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From Sunrise to Sunset : The Safari Life at Ezulwini Game Lodges

First light seeps in slowly, gently breaking the dark mystery of the night with subtle hints of natural light. The promise of a new day in the bushveld silently creeps past the charcoal black skies, as the sounds of nocturnal activity begins to dwindle. The contact calls of the lion kings begins to dissipate as dawn finally fights and forges its way through the last stretch of the eerie night. The stillness of the air carries the calls of the predators far and wide, and the whooping vocalisations of the hyena form part of the night-loving choir that comes alive after sunset. You might hear a shrill squeal from a warthog meeting its untimely fate, or the alarm calls from the bounty of birds on the Ezulwini traverse.

When night falls, it’s prime food-finding time for many of the carnivorous beasts of the safari kingdom. This is when the air is cool, and the diurnal species are at their most vulnerable. The stillness of the night and absolute pristine atmosphere with zero intrusions from city lights and noise, ensures that sound carries and echoes throughout the landscape. Predators listen, patrol and act with an intensive mission to find food. If you stay awake the whole night, you’ll be surprised at the discordant of sounds in the ‘veld.

When dawn wins, and eventually pushes through with fractions of light, it’s time to head out on game drive. Morning has broken in the bushveld, and it’s time to move. Timing is everything. The air at first-light is still cool, and pockets of the savanna are still murky and dark. Predators will either be dining out on the meal from midnight or conducting a quick early morning take-down. This is why it’s vital to head out on game drive at 5:00 – 6:30 (season dependent).

Before guests are woken, experienced guides would have checked and prepped the game viewer ensuring it’s good to go for game drive. Coffee stop snacks and flasks are loaded into the typical olive green cooler boxes, synonymous with safari game drive stops. Guides and trackers rise early (very early) to make sure everything is in order.

While you’re cocooned in your puffed up duvet and shrouded in that fine linen, you’ll hear the crunch of a leather boot on gravel getting closer to your door. This is your mobile wake-up call, in the form of a khaki-clad efficient ranger. A rap on the door and gentle “morning” reminds you that it’s game drive time. You have a split-second to make a decision whether to join the game drive, or remain comfortable in your chrysalis. If you miss the morning drive you might miss the opportunity find the source of the nocturnal roars from the night before.

If you make the right decision to join the drive, you won’t be disappointed. You normally have about 20 minutes or so to get ready. There’s no time to brush you locks and paint your face – the woodlands and wildlife don’t care. After making your way to the main area for a quick cup of coffee, you’ll clamber into the open-topped game viewer for an intrepid game drive spanning roughly 3 hours. The traverse in the Balule cuts across the banks of the Olifants River and plenty of riverine vegetation coupled with savanna and mixed woodlands.

The guides and trackers at Ezulwini are highly-skilled and knowledgeable; and their job isn’t linear. Tracking big cats, establishing timelines, “reading” the bushveld, and documenting behaviour is all part of their job. If, for example, a lion has made a kill shortly before your arrival at the lodge, it’s likely that the lions will be in the area of where the kill was conducted. Lions take down their quarry and gorge themselves until they cannot move. They will sleep off the feast in close proximity to the kill, and normally wander down to a waterhole afterwards. The site of the kill will draw in vultures, hyenas and absolute chaotic scavenger behaviour.

Given that knowledge of lion behaviour and what ensues after a kill, guides will know to head to the scene. Ezulwini guides will also teach you about the vegetation, and impart interesting info about birds, herds and prides during your obligatory coffee stop in the bushveld. This type of innate knowledge that your guides possess, and the ability to get up-close to wildlife and go off-road, is one of the many privileges of going a safari in a private reserve.

Camp manager Angele (she’s also a photographer and guide) keeps track of the plentiful sightings happening on Ezulwini’s big 5 traverse in the game-rich Balule Nature reserve. Below are just a few of the highlights from the past month :

Sightings of the Kudyela lionesses and the burly Machaton males. The Machatons have been mating with the Kudyela females. The coalition and the pride
A sighting of a nameless pride of lions, with a rather distinct and beautiful looking sub-adult male.
Leopard and lion kills about 2 weeks ago.
Frequent sightings of the ever graceful Thuli leopardess.
Sightings of the blue-eyed beauty and scarred warrior, Chavaluthu the leopard.
Elephants are fairly common place on the Ezulwini traverse, and tend to visit the grounds of both Billy’s and River Lodge.
Huge herds of buffalo have descended upon the traverse, bulk grazing their way through the bushveld.

After you return from morning drive you will be treated to a sumptuous breakfast. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Billy’s Lodge has a wooden skywalk meandering over the ‘veld below, and guests sometimes spot wildlife below the wooden walkway. River Lodge has exceptional views of the Olifants River and also has a wooden walkway that leads to a seating area under a canopy of trees. River Lodge has typical riverine vegetation and a forest of fig and mahogany trees home to primates and birdlife. If the weather allows, soak up the sun at the poolside or, if you’re staying in a suite, take a dip in your own private plunge pool.

Late afternoon rolls around and then it’s time for evening game drive, which departs at roughly 15:30 – 16:30, dependent on the season. Yet again you will be rewarded with a 3 hour game drive in the Balule Nature Reserve, and this time you’ll observe the crepuscular creatures at play, and hopefully catch a glimpse of the nocturnal creatures starting to stir. Oh, and you will stop for sundowners – golden hour is a much celebrated event!

Upon returning to camp you will be treated to an al fresco dining experience, a roaring campfire in the boma area and if you’re lucky enough, a traditional African singing and dancing session will take place. When you’re done dining and chatting we encourage you to soak up the African atmosphere and relax in the bar area, or boma. Just remember – it’s an early start the next morning…

No two days are the same on safari. Even if the routine, structure and schedules remain consistent, wildlife sightings are never the same. And that’s the beauty of going on safari – it’s wild and unpredictable, and just mind-blowingly life changing.

The Week in Pictures : Big Cats Enjoy a Banquet of Delights

Hello Monday, my old friend. I’ve come to talk with you again.

It’s that time of the week, when “Week in Pictures” makes a grand and startling entrance. This week we’ve witnessed bone-crunching, foot stomping, and flesh-ripping madness from our predators and thieving scavengers. The noise and absolute racket from the excitement of meal time in the bushveld is a far cry from the “Sound of Silence”. Once again, there’s a similar thread weaving its way through the camps’ sightings. This week, the showdowns and comical kills were the star of the show.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Photographer Em Gatland missioned through to the Sabi Sand to capture a bit of wildlife action on camera. Umkumbe have enjoyed prolific leopard sightings on their traverse, and the African wild dogs decided to intrude on the leopard sightings to offer up a few sightings of their own species. The giant herbivores were an ever present force while our team were trundling through the bushveld. We’re talking elephants in musth, and high concentrations of breeding herds about. The small creatures provided ample adorable photographic moments, ensuring the trip to Umkumbe was a successful one in terms of mixed sightings.

We’ll release more photos and stories from the Umkumbe guides during the course of the week.

Roam Private Game Reserve

Located in the heartland of the Great Karoo is the undulating rocky terrain of the 5000 hectare Roam Private Game Reserve. This cradle of civilisation provides sweeping scenes of mind-blowing sunsets, and a unique topography dotted with plains game. We thought we’d mesmerise your senses with a few more nature photographs from the Great Karoo for this week’s Week in Pictures. The cheetah coalition have settled in without issue, the buffalo herd are enjoying the bounty of digestible greens, and the resident large land tortoises continue to provide reliable wildlife sightings.

Chacma Bush Camp

We’ve waxed lyrical about the heavy presence of lions within the Maseke Game Reserve, but there’s a new kid in town that tops the lion sightings. Over the weekend guide Calvin Shelly spotted a shy pangolin! In some cultures it is believed to be good luck to spot a pangolin. These endangered creatures fall victim to illegal wildlife crime, and spotting one thriving in the wild is always cause for celebration. We have now have confirmation that pangolin are found on the Chacma traverse!

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

There are a few new developments in terms of lion sightings at the Klaserie camps. 9 lions were spotted in the vicinity of a giraffe kill, and 4/5 lions were seen feasting on the kill. There’s plenty of speculation about who the pride are, but this still needs to be determined. All guides and photographers headed to the scene at various intervals to observe the feast. As predicted, the scavenging hyenas and wakes of vultures descended upon the area with clear intentions of grabbing a small meal for themselves. Coupled with the exceptional lion sightings, there have been numerous sightings of the African wild dog conducting hunts and guarding their den area. It has certainly been an eventful week in the Klaserie!

Ezulwini Game Lodges

The team at Ezulwini are enjoying a bounty of leopard sightings at the moment, with the highlight being the sighting of the Thuli leopardess. Both the leopards and lions were spotted on kills, which was another incredible sighting for guests to the big 5 Balule Nature Reserve.

Week in Pictures : Leopards in the Spotlight

Monday always seems to be an unforgiving start to the week. The onslaught of the working week is upon us, and the realisation that the weekend has disappeared as quickly as a fresh kill next to a hyena, becomes a reality. Our safari images are here to ease the pain caused by Monday’s cruel heart. When the start of the week is a tough one, we urge you to take a quick break and armchair travel to the bushveld.

Our first update is from Walkers Bush Villa in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. It appears the highlight of the week was the sighting of the Sunset Dam leopardess, who certainly isn’t a stranger to the Walkers traverse. While the owner’s son, James Walker, was exploring the area with guide Brett, they came across the slender leopard. Guide Brett said, “We had a birthday coffee Amarula stop interrupted by Sunset Dam female, who decided to walk past. The coffee stop was actually at Sunset Dam! We had an incredible 20 minutes with her. Just a magic sighting. A first leopard sighting for many of our guests who have been to the bush all their life, and a very special moment!”

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp also enjoyed a recent leopard sighting of a large male just resting in the undergrowth. A large, unknown male leopard was seen resting beneath the thick shrubbery carpeting the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. The soft undergrowth looks like a perfectly comfortable spot to rest during the heat of the day. Having just conducted a kill, this sturdy male decided to lodge its prey in the fork of a tree for safekeeping. The leopard sightings in the Klaserie are on the increase, and it’s all systems go with predator action at the moment!

We move across from the Klaserie towards the Maseke Game Reserve, where things are equally as exciting. The team at Chacma are experiencing prolific lion sightings, with a clear shift in pride dynamics underway. It appears the Maseke male lions are in hot pursuit of the Lamai lioness and her sub-adults. She’s doing everything she can to avoid her boys coming into contact with the powerful Maseke males! The team at Chacma often sees these two groups moving through the Maseke, and at night the contact calls from the Maseke males can be heard echoing across the landscape.

From the Maseke we journey to the Balule Nature Reserve, home of Ezulwini Game Lodges. Angele says that guests have enjoyed exceptional sightings, with a few highlights including lion cubs, cheetah, massive herds of elephant and buffalo. It’s hard to pinpoint a highlight when the reserve continues to pump out sightings left, right and centre. Thuli the leopard was also spotted during the course of the week, adding to bulk big cat sightings enjoyed by guests.

Jumping across the border to Botswana, we continue to enjoy sightings of the subjects seen often while enjoying a water safari. Bloats of hippo, high concentration of red lechwe and water-loving elephants are the usual suspects that provide a constant stream of sightings for guests.

Walkers Bush Villa

Chacma Bush Camp

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

Xobega Island Camp and Tuskers Bush Camp

Ezulwini Game Lodges

Cheetah Project (ASHIA and EWT) : Observing Cheetah

Roam Private Game Reserve is home to a coalition of 2 cheetah brothers that were relocated from Tiger Canyons in the Free State. Recently, the experienced team from ASHIA conducted a site inspection of the area and spent many hours closely observing the current coalition and their ability to be successful in the wild. ASHIA was there with the intention of surveying the surrounds and analysing the habitat for possible release of other captive bred cheetah into the wild at Roam. The ultimate aim of Roam is to allow guests to observe cheetah in a safe environment, where there is zero interaction with the cats.

The population of cheetah in the wild has dwindled at a rapid since 2016, which means cheetah conservation projects need to put on a united front and make a concerted effort to thwart the drop in numbers. Re-introducing cheetah into the wild, and into areas where they previously thrived, is one way of increasing the alarming decline in numbers.

If you recall, we recently wrote about Roam’s decision to rehome cheetah into the Great Karoo as part of ongoing conservation projects that focus on re-introducing species that once thrived on the rugged and unforgiving terrain of the Karoo’s heartland. The decision to bring cheetah into the reserve was not taken lightly, and a team of leading conservationists from EWT played a vital role in getting the cheetah established at Roam.

Vincent Van Der Merwe, who heads up the Cheetah Range Expansion Project, aims to manage the genetics of Southern Africa’s wild cheetah population. Through this project they are able to supply small reserves, such as Roam, with cheetah while ensuring the population as a whole remains genetically viable. Any cheetah cubs from Roam would be part of this project and be introduced to reserves deemed suitable by EWT. Obviously the process of introducing cheetah was an arduous one, but one that has proven to be successful in just short space of time at Roam.

In a previous blog post we interviewed Abigail who furnished us information regarding the origins of their cheetah coalition. If you recall, she said, “The cheetah come from Tiger Canyons in the Free State. The are from a litter of 5 cubs and are the only males in this litter. The property is owned by well know photographer and conservationist John Varty. We were particularly fussy about the source of the cheetah as we needed cheetah that came from the Karoo. Cheetah that are brought into the Karoo from more lush parts of their range tend to suffer in the Karoo with only a 20% survival rate while cheetah relocated within the Karoo have a 70% chance of survival.”

Just recently, Roam had the pleasure of hosting the team from ASHIA Cheetah Experience. Their aim is to fight for the survival of cheetah in the wild. ASHIA conducted their assessment and seem to be impressed with the set-up at Roam, which means there’s a possibility of seeing a few females in the near future. The long term aim is to release captive bred cheetah into the wild at Roam, and encourage guests to enjoy observing cheetah in the Great Karoo. Shortly after the cheetah were released into an open area, the cats conducted their first kill in the wild, which proved to be a jaw-dropping moment given the size of their prey. Both the Roam and ASHIA team were astounded at the cheetah’s progress!

Cheetah are facing a race against survival in the wild, and we’re ecstatic about the cheetah conservation projects underway at Roam Private Game Reserve. From a guest point of view, you are able to observe and get close to the cheetah while learning about the project. Roam does not endorse touching and petting of cheetah – they are wild, and the team aims to keep it as such.

Here are the previous blog posts relating to the cheetah at Roam :

Roam Private Game Release Cheetah Coalition in the Great Karoo

Roam’s Cheetah Conduct Their First Kill in the Great Karoo

Guest Blogger visits Roam and Spends Time with Cheetah

Week in Pictures : People, Landscapes and Wildlife

On a weekly basis we interrupt your daily grind to deliver the latest slew of images fresh from the bushveld. The idea is to charm you with ranger’s and photographer’s awe-inspiring images of wild landscapes and its inhabitants. Let’s face it, most people need a pick-me-up on a Monday, and there’s nothing better than being reminded of our natural and earthy roots. This week we deliver the standard portfolio of wildlife images and a quick catch-up from each camp. We also have a few images of our guests doing what they do best – observing wildlife. What happens from a people and behind-the-scenes perspective is equally as important as observing wildlife. We trust you’ll enjoy today’s mix bag of images, fresh from the sparse open areas of our prime safari destinations.

Botswana is quite consistent when it comes to sightings and it’s pretty much a given that you’ll spot hippos, crocs, waders and birds of prey when you’re cruising across the pristine waters of the Delta. While on safari at Xobega, the focus is on experiencing all that a water safari has to offer. This week it was all about taking photos of sunsets and relaxing on the motorboat.

Tuskers Bush Camp greatly contrasts the watery domain of the Okavango Delta, and offers up sweeping scenes of unchartered mixed woodlands and savannah. One of the most consistent sightings at Tuskers Bush Camp is that of the elephant herds that filter their way down to the waterhole in front of camp on a regular basis. We’re not surprised given that elephants are creatures of habit and enjoy nothing more than a bit of routine.

Darting across the border from Botswana and back into South African territory, we amble our way through the Greater Kruger. The Klaserie camps, Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp, are enjoying plentiful sightings of the African wild dogs. Guides came across a pack devouring a fresh impala kill, which made for a brutal but exciting sighting. We’re in the midst of the wild dog denning period, which means sightings are more regular. Always great to enjoy their presence before they resume a nomadic lifestyle.

An exciting project is underway with Africa on Foot. The team have made the decision to create virtual tours. The talented group from ReWild visited the camp and are hard at work creating these unique tours – watch this space.

Meandering from the Klaserie we make our way towards the Balule Nature Reserve, where we come across Ezulwini Game Lodges – place of paradise! Guide and River Lodge manager, Angele, has noticed the changes in weather conditions in the Lowveld, remarking that a recent cold front brought with it distinct changes in wildlife behaviour. In one of her recent Facebook posts she said, ” Huddling for warmth and keeping low to the ground are some of the wildlife strategies we are currently seeing on game drives.”

Another Balule highlight was the presence of the burly boys of the Balule (Machaton males). They were caught red-handed sewing their wild oats with one of the Kudyela lionesses!

Close to the Balule Nature Reserve is the Maseke Game Reserve, home to Chacma Bush Camp. Chacma is rife with lion activity at the moment, and guides have certainly worked hard at establishing the history of the local lions. Plenty of speculation in terms of behaviour, but that’s how it is with lions.

The Maseke males are still a dominant force and continue to pursue the lone Lamai female, who has a few sub-adults of her own. She has been seen mating with one of the Maseke males, but her priority is safeguarding her growing cubs against the fearless kings of the area.

The famous reserve of Sabi Sand is the home of Umkumbe Safari Lodge. The Umkumbe team also spotted lions and leopard during the course of the week, with the most exciting sighting being that of the White Dam male cub. If you recall, White Dam the local leopardess passed away, so it’s nice to her see her sub-adult thriving in the wild. The Mhangeni sub-adult lions were also spotted and so were the Kumbula females. The Kumbulas were relaxing meters away from a buffalo herd with young, so you can only imagine what went down in the dead of night!

That’s a wrap from us. We hope you’ll enjoy each and every image courtesy of our outdoor loving guides and photographers!

Frenzied Wild Dogs Fervently Devour an Impala Kill

The artful African wild dog is an accomplished predator that targets and takes down prey together with their pack. They hunt via a method called coursing, which involves marathon like running sessions in pursuit of quarry and don’t rely on tactics in their execution of prey. A wild dog’s mobile meal eventually slows down due to exhaustion from the chase, and this is when the cruel, but necessary, disemboweling begins. A brutal way to conduct a kill, but no one said the wild was a tame place!

A cacophony of loud high-pitched twittering and vocalisations always accompany a pack of wild dogs, but during a hunt they adopt the leopard method – one of silence and precision. When wild dogs become focused and quiet, and the trotting begins – you know what’s about to go down…

Rogan, together with experienced guides, came across a local pack of wild dogs enjoying a fresh meaty feast from a recent impala kill. As predicted, Rogan captured the action on camera and also took a few photos to document the sighting. It was a bit of a bloodied frenzy with plenty of crimson becoming matted in otherwise exquisitely patterned fur. The ripping apart of the hide and fervent need to devour the entire meal – from entrails to flesh – is quite apparent in the below video. Dogs will eat the entire carcass to ensure their bodies have plenty of protein and nutrients to sustain them until the next kill. Predators don’t know when they will eat again, and wild dogs are above stealing from predators. They’re not the thieving sort and don’t settle for sloppy seconds; hence the need to get their fair share of meat.

Although the rare wild dogs are endangered and cover a wide range, it’s not uncommon to see them this time of year. It’s actually their denning period – a sedentary period of time occurring annually between between May – Aug. It’s up to the rest of the pack to source food while the vulnerable pups are stashed safely in a secret den area.

There’s generally an overlap with the impala rutting season and the wild dog denning period. The rams are currently in abundance in the Klaserie and are highly-focused on fighting for females and territory. We’re not surprised at the choice of prey given that the impala make for easy targets for the wild dogs. Towards the end of the rutting season the rams will be tired, making it even easier to take down prey.

The end of the rut normally coincides with the birth of the pups – tired rams are easy pickings and guaranteed food to bring back for regurgitation for pups.

Shortly after the sighting of the dogs on a kill, the pack were seen again later on in the week. Hopefully we’ll continue to enjoy the wild dog sightings in the coming months!

The Week in Pictures : Kaleidoscope of Colours in the Bushveld

This “Week in Pictures” we’ve decided to source the images from the week that offer up a kaleidoscope of colours. The winter season is here and the ‘veld has taken a turn towards the brown colours and left the hues of greens behind. We thought we’d inject a bit of colour into your week and focus on delivering a series of bold images coupled with a few highlights from camps.

Xobega Island Camp and Tuskers Bush Camp

Photographer Em’s recent sojourn to the wild lands of Botswana saw her exploring the myriad of waterways of the Okavango Delta, and the arid Kalahari type scrub of the Kwatale Conservancy. These regions are home to two of our camps, (Xobega Island Camp and Tuskers Bush Camp) and offer contrasting scenes laden with wildlife. Sightings from the week produced the stock standard sightings synonymous with a safari in Botswana. Exceptional night skies coupled with high concentrations of elephants, hippos, crocs, wading birds and birds of prey made up the bulk of the weekly Botswana sightings.

Chacma Bush Camp in the Maseke Game Reserve

The Maseke have enjoyed prolific big cat sightings over the past few weeks and last week was no different. A couple of nights ago, the Archie Pride were spotted in the northern reaches of Chacma’s traverse. Yet again, the lion sightings proved to be the highlight of the week. The abundant elephant herds trampling through the Maseke also deserve a mention. Seems the herds are constantly on the move in search of water, which makes sense given that the winter season is upon us.

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve

Guides at the Klaserie Camps have enjoyed two prominent sightings that are worthy of mentioning. The first sighting was that of the African wild dogs feasting on an impala kill. The second sighting was brutal and certainly evoked plenty of emotion with guests on the game viewer. A very powerful male leopard took down a warthog – and guests witnessed the execution of the kill. the squealing cries for help were an assault on the senses, but in the end the leopard ended up with meaty meal. The circle of life in the wild is vicious!

Ezulwini Game Lodges in the Balule Nature Reserve

The team at Ezulwini always delight guests with their lion sightings. This past week was no different, with yet another sighting of the Machaton males and Kudyela lionesses keeping company. The bird life is incredible at the moment, and the lodge is enjoying sightings of anything from owls to sunbirds and even waders. Elephants continue to make-up the numbers when it comes to game viewing. The highlight of the week was spotting a huge herd of buffalo in close quarters to River Lodge. All in all, not a bad week of wildlife sightings in the Balule Nature Reserve.

Cute Leopard Cubs in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve

Despite being aloof and independent cats, leopards actually make excellent mothers. These muscle-bound felines lead a notoriously solitary lifestyle where it’s “each man for himself”. Leopards aren’t pride orientated and are rarely seen keeping company with other leopards. We only see leopards together during periods of mating or when mothers are rearing their young. Just because they aren’t pride and community orientated, doesn’t mean the females make terrible mothers. Quite the opposite, in fact.

The Klaserie’s Ross Dam leopardess is a mother – and grandmother – to a number of leopards in the area. On Mother’s day she even enjoyed the same meal that leopards Nyaleti and Rhulani feasted upon. She’s clearly cut out for motherhood and her genetic lineage is a strong force within the nThambo Tree Camp and Africa on Foot traverse. She is also mother to the young Bundu leopard, another commonly spotted leopard on the Klaserie traverse. And the news? We’ve just spotted her together with two new cubs! Who doesn’t love a cute leopard cub?

It’s hard to tell who sired the new additions to her leopard family dwelling in the thickets of the Klaserie, but we do know that the cubs are very young and vulnerable. Our guides have been lucky enough to spot the cubs on a couple of occasions, with the most recent sighting being shortly after Ross Dam made an impala kill. She made the kill and abandoned it in a tree close to nThambo. In a neighbouring tree a young cub was spotted ! A pesky hyena was lurking below the kill – they are one of the biggest threats to newborn leopard cubs.

Africa on Foot guide, Chade, said it’s imperative that the Ross Dam female doesn’t feel pressure and that sightings of the cubs are strictly controlled. Ross Dam and her inquisitive cubs need to feel at ease in their environment, and she needs a safe space to nurture her family without constantly in a state of flux. As a result, the team hasn’t pushed for prime viewing positions and up close sightings. Chade, Elmar and JC managed to take a few photos when one of the cubs was first discovered. We trust you will enjoy these images of the latest edition to the Klaserie!

Leopard cubs will stay with their mother in a protected area/den site for a few months while she nurtures them. When born, the cubs are completely helpless and face a high mortality rate in the wild – just like lion cubs. It’s vital that the cubs are watched closely and kept out of harm’s way. Hyenas pose as a massive threat to a leopard’s young and so do other predators. Cubs are therefore stashed for safekeeping. It seems that Ross Dam is keeping her cubs up high in the safety of a tree. While she conducts her hunts (alone) she will bring the meal back for her cubs. Her young will stay close to her side for up to 10 months, after which they will accompany her on hunts to learn the skilful ways of the mature leopard.

We’re keeping a close eye on these fluffy youngsters!

Cheetah at Roam Private Game Reserve Conduct Their First Kill in the Karoo

We recently blogged about the resident cheetah coalition introduced to Roam Private Game Reserve in the Great Karoo. The major aim of the project is to re-introduce cheetah into the wild, and to grow the population from its current numbers, which sits at roughly 1300. The team at Roam have closely monitored the cheetah since their introduction into the Karoo to ensure they adapt to their environment. If you’d like to find out more about the cheetah relocation project for background information about this incredible initiative, the please read Roam Private Game Reserve’s cheetah relocation interview with Abigail and Donovan. In the meantime, we have an exciting update about the cheetah brothers. There has been a newsworthy development in terms of their adjustment in their new habitat. The cheetah effortlessly conducted their first kill! This is a major milestone in terms of a cheetah’s natural and wild behaviour.

Don says, “It was super exciting indeed! I cannot stress how important this kill was for these two. It certainly bodes well for the future of these two as pioneers for cheetah introduced into the immediate region.”

The unbreakable bond between these brothers-in-arms ensured an expertly crafted kill was conducted on Roam’s open landscape. What astounded the team was the sheer size of the cheetah’s choice of prey. Instead of targeting small prey, the bold cheetah brothers sets their sights on a large hartebeest. Not only is this ungulate large in size and stature, but it can also reach phenomenal speeds. A cheetah’s anatomy isn’t known for its strength, and they rely on their speed when it comes to taking down quarry. They don’t possess the bulk and muscle of their fellow felines, which means they avoid targeting of large prey for fear of reprisal. They simply cannot fight back. As you can imagine, it came as a surprise that a smaller springbok wasn’t targeted! Not these boys.

Cheetah are naturally diurnal hunters and utilise the cooler hours of the day (when light) to seek out prey. They aim to be within close proximity of prey so will slowly stroll towards their potential target. Once locked in, the cheetah will sprint and reach speeds of up to 100 km/h before pouncing and swiftly killing its quarry by piercing its jugular. The cats will attempt to devour their meal as quickly as possible to ensure scavengers and other opportunistic predators don’t steal their hard earned meal. Because of the effort expended during their hunt, they need to seek shade to relax and regain their composure.

We spoke to Donovan about the cheetah’s first kill. He sent through this information based on our questions about how the kill was conducted, whether he witnessed the entire kill or not, the location and the time of day it happened.

“Unfortunately we did not witness the actual chase or kill, we literally just missed it. When we arrived at the kill they were clearly still “recovering” from making the kill. I cannot confirm which of the two made the kill or how much of a role each played in making it. What I can say though, is that I have no doubt that both animals participated in bringing the hartebeest down.

Adult hartebeest bulls weigh in the region of 200 kilograms, which is a substantial sized animal for cheetah to be taking down and I would imagine they could only accomplish this as a team. The tracks we could make out indicated that the chase was extremely short, and that both cats struggled with the bull before it succumbed. It would seem the cats surprised the bull and that he was unaware of them until the very last second.

We located the cheetah at about 08h30 and I would guess that the kill had been made 10 to 30 minutes prior to us finding them. What is remarkable is that this kill was made less than 40 hours of them being released from the holding boma. The kill was made in an open area (most of Roam is and open area ) just below a stone ridge. We were actually tracking them using telemetry, when we suddenly lost the signal. The signal came back about 10 minutes later and it took us another 10 minutes to find their location. I am guessing that we lost the signal whilst the cheetah was trying to kill the hartebeest. This happened just below the rocky ridge and I assume the ridge is what caused us to loose the signal. This we can’t confirm, but rather speculate – it makes the most sense.

Whilst watching the two cheetah recovering from making the kill, one of them decided to drag the hartebeest into the shade of a nearby bush. This cheetah dragged the whole carcass on his own for a distance of approximately 30 meters. I have never seen a cheetah dragging anything near that heavy before, nor had any of the witnesses who work with cheetah in a breeding facility. Again, that is 200 kilograms!!!

The cheetah stayed on the kill for 3 days, and from about day two the carcass started attracting the attention of the resident jackal. So at one stage we were watching the cheetah and 4 jackal at the same sighting! So lots of excitement all round!

We’ll deliver a cheetah video of the kill in due course. The group that was with the Roam team happened to be the group from Ashia, which is a world-class cheetah sanctuary that aims to reduce the decline of the world’s cheetah population. The images were provided by co-founders of the project, Chantal Rischard and Stephan Illenberger.

Maseke Male Lion and Lamai Female Enjoy a Tryst in the ‘Veld

The Maseke Game Reserve has been the star of the show when it comes to lion sightings, and it’s about time we furnished you with a lion pride update. A while ago we introduced you to the burly Maseke 6 coalition and a small pride consisting of a lone female and 3 cubs. The Maseke boys appeared to be quite confident and dominant in their section of the reserve, and the lone female with her sons provided the team with a few fragmented sightings. Since our last update, things have evolved somewhat in terms of lion pride dynamics and identifying individual prides/coalitions on the territory they occupy. Two major shifts in terms of lion sightings have emerged. The first is the continuous sightings of one of the beastly Maseke boys mating with the lioness that has the sub-adult youngsters, and the second is of the newcomers comprising 5 young males and a dominant older female.

The Chacma guides are fixated on establishing the history and naming convention of the various prides within the Maseke Game Reserve. Figuring out the complex lion pride dynamics of the area is an ongoing discussion, and one that always involves input from neighbouring camps. Guides began referring to the 5 young males and a female as the Pannetjie Pride but soon established that they are the Archie Pride, a pride that appeared to have crossed over from Parsons.

The older lioness with the 3 growing sub-adults is referred to as the Lamai Pride. Soon these teenage lions will break away from their mother and seek out their own territories and prides to take over. We may well have yet another male coalition finding their way in the Maseke!

The artful Archie Pride are commonly spotted close to a fence line bordering a neighbouring reserve. With the heavy presence of the marauding Maseke Pride, it could cause problems in paradise. There could be trouble on the horizon with a possible clash in the not too distant future. In due time, we’ll introduce both of these coalitions/prides complete with a photo identikit so you can make comparisons. We spoke to Luan who said that both the Maseke coalition and the Archie Pride have been spotted quite far south, which means their paths are bound to cross at some stage.

Could we see a repeat of the notorious and dramatic situation that unfolded in the Sabi Sand between the mighty Mapogo and the equally powerful Majingilane? And what will happen when the Lamai sub-adults leave their natal pride? There are plenty of testosterone-filled males wandering about on the network of roads in the Maseke Game Reserve, so it’s pretty much a blank canvas of possibility at the moment – a painting which has yet to be decided upon.

The second major sighting, and the one that has stood out for the Chacma team, is the constant mating sessions between one of the Maseke males and the Lamai lioness. With the Lamai youngsters growing at a rapid rate, the older female is now ready to create a new pride with the dominant forces in the area. The youngsters were spotted fending for themselves while she found a secluded spot for yet another session with one of the Maseke males. Subsequent to this initial mating event, the powerful duo have been spotted on numerous occasions sneaking off into pockets of the bushveld for secret trysts. And just last night at Chacma Bush Camp, the entire Lamai Pride walked past camp.

To summarise, at the moment we are seeing the Maseke 5 (the numbers dropped from 6), 3 sub-adults with an older female (Lamai Pride), and a pride of 5 males with 1 female (Archie Pride). The Lamai lioness is mating with one of the Maseke males, which will strengthen her presence if she gives birth to cubs sired by these soldiers of the night.

The below images are of the Lamai lioness and one of the Maseke male lions.