Sun Destinations Blog - Page 24 of 116 - Sun Destinations Safari

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 !

The Week in Pics : Let There be Light..Footed Cats

A new week has breezed past our well-worn Week in Pictures path. I feel that we weren’t given much warning that yet another Tuesday was fast approaching. The past week, we’ve been fumbling around in the dark, thanks to a few government-issued power cuts. Unfortunately, our provider (Eskom) hasn’t realised that we’re not big cat predators and that we don’t thrive under the canopy darkness. Maybe one day they will see the light. To be fair, our big cats don’t care about human-related issues like charging phones and enjoying the electrical glow from bedside lamps. The wild continues to run effortlessly and seamlessly; sometimes harmoniously and other times with a strange sense of discord. This natural ebb and flow of life in the ‘veld – without intervention – continues to fascinate us on a daily basis.

Here are a few highlights from the week that was :

Ezulwini Game Lodges

Once again, Angele sent through – literally – a soliloquy of recent sightings. The Balule is heaving, and we don’t quite know how she keeps up with photographing the ample sightings, and co-running River Lodge. The highlight of the week has to be the sighting of the leopard cub, and its mother. The cub is young, which clearly meant that the guides gave them quite a wide birth when entering the sighting. The cub is, understandably, somewhat skittish and was darting between grass spears and dense undergrowth. The cub followed its mother to a recent impala kill, which added in a nice meal time sighting for our guests.

And the Kudyela lionesses? Of course they were seen. The pride took down a kudu bull, the Machaton males were seen, and the entire pride was seen meandering down the road in the open.

Chacma Bush Camp

It’s all about the lions and buffalo at the moment at Chacma! The Maseke Pride, and their young were spotted – yet again. Em Gatland pulled her usual magic with getting a few incredible photos of the lions, together with their youngsters!

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

The Klaserie Camps have also enjoyed a leopard cub sighting. On the outskirts of their traverse, is where the leopards were spotted. There’s speculation that it was the Marula female with her youngster. Let’s hope they cross over and explore pockets of bushveld closer to camp.

The River Pride of lions seem to be hanging around the Klaserie camps on a regular basis. Enough to say we enjoy consistent sightings of the powerful pride? Possibly. What we do know is that the lions are often found lying around the waterhole, and that many hours are spent in their company. One of our roving photographers spent over 3 hours with the lions on her birthday – proof that the River Pride quite enjoy this sector of their kingdom.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

What can we say? It’s more of the same in the Sabi Sand ! The leopard sightings certainly haven’t decreased in recent weeks, and we’re back to spotting an unusual amount of unknown leopards in the area – no doubt its youngsters from neighbouring reserves pushing a few boundaries! Nweti was spotted with a kill, and seems to be the most “consistent” leopard sighting on the Umkumbe traverse.

In other predator news, the African wild dogs and cheetah have been more than active !

Enjoy your Week in Pictures, we’ll just be over here writing from underneath the comfort of our spotlights.

Getting up Close with Our Photographers : We Chat Macro!

Using your purpose-built macro lens to capture minute detail on your chosen subject, is a rather absorbing activity. The results of macro photography can be captivating, and the final product introduces the viewer to abstract and exquisite detail not capable of being seen with the human eye. With the advent of digital photography, photographer’s are now afforded opportunities to focus on the microscopic elements of fauna and flora. It’s the fine hairs on an a hard-shelled insect, the reflections of a cityscape in a pin prick of a dew drop, and the kaleidoscope of colours on the plume of a bird or posterior of an arthropod, that serves to remind us that there’s plenty that goes undetected by the human eye.

What is macro photography? In short, it’s the art of making something tiny – if not microscopic – look massive. It’s the skill of getting close to a subject, and selecting a focal point that that takes up the full frame. It takes a fair bit of skill to master the art of getting an exceptional macro shot – the shutter speed is generally quite long, and the depth of field quite shallow. Getting the perfect balance can be tricky, but practice makes perfect!

Macro photography is best done with a DSLR, and not a an in built, fixed lens on a point-and-shoot. Although possible with camera phone technology, and those point-and-shoots, you don’t have control over elements such as aperture, shutter speed and exposure. Going the DSLR route allows you to control the outcome, and is most certainly the way forward with macro photography.

Two of our passionate visual gurus, Em Gatland and Rogan Kerr, love their macro photography. Rogan loves his small creatures, and even has a dedicated hashtag and following for his #SmollFwens (small friends) series on Instagram. Em and decided to take a handful of images to showcase the minuscule mayhem that happens in the wild, and Rogan sent through one of his images. We have images of indulgent velvety termites, hardcore rhino beetles and star-trek looking plants!

We chatted briefly to find out more about macro photography.

What type of lens do you use for macro photography?

Em : Nikon 105 2.8 macro lens

Rogan : I shoot on a Sony A7iii, and my lens is a Sigma Art 70 mm macro lens.

What is your favourite subject?

Em : There is no one species that is my favourite. It’s a whole new world when you get up close and personal with smaller creatures. The intrinsic detail in each one is mind blowing and you can spend hours just photographing one beetle!

Rogan : My lens is recent purchase, so I don’t quite a favourite subject just yet! Going forward, my focus is definitely going to be reptiles and insects!

Is it more technical than other photography?

Em : It does have its challenges. The subject is often moving and the focus mechanism on a macro is very different to your standard lenses. You find yourself in very uncomfy positions while photographing the subject.

What’s your advice for budding macro photographers?

Em : You need to have loads and loads of patience. You must remember to switch to manual focus, and for extra detail on the subject, shoot on a decent f-stop. But most of all, get lost in the small world you are capturing and have fun doing so!

A Warm Welcome to the Female Cheetah at Roam Private Game Reserve

Almost a year ago a coalition of slender male cheetah were released into Roam Private Game Reserve. The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the team from Roam decided to re-introduce cheetah into an area that once formed part of their historic range. The current coalition have adapted well to their environment, and are in perfect condition. Last year, discussions were underway last to introduce a female into the reserve at a later stage. That “later stage” is now ! A week ago the team at Roam released a female cheetah into the Great Karoo. She will be in the boma area until she becomes more comfortable in her environment. In the next few years we will – hopefully – have a few cheetah cubs born into the reserve.

We chatted to Don about the new female cheetah, and gained a bit of insight into her history – peppered with a few humorous answers. Photographer Teagan Cunniffe was there to take photos of the current coalition and the rather shy female newcomer.

“Flanked by the Cape fold mountains and hugged by undulating endless desert landscapes, lies the 5000 hectare Roam Private Game Reserve. The unique scrubveld of the Karoo basin gives rise to various xerophytic flora, and is also home to abundant species of plains game, birdlife and small predators. The arid plains are dotted with a wealth of geological masterpieces such as archetypal Karoo koppies, sandstone and dolerite intrusions. With so much to offer in terms of providing endless natural habitats, the area was analysed and identified as being a potential location that could sustain the presence of cheetah. After considerable time and much research, the owners of Roam – together with leading conservationists – decided to introduce cheetah into the reserve.”

Where did the cheetah come from?

The female has come from Rietvlei near Pretoria. However, we are pretty sure she doesn’t support the Blue Bulls or listen to Kurt Darren!

Why was it necessary to introduce a female cheetah into the reserve?

Roam’s goal with introducing cheetah to the Reserve is not only to offer views of these stunning animals to our guests, but to contribute to the conservation of these animals. Two lone males are going to have no conservation value at all. Introducing a female will hopefully mean we get cubs in the future.

These cubs will then be introduced to other reserves when they reach maturity.

Where is the female now, and how long will it take for her to join the males?

She is in our predator boma at the moment. She will be kept here for about 6 weeks so we can monitor her closely and allow her to settle into the new environment. Any longer in the boma and cheetah start to loose muscle condition.

How often will you monitor her?

Whilst she is in the boma someone will check in on her daily. And this will continue for a few months after her release onto the main reserve as well.

How quickly do you think she will produce cubs?

With luck within 18 months.

How old is she?

A little over 2.5 years.

Will you introduce more females into the reserve at any stage?

Not until the drought has broken, and we can better understand what impact the cheetah are having on the prey populations.

Does she have a “personality”, or is too early to tell ?

When she arrived in the transport crate she was certainly very cheeky and let us know this when we opened the crate up. Since then we have given her some space in the boma to settle down, but I some how feel she will always be a little feisty. She will need that attitude to survive the Karoo!

The Week in Pictures : Minimalist and Monochromatic

For the “Week in Pictures” this week we’ve decided to showcase images that fit into either the minimalist or monochromatic category. These unique and varied images make us look at life in the bushveld with new eyes. Our photographer’s seek to capture different perspectives when it comes to images, and we’re pretty impressed with the results. We’ve furnished you with a few weekly highlights from camp, coupled with a number of distinct images.

Ezulwini Game Lodges

The Kudyelas and Machatons are a formidable force on the Ezulwini traverse, with a recent sighting of the Kudyela pride being a highlight. We spoke recently about the sightings of the active hyena den that has delighted both guests and guides. In a cruel twist of fate, the team recently discovered that one of the marauding lions killed one of the hyena cubs. The wild can be a torturous and cruel place! There’s a reason why big cats are at the top of the food chain.

This week, guests were thrilled at number of the leopard and lion sightings in the Balule. Leopard sightings included that of 2 unknown male leopards and 1 young male (10 months) together with his mother. Firm favourite, Thuli the leopard, also provided the team with a few exceptional sightings. Elephants, hippos and plenty of general game all put on a show for Ezulwini game drives, but the cats stole the show this week.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Umkumbe have enjoyed consistent sightings of leopards (what else is new?), but the highlight of the week has been the sighting of the 2 cheetah. A couple of weeks ago the two cheetah were seen attempting to take down a young wildebeest. The hunt was unsuccessful. This week, the cheetah were spotted conducting a successful take down of prey. They were initially spotted cruising the thickets fro prey in front of a huge herd of elephant. Eventually they found the perfect target, and guests witnessed the take down. A sighting for the books.

Another highlight for the intrepid Sabi Sand team was finding the African wild dogs causing havoc with an opportunistic hyena. These “frenemies” are constantly at loggerheads with one another!

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

Over the past few days, the team in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve have enjoyed ample sightings of the River Pride of lions. The River Pride successfully took down a zebra, and the full pride of 9 were also spotted relaxing at a waterhole. They have been spotted on a number of occasions attempting to hunt and take down prey; and guests have loved the absolute abundance of lion sightings.

Chacma Bush Camp

The team at Chacma Bush Camp were also lucky in the lion sightings department, and once again spotted the Maseke Pride. Wild dogs seem to be hanging around the traverse, and appear to gain plenty of enjoyment from trotting around the main waterhole close to camp. Day-to-day life continues at Chacma, with a constant stream of exceptional bird sightings of summer migrants flocking to our terrain.

Cheetah Youngsters Attempt to Take Down a Wildebeest

Exuding grace, finesse and exhibiting lightning speed; the cheetah is an elegant solitary cat that differs greatly from its big cat counterparts. This spotted cat doesn’t possess the strength of lions and leopards, and is (technically) classed as a diurnal hunter. While leopards and lions thrive under the cover of darkness, cheetah prefer to grab their moving meals at dawn and dusk when the air is cool, the light is right and the competition is minimal. We’re quite used to receiving reports of leopard sightings from the team at Umkumbe Safari Lodge, but the other day, reports of a couple of cheetah on the hunt for food came flooding through the airwaves.

Guide Tanya sent through a few images of their recent sighting. There was a perfect visual of two slender cats attempting to target one of the smaller and weaker calves in a wildebeest herd. Cheetah aren’t prepared to put up a fight for their food, and can’t afford to take the risk of retaliation from feisty prey. They don’t have the strength of other cats – they’re all about speed and not power. This is why they target small, manageable prey and will walk away from any sizeable species that looks like they could inflict injury. Swift, simple and easy is how a cheetah likes to conduct its kill. Put simply – cheetah don’t like to fight.

Cheetah also tend to eat quickly, and quietly. Their lack of strength means that they are unable to drag their prey into the high reaches of trees to keep it out of the way of scavengers. As a result, they need to be stealth like about their dinner table habits. Cheetah tend to hunt in coalitions, catch their prey, pause to catch their breath and then tuck into their gory delights. While one eats, the other one surveys the landscape for thieves. Hyena and other opportunistic feeders tend to be active at night, so cheetah are generally quite safe from the food thieves.

Tanya speculates that the two cheetah were a young male and female, which could actually be the sub-adults that were spotted a while ago. However, this time they were without their mother. Littermates tend to leave their mother’s side after 2 years, and then stay together for at least 6 – 8 months afterwards. In truth, cheetah aren’t particularly successful hunters until they reach the age of 3, so it’s quite possible that these two youngsters are within that age bracket.

Despite the unsuccessful kill, the cheetah sighting proved to be an absolute win for both guides and guests!

Bird-ringing Conservation Activity at Roam Private Game Reserve

We’ve spoken briefly about Teagan’s “conscious” safari experience at Roam Private Game Reserve where she became involved in a few conservation projects currently underway within the reserve. The aim at Roam is to provide a unique safari experience that combines activities synonymous with a standard safari, AND combine it with a variety of conservation activities.

Guests are afford the opportunity to “give back” to the Great Karoo’s biome and feel part of the bigger picture; an experience that taps into our conscious. By becoming involved in the variety of daily tasks and projects underway, guests will have a small hand in contributing to the overall success of the reserve. One of the array of many tasks on offer is “bird ringing” or “bird banding” as it’s referred to in other countries. This is the delicate process of tagging and releasing birds for research.

Teagan spent time with Don, learning about the process involved in this task, and helped to tag migratory and endemic birds. She visually documented her bird-ringing experience, and furnished us with insight into this research activity.

What is bird-ringing/bird banding?

Bird ringing, or bird banding, is the process where individual birds are captured, tagged and released for research purposes. Bird-ringing gives us vital information about a bird’s migratory patterns and their history. Armed with this insight aids us in understanding various species, and ultimately allows us to form an important foundation for successful conservation measures. The ringing process involves trapping birds in mist nets where they are collected, fitted with an identification tag and released. During this ringing process the sex, age, weight and measurements of the bird are all recorded and sent to a central database (in South Africa SAFRing manages this database).

Here are a few examples of how bird-ringing is used :

Information dispersal
Migration patterns
Understanding longevity
Monitoring behaviour
Survival rate
Reproductive success
Population trends
Identifying how many chicks from one population survive
What environmental conditions are favourable and detrimental to birds.
Insight into biology and demographic changes over time

How does Roam do their bird-ringing?

The team at Roam have set up a regular bird-ringing program, led by Don. Guests are invited to join Don on a bird ringing outing where they will help to capture and tag birds, which is what Teagan did during her time at Roam. It will be an early morning trip out into the reserve to find a suitable trapping site, and the capturing process normally runs into midday, unless a specific species is being targeted which means evening sessions will be conducted. A gazebo and mist nets will be set up in preparation to catch birds. The nets are checked regularly for birds, which are subsequently processed and then released back into the wild. Guests will help with the release process, while the rest of the time is spent soaking up the wild Karoo atmosphere and learning about the biome.

The team at Roam says, “The data recorded can then be linked back to individual birds should they be caught again in the future. Historic data from bird ringing has helped ornithologists answer important conservation questions like “how long a particular species lives for?”, “where migratory birds go when they leave for the winter?” or “How large is a particular species territory?”. Whenever ringed birds are found dead, or re-sighted (in the case of colour-rings), they can be identified and their movements can be tracked. This helps to identify the critical sites along their migratory routes (flyways) and provides fundamental information for conservation planning and site management.”

Head out on game drives, enjoy gin and tonics during golden hour, return to luxury lodgings, choose your level of involvement and become part of the bigger picture. You won’t be disappointed.

The Week in Pictures : A Feast for Your Eyes

We’ve been a bit delayed with our launch of this week’s “Week in Pictures”, but we’re sure our photographer’s mesmerising images will more than make up for our tardiness. Yet again we’ve enjoyed a veritable feast of sightings. From leopard kills to herbivores gorging on greens, and lion cubs practicing their take-down techniques; we’ve witnessed a broad spectrum of natural behaviours. We trust you’ll enjoy this week’s delayed delivery of images – an absolute feast for your eyes.

Chacma Bush Camp

Behold the lion cubs ! The Maseke lions cubs have – yet again – been spotted while out on game drive. The cubs are in good spirits, and are engaging in plenty of playful antics. Their play fighting will stand them in good stead for when they are fending for themselves in the wild. Dominant play tactics are vital for learning take-down skills and it also increases the bond between pride members.

Ezulwini Game Lodges

Ezulwini continue to wow us with their wealth of sightings, and recent sightings of the Machaton male lions and the Kudyelas have been an absolute highlight. The hyena den is another highlight on the Ezulwini traverse, and guests are afforded ample opportunity to sit and observe the growing cubs.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Nothing unusual for Umkumbe this week in terms of sightings – just the standard, consistent sightings of leopards! Ntsumi the luscious leopard lass was spotted with a duiker kill. She led the vehicles to her meaty stash, and clambered up the tree to devour her meal. Plains game in the Sabi Sand is out in full force, and certainly adding bulk to sightings.

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

The Klaserie camps have had a good balance of big cat sightings, with the stardom being shared by both lions and leopards. Firm favourite, Nyeleti, was spotted enjoy a kill at the base of a tree. Hunger dictated her hunting actions, and she took down a prey that was simply to heavy to hoist up into the tree. The lion pride dynamics always provide a sense of mystery to the traverse, and guides are constantly playing CSI when it comes to predicting their next movements. nThambo guide Reinhardt reported that the Mbiri male lions are spending ample timeon the Timbavati/Klaserie road, and the River Pride have also been spotted pushing through the traverse. About 4 days ago the African wild dogs were spotted close to camp where they were seen chasing impala. The elephants are still around camp, and there’s a bounty of big tuskers in the area.

Newer Posts

Older Posts