’t enough to go around, the hunt begins again.

During denning season, which is happening right now! Keep an eye out on our socials for dens near our camps! Packs hone in on their normally vast roaming ranges, choosing instead to base themselves in a single location, finding a den for their pups. They will typically seeking out uninhabited termite mounds. Life during denning season is all about balance.

While some members head off on hunts, others stay behind to babysit and protect the pups. After a hunt, returning adults will regurgitate freshly eaten meat for the waiting young.

They’ll remain like this until pups are old enough to join the pack on hunts and become valuable members contributing to the survival of all.

Secretary bird

It would not be correct for us to mention predators of the wilderness and not include at least one birds of prey. Perhaps, deserving an entire post of their own.
The secretary bird might be the most surprising of hunters! Who expects a bird to karate-kick a cobra to death?

A secretary bird, rarely seen up in a tree, these giant birds are often seen ambling through the bush with their elegant gait. Captured at Umkumbe Safari Lodge.

These tall elegant birds (who look like they’re wearing tuxedo suits with feather quills tucked behind their ears! Hence the name secretary bird!) are famous for they ability to hunt venomous snakes.
They have extremely long and powerful legs covered in scales that protect them from bites.
They will stomp on the snake to death, delivering sharp kicks with remarkable precision and accuracy.

Watch them in action here!

Ready for your next adventure in the wild?

Contact our reservations team to curate your dream safari here.

Latest Wildlife Sightings: Dry Season Delivering Epic Encounters

Dry season in the African bushveld is known for delivering spectacular sightings and this season has been full of epic, action-packed encounters. From big cats to birds of prey, the predator-prey action has been off the charts.

Here are the latest wildlife highlights and sightings from our collection of camps in the Greater Kruger and Botswana.

Sharing unfenced border with the Kruger National Park and Timbavati, animals roam freely in this wildlife-rich region. nThambo Tree Camp and Africa on Foot have been brimming with incredible sightings and unforgettable moments in the wilderness. With dreamy star-studded open skies to morning coffees that look like oil paintings, The savannah grasslands and dense bush (which is thinner in the dry season months) of the Klaserie have been full of adventure with exciting encounters around every acacia.

Dreamy sunsets at nThambo Tree Camp

Photo by Max Beeson, Leopard in the Klaserie

Photo by Guest, Tyron Vermaak in the Klaserie

Spa baths and close encounters at nThambo Tree Camp

The undulating terrain of the rugged Maseke at Chacma Bush Camp has been brimming with beautiful big cat encounters. From a regal queen lioness to a leopard up close. Dry season this year has been one for the books.

Powerful and majestic. Captured by guide, Nicole

Named Kadimba, meaning ‘ancient’, a younger male leopard. Photo by Chacma guide, Matt Smith

Guests have been treated to elephant soirees right from the beautiful deck overlooking the sandy banks of the Mohlabetsi River at Nyala Safari Lodge.

Unforgettable moments from the comfort of camp

Leopards lazing and lions roaring, it’s been wildly beautiful at Nambu Camp.
Spot the oxpecker’s catching a ride on the rhino’s back!

Captured at Nambu camp by guest, Caroline Culbert

That deep guttural bellow. Captured at Nambu camp by guest, Caroline Culbert

While a guest at Umkumbe Safari Lodge Riverside captured predator-prey action of another kind!

Remarkable capture by guest, Paul Zimmer

While it may be dry season in Botswana, this refers to the skies. The plains fill with water and form the meandering channels of the delta. Water and life are abundant.

Boteti tented camp

Boteti Tented Camp

Boteti Tented camp

When are you booking your next wild adventure?

Contact our reservations team here for any questions or enquiries.

Your Safari Guide to the Wild: Meet Ingrid from nThambo Tree Camp

Guiding is an art and our guides are phenomenal so we are diving deep and sharing more about the unique individuals that make your safari experience an unforgettable one. Tracking animals through the fresh spoor markings on the ground in the early morning light, explaining behaviours and patterns, leaving you in awe and wonder of the natural as their infectious curiosity and love for the wild radiates from them.

At each of our camps and lodges across Southern Africa and Botswana, there are twice-daily guided game drives and optional walking safaris at some. Marvel at nature as you explore the wilderness through the eyes of an expert. Safaris are an immerse learning experience where you get to interact and connect with the wilderness on a profound level.

We may be biased but we think our remarkable guides are next level.

Meet Ingrid. A powerhouse and wealth of knowledge.
She left her career as an attorney to follow her passion and love of the wild and pursue a career in guiding. She has been sharing her wisdom of the wilderness at nThambo Tree Camp since 2017

Every game drive with her is an adventure, an immersive one packed with insight, observation and experience.

Where did you grow up and what first drew you to the bush?

I grew up in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.
What first drew me to the bush was my childhood experience with nature. But after living in Ghana and a bit in Zambia, I realised what I really missing while having a professional career.

Do you remember your very first safari experience?

Not much about my first driving safari experience but my first walking safari, which changed my whole outlook on my guiding career. I had just done my first bush walk (as new guide) and the next moment I was to walk the guests back to the safari vehicle with the guidance of the trails guide. This was where my Trails Guide journey started.

How did you become a guide? What was your journey like?

In 2017, I was fortunately enough to be given the opportunity to change careers which I should have done ages ago. Started with Limpopo Field Guiding from there just continued obtaining experience on foot and on a vehicle. It was not an easy journey, as COVID was part of this journey but an interesting one. It is still a very much male orientated career and as a female guide, you do face a lot of challenges. Got to meet so many interesting people and got to learn so much in this time. Started in the Western Cape and made my way back to Gauteng (Dinokeng Game Reserve). From there to the Lowveld.

How long have you been at nThambo? What’s your favourite thing about being in the Klaserie?

I started in March 2023 at Nthambo and my favourite part is maybe the fact that the lodge is without a fence. We had a lot of animals moving through the camp the last couple of years including lions, hippo, honey badgers etc.

What’s your favourite thing about living and working in the wild? Not to be living in the city, the everyday traffic and in the normal 9-5 working days. There is not one day that is the same and with a different type of “traffic”.

Is there a moment on safari that sticks out / you’ll remember forever?

Too much to remember but maybe my first Wild Dog kill. Experience the confusion of the hunt and how the dogs swam after a waterbuck.

What’s the most unusual or surprising animal behaviour you’ve ever witnessed?

Maybe starting a game drive and just finding fluff everywhere. Just to discover that a leopard stole a big cushion from the neighbour and carrier up in a tree and just ripped it apart and left the remaining parts up in the tree.

What’s the most valuable thing you ever learnt from the bush?

Expect the unexpected.

What’s one thing guests are often surprised to learn about safari life?

With us is the fact that we can get close to the animals and that they do not react to the vehicles if we keep a safe distance.

Do you have a favourite animal sound or bird call?

The fish eagle call is my favourite and the best if the hippos are calling together. Just such an African moment, I would call it.

What do you hope guests take away from a safari with you?

A bit of Africa and incredible memories.

What does it feel like going back to the city or when you’re away from the wilderness?

Run 😊, just the rush is enough to chase you back to the wilderness.

Nothing quite like an African sunset

Guided safaris turn every journey into an immersive adventure. Experiencing the wilderness this way is remarkably different to self drive safaris as you are guided by individuals with years, decades, sometimes even an entire lifetime, of bush experience.

Sharing unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park, book your next safari at nThambo Tree Camp located in the heart of the Klaserie Private Game Reserve.

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This month we are celebrating remarkable women in wildlife. Meet Lozanne, our passionate head guide and manager of Africa on Foot.

Where did you grow up and what first drew you to the bush?

Do you remember your very first safari experience?

How did you become a guide? What was your journey like?

How has your experience been as a female guide in a role that was traditionally dominated by men?

How long have you been at AOF? What’s your favourite thing about the Klaserie?

What’s your favourite thing about living and working in the wild?

What’s the most valuable thing you ever learnt from the bush?

What are guests are often surprised to learn about safari life?

Do you have a favourite animal sound or bird call?

Any experiences or animal encounters that you’ll never forget or moments that stand out?

What do you hope guests take away from a safari with you?

Jane Goodall

Wangari Maathai

“When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and hope” – Wangari Maathai

Joy Adamson

Daphne Sheldrick

Greta Thunberg

Zandile Ndhlovu

Get intimate with the wild at Chacma Bush Camp

Wildlife comes to you at Chacma

Echoes of the wild all around

Luxuriously reimagined

Stay tuned for more exciting changes and updates on the way at Chacma Bush Camp. To book your next boutique bush escape contact our reservations team here.

Masters of the skies

Eagle-eyed

The Bold Bateleur

Hoo’s that?

An unlikely duo

Their presence is a clear sign of a thriving, healthy wilderness.

Our passionate guides from the boutique Chacma Bush Camp share their favourite moments in the wild, what they love about the African bushveld, and why they love what they do.

What do you love about being a guide and working in the wilderness?

What do you love about working at Chacma?

What moment or experience is one that you’ll never forget?

What about your most unusual sighting?

What is your favourite sound or call in the bush?

What is important to you as a guide? What about the safari experience do you try and share with guests?

What do you love most about the bush?

What’s the most valuable thing you have ever learnt from the bush?

What do you hope that guests take home from a safari?

What is your favourite thing about being a guide?

Can you share one unforgettably wild moment, one that’ll stay with you?

What is the most unusual animal behaviour you have ever witnessed?

What is the most valuable lesson you have learnt from the bush?

What sound or call instantly reminds you that you’re in the wild?

What do you hope that guests take home with them after going on a safari?

What is your favourite thing about working in the wild?

What do you love about working at Chacma Bush Camp?

What moment stands out for you in the bush?

Anything you hope for guests to take home with them after experiencing the magic of the bush for themselves?

First off, thanks so much for sharing your amazing images with us! Please share a bit about yourself — where are you from and how did your passion for photography begin?

Your wildlife shots were absolutely stunning — do you remember the first animal you photographed during your stay? How did that moment feel?

Are you a professional photographer? A wildlife photographer? How does wildlife compare other subjects that you might shoot?

What kind of gear do you usually shoot with? Do you have a go-to lens when you’re in the bush?

Was there a wildlife encounter that really stood out during your time in the Sabie?

How do you balance enjoying the moment versus capturing it through the lens — especially when nature surprises you?

What tips would you give to amateur photographers hoping to capture great safari photos — even if they’re just using a phone or basic camera?

Outside of photography, what did you love most about the Umkumbe Lodge experience?

Do you have a social media account for others to follow you?

Thank you for these exceptional images and your insightful experience, Paul. We love receiving feedback from guests about their experience as well any photography from their time in the wild! If you have anything you’d like to share with us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch here.

Awakened a deep longing for the African bushveld and wanderlust for your next safari adventure?

Cackles, calls, and clans

Master of stealth – The leopard

Tenacious and tough, the honey badger

Teamwork makes the dreamwork

Secretary bird

Ready for your next adventure in the wild?

Here are the latest wildlife highlights and sightings from our collection of camps in the Greater Kruger and Botswana.

While it may be dry season in Botswana, this refers to the skies. The plains fill with water and form the meandering channels of the delta. Water and life are abundant.

When are you booking your next wild adventure?

“When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and hope”
– Wangari Maathai

Get intimate with the wild at Chacma Bush Cam p

Stay tuned for more exciting changes and updates on the way at Chacma Bush Camp.
To book your next boutique bush escape contact our reservations team here.

Meet Ingrid. A powerhouse and wealth of knowledge.
She left her career as an attorney to follow her passion and love of the wild and pursue a career in guiding. She has been sharing her wisdom of the wilderness at nThambo Tree Camp since 2017