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Wild Dog at Chacma Swims to Catch Prey

May – Sep is the most common time of year to spot rare African wild dogs trotting through Greater Kruger. These nomadic wanderers cover a wide range and rarely remain sedentary in an area, unless its their denning period. Their denning period is generally between May – Sep, a period of time that delivers numerous sightings of wild dogs engaging in behaviour typical of their species. The pack is governed by the alpha male and female, a breeding pair that demands help from the pack to guard and raise their young. This is called co-operative breeding. It is during this time of year that guides and guests report fairly consistent sightings of wild dogs. From ceremonious greeting rituals, to take downs of epic proportions and observing cantering through the wild; the African wild dog sightings certainly vary.

The team at Chacma Bush Camp have been rewarded with quite a few sightings of a pack of wild dogs, but sightings have dwindled over the past few months. The most recent sighting, however, completely astounding both guests and guides. Dogs favour diurnal hunting methods and often seek out potential prey in the mornings and evenings when its cooler. They hunt using a method called coarsing, which means they identify, target and chase prey until the point of exhaustion. Mild trots turn into canters – they truly are the marathon runners of the wild ! It’s not uncommon to see this textbook behaviour in action, but what is uncommon is to see a WILD DOG SWIMMING AFTER ITS PREY.

Here is Cherie Bredenkamp’s account of the events, complete with video and images.

This sighting had many events leading up to it. If we’d taken a different route we would not have been able to witness this amazing hunt.

We were standing next to a tower of giraffe when we heard some baboons alarm calling in the distance. So we automatically thought it could be a lion, leopard or any other predator.

But we also had the choice of a buffalo sighting which was much closer. Therefore we had a decision to make.

We decided on the buffalo first as it was closer and then we would follow up on the alarm calls.

As we were enjoying the buffalo sighting there was another strange sound in the background not too far away from the vehicle. One of the guests quickly asked Ad what that could be. And with no hesitation Ad said “something is dying”.

We left the buffalo and drove off. About 50m away a guest yelled “Wild dogs!” First I thought it was impossible, as we have not seen any wild dogs for a couple of months. But luckily for us it was a pack of three wild dogs busy hunting a young female kudu.

This is a new pack to the area. We have never seen them before.

The kudu launched into the small dam while the wild dogs kept circling her. At last a brave wild dog dove into the dam and started swimming towards the kudu, pushing it into the direction of the other two.

These sightings are quite rare and magnificent to experience but at the same time it can be cruel and insensitive. Therefore our guide Ad asked all the guests if they are willing to stay and witness what was about to happen.
All the guests were quite keen as they understood the upcoming events.

Once the wild dogs got a hold of the kudu it was all down hill from there for the kudu. The wild dogs dragged her out to the side and started feasting.

There was also a small fight amongst the three wild dogs to establish a pecking order.

Guide JC Spots a Tree-climbing Lion in the Klaserie. That’s Right.

One of the major drawcards of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda, Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania and the famous Serengeti, is the presence of rare tree-climbing lions. Spotting a stocky and powerfully built lion clumsily clambering up a tree, is indeed a unique wildlife sighting. Leopards are our textbook tree-climbers, but lions – not so much. There’s no denying that some lions within prides do climb trees, but overall it’s considered a sighting for the books and certainly one worthy of documentation. The tree-climbing individuals within prides are only seen in less than 5% of documented lion pride observations (stats ref : Discover Wildlife BBC).

There’s no definitive blanket answer as to why lions climb trees. Lions climb small trees for a number of reasons. Clawing your way up a tree might just provide the shade needed from the blistering heat of the plains of East Africa. That’s one reason. Another reason is that lions may also desire an elevated view to scan the landscape for potential prey. Another common school of thought is that a lone lion might retreat upwards if they feel overpowered from a violent skirmish at ground level.

So what do these tree-climbing lions of East Africa have to do with the Greater Kruger? A love for tree-tops ! We noticed a similar behaviour with the lions of East Africa and a lioness within the Kruger. We cast our minds from the open plains of East Africa and travel back to Africa on Foot’s traverse in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, where the tree-climbing lioness was spotted by guide JC.

It was the efficient and much loved guide, JC, who broke the news to us about the tree hugging lioness. JC is always in the thick of the action, with his camera poised. Here is his account of the event :

A few mornings ago I returned to an area where an unknown, shy male leopard had secured an impala kill in a knobthorn tree the previous day. Upon arriving, there were five hyenas pacing underneath it. The leopard was nervously adjusting its kill in the tree when it unfortunately dropped it on the ground.

The hyenas cackled with delight while the leopard took the opportunity to leave the area. As we watched the hyenas fight over the remains, I heard impalas alarm calling in the distance. Thinking that we’d get another chance to see the leopard, I followed the sound only to find a lone lioness approaching. She cleverly assessed the situation and quickly climbed a marula tree before the hyenas had a chance to attack. Ultimately, the hyenas lost interest and the lioness descended the tree unharmed.

As it stands, the unknown pride of 6 were actually seen on Friday night, and a few of the Sun Destinations team jumped in the vehicle this morning to track the pride. We’ll let you know the outcome when the on-the-ground ‘veld loving team gets connected.

The Week in Pics : All Creatures Great and Small

Winter is in full swing in the Greater Kruger, and predator sightings have steadily increased. The big cats are always there, but with the thinning out of the bushveld they’ve become easier to locate. Giant water-loving herbivores, graceful general game, powerful lions, sleek leopards and adorable critters have provided plenty of sightings for our guests this week. We trust you’ll enjoy our photographer’s take on the wild.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge had an interesting week, with a highlight being the relocation of a deadly black mamba. A leopard also wandered into the grounds of the lodge which meant guides had to find a way to encourage the leopard to retreat. Never a dull moment in the Sabi Sand !

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp never disappoint with their somewhat consistent sightings of Nyeleti the leopardess. This week she managed to drag a gigantic impala kill up into a tree. The pride of 6 unknown lions were spotted on three occasions, and the Mbiri males were also spotted. It certainly seems to be a leopard and lion week in the Klaserie !

Chacma Bush Camp wallowed in a sighting of 3 wild dogs killing a kudu calf at a small dam on the traverse. Guests saw the trot, the chase, the coarsing and the take down. Witnessing wild dogs making a kill from start to finish was certainly an unforgettable moment in the wild.

Ezulwini Game Lodges have noticed an increase in elephant herd sightings, and have – yet again – enjoyed sightings of the Kudyela females and cubs.

#GuestSafariReview Mike and Fiona Return to nThambo Tree Camp

Yesterday we shared Mike and Fiona Calrk’s review about Ezulwini Game Lodges in the Balule Nature Reserve. Today we’re sharing Mike and Fiona’s review of nThambo Tree Camp, one of their favourite camps in the Greater Kruger. They’re repeat guests that have become regulars at nThambo, having visited since the camp’s inception.

Here is their #GuestSafariReview

Great to get a quick visit at nThambo on our recent visit to South Africa. We started visiting nThambo when it was first built and try to get back as much as possible, the only trouble now is its so popular, its really difficult to get a booking unless you book in advance. A glowing reference in itself.

However we were lucky enough to squeeze in a 1 night stay into out itinerary. And what a great day it was. In the 1 night we were there we were lucky to see the big 5. A couple arriving had been lucky to see Nyleti, the resident female Leopard just outside camp as they drove in, so we set out looking for her as our sole aim for the drive. Unfortunately she had decided to become elusive!!

So Issac decided we should go looking for lions – the Mbiri males had been seen earlier in the day. To our surprise on our way to relocate the lions we stumbled upon a young female Leopard. She was quite shy to begin with, hiding in the bushes, just giving us that typical shot of an eye and a few spots to photograph. But patience paid off – she became very relaxed and got up in front of us, scent marked a tree and then strolled around for a while. A great sighting.

After she had disappeared back into the bush we continued on to see if we could find the lions – and we did. The 2 majestic Mbiri males walking along the road. They were both a bit battle scarred, fighting to protect their territory and the cubs that they have fathered – both looking in good health. We spent some time with them, as they relaxed on the road, then set of on a mission to find some prey for their evening meal. By that time is was time for our meal too, so we set off back to camp.

Another great visit to nThambo – what more can we say.

#GuestSafariReview Mike and Fiona Find Lions at Ezulwini Game Lodges

Mike and Fiona certainly aren’t strangers to the Greater Kruger. They’ve visited a plethora of camps and lodges within the Lowveld, and always manage to see an array of predators and big game while on safari. These “repeat” guests chose to stay at Ezulwini Game Lodges in the Balule Nature Reserve this time around. It wasn’t their first time and Ezulwini, and the couple are most certainly aware of the recent lion sightings to emerge from the lodge. Did they get a glimpse of the famous Machaton males and their adorable cubs? You’ll have to read their safari review below to find out more!

Here is Mike and Fiona’s guest safari review about Ezulwini Game Lodges :

We visited South Africa in March this year, it was the second time that we had stayed at Ezulwini River Lodge. On our previous visit we treated to some amazing sightings but unfortunately we didn’t get to see any lions – we missed them by one day! This time around, once again we had some amazing sightings, including four different leopards, herds of elephants, hyena and an abundance of other general game.

The highlights this time however were the lions. On our first drive we found one of the Machaton males just lazing on a termite mound, grooming and dozing without a care in the world. The following day we caught up with two of his brothers along with most of the Kudyela pride.

They are the local pride consisting of cubs of varying ages and numerous females. They were drinking from one of the dams right in front of us, before relaxing in the long grass making it impossible to count them all. On our final afternoon drive a call came in that the entire pride were on the move – how exciting. Being the closest vehicle to their location, we were first to arrive and picked just the right spot to watch them move along the road and pass us by – one by one. We counted four adult females, eleven cubs and two of the Machaton males.

Once they had all passed us, we were eager to keep up with them all. It was great to follow them through the bush, watching the adults and cubs interact with each other before they stopped to drink from puddles of water on a rocky outcrop. After quenching their thirst, they all carried on walking away together, eventually disappearing off into the bush where we could no longer follow. We must say, it has to be up there as one of our favourite lion sighting ever (and we have had many over the years). So thanks again to all the team at Ezulwini for the unforgettable experience.

Sent from my iPhone

The Week in Pictures : Youth Day

June 16th in South Africa is Youth Day (and this year it coincides with Father’s Day). Youth Day is a day set aside to think about the brutal events that occurred during the Soweto uprising. The 16th is the day when over 20 000 students took to the streets in protest of inequality and oppression caused by the Apartheid government. There were a number of casualties during the riots, and Youth Day was set aside in remembrance of the lives lost. Youth Day is also a day to empower our youth and encourage independence.

This week our “Week in Pictures” is dedicated to the “youth” of the wild. The young ones that have their freedom and independence ahead of them. The ones that will fight for their place in their wild, and empower themselves with the necessary skills to outlive their competition.

Chacma Bush Camp

The Chacma team enjoyed a sighting of the Maseke Pride ! There were 11 lions in total, comprising 7 cubs and 4 females. Certainly a sighting dominated by the upcoming youth of the Maseke Game Reserve. Cherie Bredenkamp was on hand with her camera to capture the rare moments.

Ezulwini Game Lodges

Ezulwini always surprises us with their unique sightings. And we’re always lucky that Angele is on hand with her camera to capture these rare moments. On one single game drive there appeared to be a massive water party happening in the Balule Nature Reserve. Young elephant calves, a tiny hippo calf and a crocodile all seemed to be enjoying their aquatic environment. When the team left the banks of the waterhole and headed back to the lodge, Angele spotted a hyena and an African wild dog. Overall, the hippo and elephant calves really reinforced our youth theme for today.

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

The Klaserie team have recently stumbled across an unknown pride of lions, numbering 5 males and 1 female. This is not the first time the pride have been spotted, and in time we hope to ID them fully. At the moment, the lion dynamics within the Klaserie are complex and guides continuously try to figure out the origins of prides and individuals. The Mbiri boys also seem to be on the Klaserie turf, which clearly means there’s room for a male coalition. There have been plenty of nomadic males exploring areas, and leaving as quickly as they arrive. Apart from lion sightings, Nyeleti the leopardess has also been seen. Then of course, the rest of the wild is making the most of the last of the greenery and enjoying the various water sources within the reserve.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Umkumbe have delighted us with their lion sightings, which makes a difference from the standard leopard sightings. The Kambula lionesses were seen with their cubs, right in front of the lodge. Then the Othawa male was spotted with 5 females and 1 cub. Another week of big cat sightings for Umkumbe Safari Lodge !

Lion Pride with Cubs Chase Buffalo in Front of Lodge

The rough knuckle-rap on the door of your safari suite before sunrise elicits mixed emotions. On the one hand you’re excited to uncover the secrets of the Sabi Sand, and stumble across a few Lion Kings at first light. On the other hand, it’s way to early to be civilised and the bed is just too comfortable to bolt upright from your slumber session. Afternoon and evening game drives are way less of a shock to the senses. By 15:30 – 16:00 you’re fully compos mentis and eager to find out what lurks in the depths of the savannah after dark. Let’s face it – evening game drives are far easier on the body! There are times when the predator magic happens right in front of the lodge, and the mountain comes to Mohammed (so to speak). Some of the most noteworthy sightings at Umkumbe Safari Lodge have happened on the banks of the Sand River, the (usually) perennial river that Umkumbe overlooks.

One such noteworthy sighting happened a few days on the sandbank of the river in front of Umkumbe. Guests didn’t have to travel far to see the entire Kambula Pride of lions together with their cubs. The pride were just chilling out, sprawling their bodies in the soft luxurious sand when they were interrupted by a herd of burly bovines.

The cubs are still young and need plenty of protection from the elements. It’s not uncommon for lion cubs to get trampled to death by heavy-hoofed buffalo and lumbering elephants. Not to mention the threat of predators and scavengers. In this instance, the buffalo were hovering and bulk grazing in the area. The pride appeared to fear for the cubs’ safety, so a scuffle ensued. Hurricanes of sand and aggressive behaviour followed after the buffalo approached. The older members of the pride attempted to take down one of the buffalo – a brave move. Not only was there an attempt to frighten off the mafia-looking buffalo with a few scare tactics, but there was also a quick attempt at a take down. Ultimate opportunists !

So, just who are this pride? This is the Kambula Pride. A pride originally consisting of the six Mhangeni breakaway lionesses born in 2013. There are currently 4 adult lionesses; and 9 cubs sired by the Birmingham males. A powerful bloodline. This is not the first time the team have spotted the lionesses. Just a few weeks back the entire pride was seen with the Birmingham leaders.

This entire scene unfolded right in front of the lodge. Can you imagine watching lions, little cubs, and a scuffle with a buffalo herd RIGHT in front of the lodge while you sit with your feet up and a drink in hand?

Botswana Bush Dinner Under the Stars at Motswiri Camp

Botswana is the land of magic, mystery and predator mayhem. Reed-lined channels of the Okavango Delta snake their way through parched Kalahari landscapes, the mighty life-giving Chobe River flows vigorously through riverine forest and jade colour vegetation, the misunderstood flat salt pan of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, the geographical marvel of tectonic plate movements of the Savuti, the open grasslands of Nxai Pan National Park, the game-rich Selinda Reserve, and the expansive less-explored Kalahari desert all combine to form a country diverse in habitat and rich with scenery. There are high concentrations of birdlife, beasts, carnivores, endemic species and predators that have adapted to their environment. In short, Botswana is a country filled with an unsurpassed natural beauty, unmarred by commercialism and untainted by high-volume tourism.

Our experienced team at Sun Destinations decided it was almost impossible to nail down the best region in Botswana to explore. Our camps are located in completely different areas in sought-after regions in Botswana, so it was decided the best way to explore these hidden spots was to put together a combination package. And so “Trails of Botswana” was born ! The trails route takes guests on an adventurous journey through a few of the iconic destinations in Botswana, letting them experience the unique offerings of each of our camps, which include : Tuskers Bush Camp, Xobega Island Camp, Motswiri Camp, and other additional camps should they be required. You are encouraged to select one of our on 4, 5, 6, or 8 night packages tailor-made to suit your Trails of Botswana style.

One of the camps mentioned, Motswiri Camp, is located on the banks of the Selinda Spillway in northern Botswana. The camp operates exclusively on 120 000 acres of a magnificent, world-renowned tract of land on the Selinda Spillway. Motswiri is the home of safari activities and offers everything from game drives to bush walks and even horse riding. Guests are rewarded with a sense of exclusion when it comes to their accommodation options. There are 5 tented suites overlooking the spillway, and guests are often rewarded with remarkable wildlife sightings. We’ve had guests watching African wild dogs making a kill outside of tent 3, elephant herds stripping bark from trees and journeys of giraffe loping past in search of the most succulent shoots and leaves.

It’s not only the game viewing that’s a major drawcard at Motswiri Camp, but it’s also the “added value” experiences that really elevate the safari experience. The Motswiri team are experts at crafting the perfect sundowner and bush dinner sessions. An open area is carefully selected and a table is set-up in the middle of the bustling wildlife kingdom. Tablecloth, cutlery and decor adds a an elegant touch to the bush dinner. There’s a campfire and lanterns for atmosphere, and khaki canvas chairs are neatly placed in the bush dinner arena.

Teagan Cunniffe enjoyed a famous Motswiri style bush dinner under the all encompassing star-spangled Botswana sky. She was treated to a unique dinner session together with other guests, and feasted on homemade cuisine designed to introduce guests to traditional African flavours.

Here are Teagan’s images from a Botswana Bush Dinner Under the Stars at Motswiri Camp.

The Week in Pictures : Wildlife Images to Cure Your Friday Fever

If you have a case of Friday fever, then we suggest you make use of your time and scroll through our recent sprinkling of wildlife images fresh from the undergrowth of the Kruger. There’s plenty happening out there, and – across the board – guests have been rewarded with sightings of lion cubs, wild dogs and giant herbivores. We trust you’ll enjoy the images from our photographers and guides; as well as the quick catch-up session.

Ezulwini Game Lodges

This week, Ezulwini wins the imaginary award for “Best News of the Week”. Angele and the team managed to scoop this award when they spotted newborn lion cubs this morning. The Kudyela lionesses have given birth to another 2 lion cubs. The team at Ezulwini are quite used to cubs on their traverse, and are fully aware that newborns need space. They certainly won’t be putting any pressure on the pride. Lion cubs face a high mortality rate in the wild, so it’s of the utmost essence to ensure their den area remains a secret and safe location. The older lion cubs were also spotted during the course of the week, patrolling with their pride.

In other cat news, local leopard legend Chavaluthu was spotted indulging in a freshly caught kill. His meal was very quickly snapped up by thieving bone-crushing hyenas. Nothing worse than a scavenger stealing your hard-earned meal!

The bovids and grey giants are still roaming the bushveld, moving from the last remaining verdure vegetation before the winter season hits in full swing. The team is spotting the herds at waterholes and around the banks of the river. Elephants and buffalo love two things : greenery and water !

And that’s not it. Guests were lucky enough to see a pack of 8 African wild dogs trotting through the Balule. It’s their denning period which does mean potential for increased sightings. The industrious and overconfident honey badgers clearly decided that it was their time to shine, and rewarded the team with a number of sightings. There really is nothing funnier than watching these brazen heavyset creatures bolt past the vehicle…and through camp.

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

The past few weeks the Klaserie team noticed a marked increase in the elephant and buffalo sightings. This week the focus has moved from the herbivorous giants towards the ravaging predators of the Klaserie. We spoke to Africa on Foot guide JC who furnished us with a quick lion pride update, much to our delight.

JC says, “The full River Pride of 9 lions haven’t been seen since the Mbiri boys roughed up a few of the males!”. It’s clear that the full River Pride retreated. However a small group from the pride became quite established in the area, but haven’t been spotted in a while. A surprising sighting is that of the Mbiri boys, who appear to be “reinvesting” in the Klaserie area. There is actually plenty of activity from nomadic males within the Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp traverse, which means there possible space for a few dominant males.

Other than that, the usual suspects are still providing consistent sightings – hippos, birdlife and abundant impala herds.

Chacma Bush Camp

Chacma continues to tick over in terms of sightings and is following the trend when it comes to big herbivore sightings. The Maseke pride are often around, and sometimes guides are lucky enough to spot the lion cubs.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Birmingham male lions and Kambula females have a litter of lion cubs ! Guests at Umkumbe were lucky enough to see the cubs – they were spotted relaxing with one of the massive, powerful Birmingham males. What a treat for the Sabi Sand. There was also a sighting of the commonly spotted Southern Pride of lions, just meandering down the road in the darkness. The wild dogs are also out and about, and were seen indulging in a scrumptious meal. Of course, there were also sightings of leopards with a surprising visit from a feisty, unfriendly leopard called Tingelia who actually stole a kill from Ntsumi.

The Sabi Sand actually enjoyed similar to sightings to the Balule Nature Reserve.

The Prowling Predators of Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Game drives with Umkumbe Safari Lodge tend to over deliver in terms of leopard sightings. Located in the heart of leopard country in one of South Africa’s most revered reserves, puts Umkumbe in the perfect position to spot these somewhat elusive and obscure predators. Game drives with the passionate team from Umkumbe Safari Lodge are successful when it comes to predator sightings, especially leopards – moments that are never taken for granted. We’re certainly no stranger to the fact that the wild is an unpredictable place, and at times eager safari-goers can be on the bad side of luck; but Umkumbe is consistent with their tracking and spotting of leopards. Of course, recent events on game drives have delivered more than just the stock-standard leopard observations. The past couple of weeks both the muscle-bound lions and trotting wild dogs shared the limelight with the regal patterned cats.

The current crew of local leopards on the Umkumbe traverse are : Nweti, Ntsumi, the White Dam male and – on occasion – the Ndzanzeni female. Nweti is a virile and agile youngster and Ntsumi is a small in stature leopardess. Of course, leopards are notorious wanderers and push boundaries as they come of age. Males head off in search of territory laden with food and females; and females are drawn to areas rich with prey and possible den sites. A female’s territory is significantly smaller than a male’s territory. Youngsters cross over into already established turf and recent mother’s tolerate the presence of cubs on the periphery of their own home ground. Of course, if leopards succumb to the harsh bushveld or shift territories; it also creates space for newcomers. All of these reasons contribute to the constant shift in dynamics with leopard sightings, which we often witness in the Sabi Sand.

The past week the team were afforded ample opportunities to view a few of the local crew of leopards. Guide Tanya stumbled across Ntsumi curled up in a bundle on the warm earth during night drive. Unfortunately, a rather brazen leopard – Tingilia stole her kill right from under her nose. Tingilia is not the friendliest leopard and has quite a bolshy attitude. Nothing better than watching a thieving leopard drama unfold. Clearly Tingilia is not one to mess with!

White Dam young male provided a perfect visual during the daylight hours. There he was, just patrolling and crossing through. Nweti was also spotted during the daylight hours as the air got cooler and the daylight dimmer. Nweti was scent marking vigorously ensuring that curious and exploratory male leopards are kept at bay.

Let’s talk about lions. The lion sightings at Umkumbe Safari Lodge have increased, and some noteworthy Panthera leo sightings include : the Southern Pride, Birmingham males, Kambula females and their cubs. The burly Birmingham males sired cubs with the Kambula lionesses and guests were lucky enough to see these bumbling bundles of tawny fluff. Lion cubs face a high mortality in the wild, so sightings of cubs in the Sabi Sand are always celebrated!

We move on from the big cat sightings to sweeping scenes of rare African Wild Dog predators. The resident pack have returned to the grounds around Umkumbe and were spotted feasting on the remnants of a recent kill. Plenty of tearing, pulling apart legs and excited devouring in one sighting. The hyenas approached the area in the hopes of getting a small part of the action. Hyenas and wild dogs are mortal enemies, so you can only imagine the commotion in the area.

What fantastic week of predator sightings for Umkumbe Safari Lodge – leopards, lions and wild dogs!