Sun Destinations Blog - Page 24 of 117 - Sun Destinations Safari

An Oasis of Calm. Photoshoot of Africa on Foot’s New Pool.

When the sizzling summer season is upon us and the African sun beats down on our lily white skin, we lap up the healthy dose of Vitamin D with glee. Summer has a vibe and it’s evident in the bushveld. The Kruger can get sweltering hot and escaping the heat is paramount to feeling comfortable in the Lowveld. Africa on Foot is no stranger to the heat and even our wildlife seeks out available sources of water. The summer rains are always a welcome respite from the heat, but the best way for guests to cool off is to take a dip in one of the two pools at camp. Yes – two pools.

The new pool rests on a raised platform in a hideaway next to the treehouse surrounded by a canopy of trees. Located on the perimeter of camp, the swimming pool area feels like an exclusive little oasis in the midst of the wild. It also makes – potentially – a fantastic area for a private dinner, special sundowner and extravagant proposal ! Natural wood decking surrounds the sparkling waters of the pool and has been designed to look like an extension of its natural surrounds. A small staircase leads up to the deck area that houses a few sun loungers adorned with comfortable cushions, giving it a touch of bushveld style. There are umbrellas to shield our less leathery skinned folk from the penetrating rays of the sun – we literally have you covered.

The new pool overlooks the wilderness beyond and has uninterrupted views of the savannah biome. It’s a great summer spot for game viewing, and provides the perfect haven to sit and spot wildlife. Elephants do lumber down to the pool area, and plains game often come bounding past, effortlessly.

Splash about in the crystal clear reflective waters while listening to the screaming cicadas and delicate songs from migrant birds chirping to the tune of summer. Feel the gentle breeze waft its way through the thickets of impossible greens while you keep an eye out for plundering predators and other species of wildlife.

The new pool is the place to see and be seen!

And the old pool? This small splash pool is located at camp – a hop, skip and jump from the bar area; making it the perfect place for a dip and a drink! The old pool has been fully kitted out with a new decking area and is still the go-to “waterhole” for elephants. This pool is ideal for families with children that want to swim but need to be kept under the watchful eye of their parents.

Two pools means there are options for our more discerning guests. Our tip for making use of the pools? WEAR sunscreen !

Below are photos of the new pool located adjacent to the treehouse.

The Week in Pictures : Eggs-actly What You Need for a Hoppy Weekend

The long weekend is upon us and the masses are winding down in preparation for a well-deserved break. We thought we’d gift you with a bumper album of images before the weekend of festivities commences. Whether you’re devouring a few hot cross buns in your gullet, hiding Lindt chocolate bunnies in secret places, spending time with family, working, giving thanks, or simply taking a much needed break; we wish you a happy and enjoyable weekend ahead. We’ve furnished you with a few highlights from our camps and lodges, along with a few choice images…Eggs-actly what you need for a hoppy weekend!

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp took centre stage in terms of sightings over the past few weeks. The Klaserie camps enjoyed a string of unusual and entertaining sightings. Nyeleti the leopard re-appeared after a short absence, and was seen marking territory on one of nThambo’s buildings. She sauntered her way in front of camp and lapped up water from the dam, which gave guests a perfect visual. Then there was the quest for dominance with two groups of lions – the Mbiri boys and a youngster from the River Pride had a bit of a showdown. The hyenas coursing through through vegetation covered terrain in hot pursuit of a kudu bull, proved to be yet another incredible sighting. When guides and photographers were observing the clans of hyena, Nyeleti approached the scene in a moment of cat-like curiosity.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge enjoyed their usual spate of leopard sightings, with Nweti dominating most of the sightings. Nweti is confident and often comes up close to the game viewers, which provides perfect close quarters viewing opportunities. Umkumbe guides also tracked and found lions over the past couple of weeks. The highlight being that of the Birmingham males tucking into a carcass, and sharing it with the Kambula females.

Chacma Bush Camp’s local lion cubs simply love being in front of the camera ! The cubs are spotted on a regular basis, with the most recent sighting being last night. The Lamai Pride is certainly a dominant group on Chacma’s traverse. Guide AD also came across a leopard mother together with its young cub. The Chacma team have yet to ID this leopard – it’s always tricky establishing historical data. Lest we not forget the incident with the rock python suffocating an impala – a true once-in-a-lifetime sighting!

Ezulwini Game Lodges have enjoyed their normal high standard of predator sightings, and the spotting of cubs, calves and the young ones has been a particular highlight for guests. The Kudyela cubs are still very much around and so are the Machaton males.

Hyenas Take Down Kudu. Leopard Comes to Investigate.

Hyenas have a particularly brutal method of taking down prey, and it’s a far cry from the finesse of the feline species. A kill from a cat is swift and far less prolonged than a hyena’s method of take down. Hyenas aren’t just awkward looking scrounging scavengers – they are actually proficient hunters and ultimately one of the most successful carnivores in the animal kingdom. Prolific predators within a reserve means that hyenas have ample opportunity to scavenge – a method of getting food that’s far easier than hunting! While Gemma and Rogan were out on game drive they saw a clan of hyena taking part in an epic hunt. This proved to be an unusual event that delivered more than just the standard observation of a hyena take down in action. The clan caused immense suffering on a massive kudu bull, that eventually sought safety in the waterhole. While the clan hovered around the fringe of the dam circling the alarmed bull, our nimble leopard, Nyeleti, sauntered onto the scene! Here’s the background and the lowdown…

Hyenas hunt using a method called coarsing, and their bodies are built for the chase. These marathon runners chase their prey until the point of exhaustion and then increase their speed when their prey slows down. They are cooperative hunters, which means the entire clan will give chase and begin the barbaric attack in unison. Their bone crushing jaws smash into the abdomen of their prey in an attempt to disembowel their victim. Plains game that succumb to a hyena’s method of hunting generally die from shock or bleed to death. That’s right – hyena begin eating before their prey has died.

The commotion from this particular chase, and the whiff of that iron-atom metallic smell filling the air means on thing only – blood has been shed. This is bound to rouse a few sniffs and curiosity from other predators, which is exactly what happened in the Klaserie when Nyeleti the leopard made a guest appearance at the site of the hyena commotion.

Gemma was taken by surprise at Nyeleti’s guest appearance. Her and Rogan were just chatting about Nyeleti’s elusive ways over the past week or so. As if by some form of telepathy, Nyeleti graced them with her presence. On the Saturday, they tracked her all the way into the thickets and followed her to an area right in front of nThambo Tree Camp. The following day she appeared on the banks of Buffeldam with the hyenas, providing Rogem (Rogan + Gemma) with yet another noteworthy sighting.

Nyeleti’s behaviour was interesting. She appeared at the water’s edge to drink and had ample opportunity to take down impala that were littered around the dam, but she avoided further bloodshed. We speculate that this was because of the heavy presence of the bone-crushing clean up crew. Leopards avoid confrontation. In this instance, she selected survival instinct over killer instinct.

But let’s hear it from the team on the ground…

Gemma says, “We heard on the radio from Reinhard that a hyena chased kudu into the dam. The bull was massive and by the time we arrived there were 8 or 9 hyenas surrounding the kudu. The kudu was clever and sought refuge in the waterhole, close to a bushy embankment which made it tricky for the hyena to navigate. We watched the scene for about 3 hours, and saw hyenas coming and going. The poor kudu’s abdomen already had a large chunk removed and its tail was gone! It was clearly in a weakened state but still seemed to have some strength because it kept trying to clamber out the dam.

We decided to head back to camp to recharge the camera batteries. The aim was to return a bit later. On the way back I spotted Nyeleti in the tree ! She was sitting in the top of a tree that was about 1500 m from the dam. The tree was overlooking the whole of the dam, and she just sat there observing the entire hyena – kudu ordeal!

She clearly wanted to drink and was just waiting for the right moment. She came down form the tree and circled the dam a bit, making sure she avoided the hyena. A massive herd of impala approached the dam and it would have been easy enough for her to take down one of them, and she even got into pounce position. But she took one look at the hyenas and then decided not to grab a quick meal – it would have attracted too much attention from the massive clan of hyenas.

When we went back in the afternoon the kudu had – sadly – passed away. The hyenas devoured the carcass, and the pregnant female hyena was clearly in charge of the clan. She at least got to feed herself and baby. In total we were there for about 9 hours of the day! “

Planning on popping the question? Get Roamantic!

The story of your proposal is a tale that your future wife, or husband, will be recounting at dinner parties for the foreseeable future, so the pressure is well and truly on. And what more memorable and romantic location than under the vast skies and endless scapes of Roam Private Game Reserve in the Karoo?

Picture the scene: A few last minute chirpers are trying to get the last word in before sunset, but apart from the birds, it’s quiet and serene. There’s a slight breeze that brings relief after the intense heat of the day, and it rustles gently over the grassy basin below. The sun is slowly inching towards cover behind the Karoo horizon, bruising the blushing sky in a patchy array of purples and yellows. In the distance, the silhouetted necks of giraffes are cast against the setting sun, while a jackal sounds its lonely call to signal the end of the day.

Your camp chairs are perched on a small rise overlooking the endless grassy plains and undulations of Roam Private Game Reserve, and the only other sign of humans for miles is the inconspicuous thatched roof of the lodge far in the distance. In front of you is a table laid out with a carefully selected cheeseboard, and ice cold champagne begging to be popped.

It’s all set up, and the air is virtually crackling with romance. The ring is burning a hole in your pocket, and only one thing remains now: getting down on that knee!

Proposing at the wonderful Roam is sure to count in your favour, and you can be certain your significant other will be only too proud to tell their proposal tale at every opportunity. The staff at Roam are also fantastic wingmen and women when it comes to popping the question, and they will pull out all the stops to make it as romantic and intimate as possible.

Apart from champagne sundowners, private candle-lit dinners by the pool can be arranged, and so can candle-lit bubble baths, rose-petalled beds, or whatever romantic whims you may have. The rest of the weekend can be spent however you choose – relaxing poolside with your fiancé, going on morning- and evening game drives, birdwatching walks (there are more than 240 species of birds here), or even a bit of cheetah tracking. Mountain-biking couples will also adore Roam, as the reserve is criss-crossed with several tracks of varying difficulty, on which wildlife is regularly spotted from the saddle.

At night, the Karoo sky lights up with an incandescent canopy of stars, and one can spend hours wondering at the majesty of the milky way. One could even use the telescope at Roam to pick out ‘your’ star – a star to celebrate your engagement and to mark your happy union.

No one leaves the Karoo unaffected. There’s a certain sense of freedom here that one can’t explain. Its vast, seemingly endless horizons and infinite skies grab a hold of one’s heart, and a stay at Roam replenishes the soul. Sharing that experience with a loved one – and to make them yours forever in this magical place – is simply incomparable.

5 Reasons to Visit the Big 5 Balule Nature Reserve

There are countless reasons to visit the exquisite Balule Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger, particularly during the colder months, but we’ll whittle them down to just five.

1) Without borders…exclusively

One of the biggest drawcards of Balule Nature Reserve is that it shares an open border with the Kruger National Park on its western boundary. Over a decade ago, a group of clever and intrepid farm owners made the call to drop the game fences between their properties, which meant Balule became one huge game-rich expanse. In fact, this private reserve is still expanding today as more land owners join the fenceless initiative. The fencing between Balule and the Kruger were then also dropped and, together with a number of other private reserves, it now makes up what is known as the Greater Kruger, a massive tract of land that sprawls over 20 million hectares – about the size of Wales.

The best part, though? Visitors to Balule get to experience the vast numbers of game (including the Big 5, and 143 other species of mammal) that regularly venture across from the Kruger and settle here, without having to contend with the multitudinous crowds of the national park. Exclusivity is the name of the game, and wildlife sightings don’t have to be shared with fleets of other safari vehicles and their noisy, selfie-taking passengers.

2) Feline factory

As mentioned, Balule sees plenty of big-game action, and it’s become known as a bit of a big cat eden. Of course, one can never guarantee big cat sightings, or any specific animal sightings for that matter, but the guides in Balule seem to have a magic touch when it comes to lions and leopards. In recent months, guests have been spoilt with several sightings of the Kudyela lionesses and their adorable cubs, as well as the mighty Machaton males who call these pastures home, having famously bullied the Mohlabetsi males off their own turf. In fact, recent guests were lucky enough to see the Kudyela pride take down a massive kudu bull, and stayed to watch, in fascination, the feast that followed.

Even with those most elusive of cats – the leopard – Balule serves up a glut of sightings. One has to have a generous slice of fortune to catch a glimpse of these sly, shy predators, but it would seem that your chances of spotting them at Balule are pretty good. Of course, it’s not all down to luck, and the expertise of the guides throughout the Balule reserve plays a major role. Information is also shared in Balule: leopard ID kits are created, and then the animals are observed and behaviour documented, after which neighbouring lodges are consulted and info shared.

3) The river runs through it

The mighty Olifants River flows right through the centre of Balule for about 20km. It is the life source and provides sustenance to a tremendous diversity of animal- and birdlife. In winter, particularly, when a lot of the waterholes dry up, game tend to flock to its banks, delighting guests with the sheer numbers seen on game drives. Hippos and crocs are also abundant in the Olifants, and are often seen wallowing in river holes or basking on the bank.

Twitchers can also look forward to prolific birdlife along the Olifants. From fish eagles and kingfishers, to lesser spotted predators such as scops owls, giant eagle owls and even Pel’s fishing owls. One could sit here with a pair of binos all day, and never get bored with the variety of avians flitting about in the rich and verdant foliage of the giant fig and Natal mahogany that line these banks.

4) Winter wonderland

As mentioned, during the winter months the majority of smaller waterholes tend to dry up, which forces game to a select number of bigger holes, or the river. This means guests are virtually guaranteed great sightings at the now-limited number of water sources, and sundowners nearly always turn out to be a spectacular show of game and birds.

The other advantage of visiting in the colder months is that the undergrowth in this mopane-dominated landscape is much sparser than in the lush summer months, making it significantly easier to spot game (and your odds of spotting that leopard becomes so much shorter). Plus, a steaming cup of coffee on a crisp morning game drive has never tasted so good!

5) Simply heavenly

The isiZulu word ‘ezulwini’ loosely translates to ‘heavenly’. And what an apt description that is for Ezulwini River Lodge on the banks of the Olifants River. This little slice of heaven alone is worth travelling to Balule for. Enshrouded in lush riverine forest, and with decks overlooking the flowing waters below, Ezulwini is bush luxury at its finest.

There are four luxury chalets built in traditional thatched rondavel-style with all the creature comforts one might need, and splendid views. For those who want to up the ante though, four super luxury suites await, complete with large bedrooms, lounges, indoor- and outdoor showers, huge lookout decks, plunge pools and river views to die for.

The main part of the lodge is warm and inviting, with a large outdoor guest area, a shaded bar, outdoor lounge and a stylishly appointed indoor dining area – with staff at your every beck and call. There are also several view points, including a viewing deck right on the river built around a tree, and a viewing tower which offers panoramic views of the reserve and a nearby waterhole.

It turns out heaven is, in fact, a place on Earth, and it just so happens to be on the banks of the Olifants River!

AD Van Zyl Photographs an African Rock Python Devouring an Impala

It’s always exciting when one of our guides sends through a video clip of an ambush predator in the throws of capturing its prey. When AD Van Zyl from Chacma Bush Camp WhatsApp’d me to tell me about a unique sighting while out on drive, I made an assumption that I was going to receive an influx of leopard videos and images. How wrong I was. AD spotted the unimaginable. The type of sighting that would make herpetologists and reptile loving safari-goers turn an envious shade of green mamba!

Guide AD found an African rock python suffocating its unsuspecting prey, a rather large impala. Watching a kill in progress is always a moment that elicits mixed emotions. You feel that gut-wrenching pull when a placid, doe-eyed impala dies; but you’re excited that one of the bushveld’s significant predators successfully finds a meal. The rock python is the largest snake in the Greater Kruger, and can weigh up to a whopping 50 kgs. It’s a notoriously aggressive predator that ambushes small prey with great ferocity, on land and in water. That’s right – in water. Unlike other snakes, rock pythons actually love water and often remain underwater to thermoregulate.

In this case, it’s prey was targeted and taken down on land. We’re quite used to seeing pythons snack on the smaller prey, but this sighting strayed from the ordinary. The size of the prey was remarkable – an impala is a common source of prey for cats! The rock python is a nocturnal hunter and uses the cover of darkness to slither around and ambush its prey. It detects warm-blooded prey with its heat-sensitive pits, and goes in for the kill when close enough. When it slithers closer, and ambushes its prey it then constricts its prey by securing its grip and suffocating the kill. It will then swallow its prey whole, during which time the snake is in a vulnerable position. Leopards are opportunistic killers and if they stumble across a full-bellied, immobile python they won’t hesitate to pounce.

This sighting was considered an absolute highlight, and we’re grateful that AD had his camera on hand.

The Week in Pictures : Bless the Rains Down in Africa

Toto clearly knew a thing or two about the bursts of rain in Africa, so much so that the band wrote a song about it. Sheets of water aggressively pelt down onto heated African landscapes and inject bursts of life into withering landscapes. Those moments deserve to be sung about, and currently the Lowveld is living out Toto’s lyrics. The past few days, parts of the Kruger bushveld have enjoyed bouts of rain.

The waterholes are brimming, and the lush landscapes will soon flourish with even more greenery (if that’s possible). The ‘veld gets blistering hot and the rains provide temporary relief and respite from the sticky muggy madness of summer. The scent of the bushveld is heightened during the rains and it’s a smell that have been introduced to bushveld life will know about. When the bursts of rain subside, we’ll enjoy glistening shrubbery and water drenched wildlife. There’ll be an underlying tone of vigour running through the bushveld and there will be copious photographic moments. The looming rains haven’t thwarted sightings over the past 10 days – wildlife continues their business come rain or shine! So here’s an update from our side (albeit a delayed one) and a few recent images to delight the eyes.

Chacma Bush Camp experienced 20 mm of rain, which means the waterhole in front of camp is probably quite full by now. The elephants, wading birds and predators are going to love the full waterhole! The elephants are out in full force, and guide AD has managed to photograph huge herds down at the big waterhole. But our highlight of the week is his sighting of a slithering python devouring a small impala!

Umkumbe Safari Lodge spotted their normal handful of leopards – sightings which are always celebrated. However, guides recently stumbled across a unique sighting in the wild. It was a gut wrenching and cruel moment, but one that needs to be reported. A heavily pregnant buffalo cow settled down in the short grasses to give birth. Hyenas approached, and started yanking the unborn calf out of the cow. The calf was slowly starting to emerge, and the mother was helpless. As the calf emerged, the hyenas tried to pull and wrench it out. A true cruel and heartless moment in the wild!

Our photographer’s are currently on assignment at Ezulwini Game Lodges, so we look forward to a fresh batch of images from their side. The Machaton male lions and the Kudyela cubs were recently spotted, and seem to provide consistent big cat sightings.

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

It’s been a wild week of sightings for our Klaserie camps. Firstly, there was a massive shift in lion pride dynamics and the River Pride are now considered the dominant pride of the region. The Hercules Pride swooped in, just as the River Pride were getting comfortable. The lion prides of the Klaserie are a constant source of fascination!

The wild dogs were seen right outside nThambo Tree Camp – again! They provided quite a spectacle of activity and seem to be hovering around the camps.

Other than that, we trust you’ll enjoy our albums of images.

Pearl of Africa

Uganda might be small, but it’s positively brimming with fascinating tourist attractions, including a wonderful diversity of wildlife, teeming volcano-backdropped savannahs, fertile forests, gleaming lakes, snow-capped mountains, and some of Africa’s warmest and most welcoming people.

Tourists jet into Uganda to see the country’s most celebrated primates, its population of endangered mountain gorillas, and often jet straight out again without giving the rest of the country’s awe-inspiring scenery and wildlife a second thought. Don’t get me wrong, getting up close for an eye-to-eye encounter with the gorillas and spending an hour with these massive creatures in the mist-shrouded forests of Bwindi Impenetrable Park is an experience of a lifetime, but there is so much else on offer here.

Have you ever done a boat safari? What about a boat safari on the world’s longest river? Not only does the Nile snake through Uganda, but the tiny East African country is also home to the continent’s largest lake (Victoria), which happens to be a principal source to the Nile. Sunset boat cruises in this part of the world is breathtaking, with hippos, crocs, elephants and a snorgasbord of other species lining the banks of the ancient river. Of course, with Lake Victoria being like a small inland ocean, there is so much to do around this massive body of water, including renting a houseboat for a few nights, a variety of watersports and – what many flock here for – fishing. Fishermen try for tiger fish, tilapia, catfish, but the biggest attraction for anglers is the massive Nile perch that call Victoria home, sometimes growing as big as two metres!

Back on terra firma, there is plenty to see and do. As mentioned, many tourists opt to fly in for the gorillas and then fly to neighbouring Kenya or Tanzania for big five safaris. But with 10 world class national parks in Uganda, there’s no need. Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park are both excellent, and Queen Elizabeth in particular is home to huge animal numbers including 10 000 Cape buffalo, 5 000 hippo and a thriving elephant population of 3 000. Also resident to QENP is a peculiar contingent of lions called the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha. These big cats climb the fig trees that dot the vast Ugandan savannah, and wait for unsuspecting kob to pounce on.

The volcanic backdrops add an otherworldly feeling to safaris in Uganda, and the Rwenzori Mountains are aptly named: The Mountains of the Moon. This rocky curtain runs all along Uganda’s western edge, and its highest peaks are always snow-capped and foggy. Wonderful hikes can be done in its foothills, where hikers are treated to spectacular waterfalls, clear streams and luxuriant foliage. One can also opt for multi-day hikes which track through misty Afromontane forest, bamboo thickets and, only for the brave (and the supremely fit and trained), right up Mount Stanley – which, at 5 109m, is the third highest mountain in Africa after Mounts Kilimanjaro and Kenya.

Of course, the biggest drawcard of Uganda remains its large primates. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park teems with birds, butterflies and other forest life, and happens to be home to close to half of the world’s 800 or so mountain gorillas. It is a breathtaking experience as one hikes high up into the Rift Valley to spend an hour with one of the habituated families. It’s usually a peaceful scene as they go about their business uninhibited and indifferent to your presence: adolescents rumble and tumble, mothers groom their babies, and the big silverback males keep a watchful eye over all of them, and you. It’s some of the most magical sixty minutes you’ll ever experience, and worth the exorbitant fee.

For those whose pockets aren’t quite deep enough for the gorilla trekking, chimpanzee treks are equally fascinating and special. Several of Uganda’s forests are inhabited by chimps, including Kibale, Budongo, and Queen Elizabeth Park’s magical Kyambura Gorge, Maramagambo and Kalinzu, which are all home to 13 species of primates, including a reported 1 500 chimpanzees. One can arrange chimpanzee treks through various companies; getting up close to these beguiling and most intelligent of primates is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a bucket list item for sure.

You might come for the gorillas, chimps and other wildlife, but it’s the mystical scapes of Uganda, and, perhaps most of all, its warm people that will have you returning time and again. ‘Welcome, mzungu!’ is something you’ll hear often, ‘mzungu’ being a friendly term for foreigner. And the Ugandan people really are a welcoming, friendly bunch. Diverse, too. As you travel around the country, the dress, food, music and dance change as often as the topography. Over 40 languages are spoken in Uganda, and it is a veritable melting pot of cultures that have landed here over millennia, from the fascinating short-statured, forest-dwelling Batwa in the south-west (sometimes referred to as ‘pygmies’), the Bantu, the Nilotic Acholi and Karamoja people from the northern deserts, and the Arabs and Indians from the coast. One thing everyone seems to have in common is a love for dance.

As one unnamed author wrote: ‘Uganda’s national bird is the grey crowned crane. Its characteristics resemble those of the Ugandan people: elegant, loyal, strong, and rather fond of dancing’.

Mauritz Chats About the Recent Lion Sightings in the Klaserie

We’ve had a fairly turbulent year when it comes to lion pride dynamics in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, with rather feeble attempts from various prides and individuals trying to establish themselves in the area. There have been plenty of lion sightings over the past year, but no dominant presence was felt. There was a definite crosshatch of prides and individuals just waltzing through the reserve, hanging around for a while and then leaving. The African on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp traverse had plenty of room for a few powerful Panthera leos to infiltrate. After a weird year of cat dynamics, we have what appears to be a dominant pride in the area : The River Pride. This pride of 9 lions was originally part of a mega-pride which splintered a while ago. After a number of consistent sightings over a period of 3 months, and the lion’s fervent territorial marking coupled with aggressive vocalisations; Mauritz deemed it safe to assume that River Pride is here to stay.

The images of the River Pride have flooded into our folders over the past few months, so I decided it was time to pick Mauritz’s brain about the recent lion sightings in the Klaserie. And – let’s face it – we owe our avid fans a lion catch-up! Mauritz has been instrumental in helping us understand the current happenings in the Klaserie, and it seems the lion dynamics are pretty complex and intricate. Something we’ll never actually truly understand!

These are our recent lion sightings in our section of the Klaserie:

The River Pride

The River Pride were once a mega pride of lions only occasionally spotted on the Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp traverse. Individuals, breakaways and groups are often spotted in neighbouring reserves. After the mega pride had dispersed -as it does when the young males come of age – our section of the Klaserie began to enjoy sightings of a pride of 9. There are 5 young males (4 – 4.5 years) and 4 females. 2 of the females are really old, and 2 of them are youngsters. We believe that the mega pride split into two.

Mauritz says that their territory is quite large but over a course of 3 months, guides have enjoyed consistent sightings of the pride. The lions are often heard vocalising well into the night. Over the past two weeks they haven’t been seen, but Mauritz seems to think that they are expanding their traverse and they’ll return. The pride have staking their claim on our land, and marking territory rather vigourously.

Interestingly enough, in a neighbouring reserve (Balule) an older River Pride lioness single handedly took down a kudu bull after it was weakened from battle. Clear proof that the River Pride is scattered throughout many neighbouring reserves and other sections of the Klaserie.

Unknown coalition of 7 young male lions

The unknown coalition of 7 young males were seen on the western side of our traverse. They’re a lot younger than the 5 lads from the River Pride and they’re incredibly skittish. Mauritz says, “When they hear the vocalisations from the River Pride, they tend to tuck tail and run; but they could be quite a force if they gain in confidence and stick around.”

The Ross Pride lionesses

The Ross Pride were an absolute legacy in the Klaserie. The pride and the breakaway lionesses were definitely a dominate force in the area, but eventually the breakaways succumbed to natural factors and passed away. The two younger Ross lionesses filled their place and were often seen while out on drive. Sightings of them dwindled in recent months, until just the other day when one of them reappeared.

While out on drive a scraggly lioness with a limp was seen. There was debate as to her ID, but Mauritz remains certain that it was the Ross Pride lioness who always had the unmistakeable limp on her left hind leg. This lioness was spotted on Monday again, but she was chased off by a herd of elephants!

Coalition of two unknown youngsters

This coalition of two youngsters seem to be testing the waters, but have yet to gain confidence. They were spotted again on yesterday’s evening drive (Wednesday). Mauritz said that these boys are about 5 years old, but they’re incredibly nervous. They were trying to advertise territory but as soon as they vocalised, the River Pride responded. After hearing these vocalisations, the coalition literally sprinted leaving a trail of dust in their wake. Mauritz estimates the distance fled was in excess of 20 km because the males were spotted in the east block the following morning.

The Hercules Pride

The feared and fearless Hercules Pride was never an established pride within the area, but certainly made their mark in the reserve. This bunch of warriors lived up to their namesake and never backed down from a battle. They provided us with many epic showdowns, scuffles and entertainment. In recent times they have been spotted on the rare occasion, but more on the western side of the traverse. Mauritz says that they are definitely not the lions of the area, and are possibly more of a nomadic pride.

The Western Pride

The Western Pride are mainly seen on the east of the traverse, with the most recent sighting of them on a giraffe kill. They don’t really come into the west side of the traverse anymore.

Last year October we updated you about the lion pride dynamics in the Klaserie, and it’s so interesting to see how things have developed in the past 6 months. Read here for our previous update : Klaserie Lion Update from October 2018

These are images of our – dare we say it – local pride of lions : The River Pride!

Ezulwini Leopard Catch-up : Independent Cub Steals the Show

“He was first spotted on Olifants main during August last year. We were avidly tracking the Kudyela lionesses, and their movements must have startled this young leopard. The cub very quickly bolted up an apple leaf tree, and the lions never caught wind of the situation. The growing youngster has been spotted on and off over the past few months, and is currently quite habituated to the presence of the vehicle, seeing it as a non-threatening entity.” – Angele.

Read the below to find out the background info and the details regarding the recent leopard and leopard cub sightings within the bustling Balule; a reserve that takes pride in its high density of leopards.

If you’re one of the lucky ones, you might catch a fleeting glimpse of rosette-patterned beauty moving swiftly through the feathered grasses carpeting the Balule traverse. These felines are notorious for wanting to remain in the shadows, and do what they can to evade being detected. Whether it’s scaling leadwood trees, darting for cover in drainage lines or hiding in tall, spears of swaying grasses; one thing’s for sure – leopards are elusive! It’s not out of fear, it’s just instinct. It makes sense, given that they employ the art of stealth as a their hunting techniques; and they don’t have the protection of a pride.

It takes a trained eye to find a leopard at ground level, especially during the summer season when the landscape is lush and bursting at the seams with greenery. They’re also constantly on the move and don’t laze around like lions do, so their position is never guaranteed. With lions, it’s far easier to spot 5 bulky bodies, as opposed to spotting 1 small highly-camouflaged and agile individual! When not darting effortlessly between drainage lines, leopards are scaling tall tambuti and leadwoods to find hanging hideaways where their predator competition can’t locate them.

I think we’ve proved our point that leopards are hard to find! It’s part luck, part tracking skill coupled with experience that sees us sitting on the edge of enthralling leopard sightings. Leopards are territorial, but do cover a large home range, and we can’t be everywhere 24/7! It’s abundantly clear that guides and trackers from Ezulwini Game Lodges possess the magic needed to find the leopards of the Balule. There are the “common residents” and those we (hesitate) to call locals, but they often disappear as quickly as free beer at a wedding.

Ezulwini’s recent leopard sighting of a newly independent leopard cub (sub-adult now) takes centre stage. As mentioned above, he was initially spotted last year. Over the past few months, there have been a few more sightings of him. There is a natural assumption that his father is none other than local legend, and ever charming Chavaluthu. Neighbouring lodges reported that Chav was seen mating with the youngster’s mother within the perceived time frame. Angele initially speculated the cub was 10 months old, but has now confirmed that he is slightly older.

In recent weeks the cub was spotted with a very skittish seemingly older leopardess, which was later identified as Thuli (born in 2016). It was thought that Thuli and the cub might share the same mother, but this theory has since been abandoned. Both Thuli and the sub-adult are unrelated. Ezulwini does have a high density of leopards in the area, so it’s quite possible that the traverse provided a temporary home for newcomers pushing boundaries. Whatever the circumstances, guests have enjoyed incredible leopard sightings over the past few weeks ! There was the sighting of this youngster, 2 unknown leopards, and a perfect visual of Thuli devouring a kill in a tree. Not bad going hey?

It can be very tricky trying to establish the bloodline of leopards and their exact origin. Leopard ID kits are created, and from here we observe, watch and document behaviour. And then neighbouring lodges are consulted and information shared. When further information about the young leopard is discovered, we will be sure to share with the fans of the Balule !

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