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Behind the Scenes on a Game Drive

Our primary focus is to entice visitors to the Klaserie for an incredible safari experience and to enjoy game viewing in the wild. Part of the experience is to hang out with the trackers and rangers. Most of the time we update you with wildlife sightings but it’s nice to see a few “behind the scenes” photos.

Here are a few pics of what happens behind the scenes on a game drive. Christina, the camp manager, took these photos of Faffa and Enoch during a sundowner stop.

Faffa the Game Ranger Trying to Find Frogs – Photo by Christina (Mufasa)

Faffa and Enoch leading the way – Photo by Christina (Mufasa)

Sundowner drinks with guests – photo by Christina (Mufasa)

December Game Viewing Highlights in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve

Last month we produced a blog post about game viewing in the Klaserie during November. It’s time now to summarize our December sightings. We often get asked by potential guests when it is best to go on safari in South Africa. During the Summer, which is the rainy season, the density of the vegetation affects our ability to see animals. However, even in the Klaserie there are always a plethora of sightings.

Thanks to Christina and the rangers for their consistent updates and recordings of sightings, we can now bring you our December game viewing highlights in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve.

Summary of 3 days spent at Africa on Foot

Summary of 3 days spent at nThambo Tree Camp

4 Dec: Lions – The Good is spotted while on a game drive

Chad, from nThambo, reported: “Today ‘The Good’ and one of the Ross Pride females were spotted while on a game drive. There were also two other females and two sub adult males. ”

The Good Spotted on a Game Drive not far from the nThambo Tree Camp

8 Dec:

The rangers from Africa on Foot and nThambo report yet another sequence of incredible sightings. A pack of wild dogs were seen hunting and making a kill. Chad, from nThambo Tree Camp, spent over an hour with the pack and observed them trying to dig a warthog out of its burrow. After little success with the warthog they decided to run down an impala.

17 Dec

Today delievered a surprising sighting. The rangers came across an unknown pride of lions, believed to be the Timbavati Lion Pride. They were located We came across this unknown lion pride in our drive the other day. Hope you enjoy our video of the Timbavati Lion Pride.

20 Dec: The day the white lion cub was discovered

To date, this has probably been our most exceptional sighting. We have recently confirmed that the new White Lion Cub in the Klaserie belongs to the Ross Pride of lions. Click here to find out more about this white lion sighting.

Fantastic Sighting of a White Lion Cub in the Klaserie

24 Dec: An emerging big Tusker appears next to camp

An emerging big Tusker (collared) was discovered close to the Africa on Foot camp and Dave (our videographer) caught it all on camera.

27 December: Lion sighting – Giraffe males spotted close to nThambo Tree Camp

The rangers from nThambo Tree Camp managed to photograph a few of the Giraffe males close to camp. They have been seen on quite a few occassions in and around camp. This could get interesting !

One of the Giraffe Males Spotted Outside of the nThambo Tree Camp

28 December: Four leopards in one sighting at Africa on Foot

Today Christina and Darryn spotted four leopards devouring an impala carcass. Cleo, the female was seen with her two cubs and the father, Shaka was also spotted. For more information about this sighting please revert to our blog post about leopards in the Klaserie.

Cleo the Leopard Spotted on a Hunt

Cleo the Leopard Kills an Impala in the Klaserie

Shortly before Christmas, the rangers at Africa on Foot reported a massive leopard kill which saw four leopards feeding on an impala. Cleo, the female leopard was spotted dragging a carcass past the vehicle; closely followed by her 2 sub-adult cubs and the adult male, Shaka. Shaka is believed to be the father of the cubs – this is evident based on the fact that Cleo shared her kill with him and allowed him close to the cubs.

Our rangers witnessed Cleo dragging the kill up the tree and lapping up water to cure their thirst from devouring the impala. Darryn Murray managed to capture a few moments on camera but could not photograph all 4 because they crossed over into a neighbouring property.

To date, both Christina and Darryn have recorded this as being one of their top wildlife sightings of 2013.

Cleo – the female leopard who killed an impala in the Klaserie – image by Darryn Murray

Cleo – image by Darryn Murray

Cleo dragging the impala kill to a tree to hide it from other predators – image by Darryn Murray

Cleo dragged her impala kill into a tree – image taken by Darryn Murray

New White Lion Cub in the Kruger’s Klaserie

Spotting a white lion in the wild is one of the most rare sightings for guests on safari in the Kruger. There are many spiritual connotations attached to a sighting of white lion because it is believed to be a reincarnation of spirirual masters. Whatever your belief, seeing a white lion roaming freely in the wild is an occasion never to be forgotten.

With this in mind, we have some exciting news from the rangers at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree camp. This morning, while out on a game drive with guests, the rangers spotted a white lion cub playing with a sub-adult male ! We know for a fact that the Ross Pride has recently given birth to 3 tawny cubs so this comes as an additional surprise. Although the cub was seen in the heart of the Ross Pride territory we have yet to confirm if this bundle of joy is part of the Ross Pride. One of the two dominant males (the Good and the Bad) is rumoured to carry the white lion gene. Darryn Murray managed to take photos of the elusive lion cub seen this morning.

This is an incredible Christmas present for the Klaserie, which has had quite a tumultuous history with its resident lion prides. The mortality rate for lion cubs is high due to pride dynamics and the threat of predators. Lionesses often have to leave the cubs alone while joining their pride on hunts.

One of the Ross Pride females gave birth to two white lion cubs in 2012. Unfortunately, the first cub was killed and eaten by an old injured female right in front of guests on a morning safari. The reason for this is that the lioness was badly injured and her only means of survival was to prey on other lionesses’ cubs. A few months later the mother gave birth to another two cubs which meant a second white lion cub for the Ross Pride. One night they hunted a giraffe bull and during the hunt the mother was badly hurt and rendered unable to feed her young. The condition of both mother and cubs deteriorated rapidly. The mother was unable to return to the cubs to move them to the rest of the pride and thus the white lion died some time later. We are hoping that this new cub survives – we could do with another white lion in the Klaserie.

The Ross Pride are making themselves known. The past ten years we have seen the pride splinter off and the numbers dwindle, but these kings of the Klaserie are making up for their fragmented pride history and showing us what true survival is about.

If you’re wanting to see lions and white lion cubs – get yourself to the Klaserie !

White lion cub in the Klaserie – photo by Darryn Murray

White lion cub spotted in the Klaserie – Photo by Darryn Murray

White lion cub spotted in the Klaserie – part of the Ross Pride – Photo by Darryn Murray

New white lion cub born into the Ross Pride

Could this be the latest edition to the Ross Pride? – Photo by Darryn Murray

Discover Africa’s Hidden Secrets

Discover Africa’s hidden secrets with Sun Destinations. Explore the hidden areas of Botswana and Kruger at one of our camps. We’ve captured a few highlights of the safari experience and what to expect while on safari in Africa.

Join us and discover Africa’s hidden secrets. Our Kruger camps are:

Big Five Weekend at Umkumbe Safari Lodge

The Umkumbe Safari Lodge in the Sabi is one of the most affordable lodges in the reserve. Offering bountiful sightings of the Big Five, Umkumbe is ideal for game viewing. Dave, our videographer, spent a weekend at Umkumbe and managed to capture a few great wildlife moments on camera. You will hear one of the rangers, Jason, educating guests about buffalo behaviour.

Dave certainly had the most amazing big five weekend at Umkumbe Safari Lodge.

Images of Wild Dogs & Lions in the Kruger

Darryn, one of the rangers from Africa on Foot, took these remarkable images of wild dogs and lions in the Kruger. The reserve where all the sightings have happened is in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve.

Lion Cub at Africa on Foot – Image by Darryn

Wild Dog – Image Taken by Darryn from Africa on Foot

The Ross Pride Lion Cubs – Image Taken by Darryn from Africa on Foot

The Ross Pride Feeding off a Carcass

The Bad – Lion from the Ross Pride

Wild Dogs in the Klaserie Camps

Elephants Drinking from the Pool at Your Safari Camp

If you want to watch elephants drinking from the pool at your safari camp I would recommend a stay at the nThambo Tree Camp. Located in the heart of the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, it’s an eco-friendly camp housed on wooden stilts. There are only 5 “treehouses” located around a small waterhole. The camp is open and at night you’ll hear the hyenas scuttling beneath your treehouse. Elephant herds are drawn to nThambo and have made a habit of helping themselves to the water in the swimming pool. It’s not uncommon to see them trudging past the breakfast area, knocking down trees next to your room and drinking from the pool.

The pool is designed for guests, not elephants. But hey, we’re not complaining. Sightings like these are exceptional. Below are a few photos taken from this week’s elephant antics.

Keen to watch elephants play while you’re eating your morning fruit salad? Contact reservations@sundestinations.co.za.

Elephants Drinking at the nThambo Swimming Pool

Eating Breakfast While Watching Elephants

Expect to See Elephant Herds in Camp

Video of November Wildlife Sightings in the Kruger

November is proving to be quite an anomalie in terms of wildlife sightings in the Kruger. Below is a video taken at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp highlighting the week’s most recent sightings.

And we’ve just heard that our favourite pride of lions, the Ross Pride, have taken down 5 buffalo in the space of 40 min! Stay tuned – we’ll bring you an update shortly.

Meet Chad and Kelly: New Lodge Managers at nThambo

Gawie and Yolandi did a fantastic job of running the nThambo Tree Camp in the Klaserie. With their infectious nature, welcoming persona and creative ideas; they made sure guests left nThambo wanting to return. Both Gawie and Yolandi left nThambo to work in the Marakele National Park.

New lodge managers, Chad and Kelly, have slotted into their new position as lodge managers with ease. Let’s chat to them about their first impressions, their history and what brought them to nThambo.

Where did you work before making the big move to nThambo Tree Camp?

Before moving to nThambo I worked at Cheetah Plains Private Game Reserve and Chad worked at Nkorho Bush Lodge, both of which are situated in the Northern Sabi Sands.

What has been a highlight at nThambo?

Kelly : The highlight for me has been the guests that we have had, getting to know the staff and having a lioness walk straight past my house.

Chad: The positive feedback that we have received from guests since starting here at nThambo Tree Camp and the amount of spectacular sightings that I have witnessed. I have seen Wild dogs on a kill and a leopard with cubs. Also seeing the 2 dominant males ‘The Good and The Bad’ a few days back was awesome!

Why did you choose to take the position at nThambo Tree Camp?

We both really enjoyed meeting Courteney and Cecilia and felt that they had the right philosophy and similar ideas to us. We were both wanting to work at a lodge together and were ready for the next challenge and adventure in our lives.

Do you have anything new that you are looking to implement at the camp?

No big plans as yet as we have only been here a week but we are certain that will come with time. We just want to make this lodge the absolute best it can be and make sure our guests have an amazing experience that they will never forget.

Let’s chat about wildlife. What is your favourite wildlife sighting?

Kelly: My favourite animal is a leopard. Unfortunately, due to the fact that I have been so busy in the lodge I have not been able to partake in a drive as yet so have not seen any leopards here at nThambo yet. I hope to get out there on a drive as soon as possible.

Chad: My favourite animal is also a leopard and I have had 3 different sightings of leopards in the week that I have been at nThambo.

Do you have any valuable advice for those going on their first safari?

Our advice for first time visitors on safari would be to never have specific expectations. Nothing is ever guaranteed in the bush and every day is very different from the last. Always have your camera ready – you don’t want to be caught off guard when something exciting happens. Have fun and try to enjoy the peaceful beauty of this picturesque place.

Watching Elephants from the Breakfast Table at nThambo