Sun Destinations Blog - Page 76 of 118 - Sun Destinations Safari

Lions Chase Hyenas & Wild Dogs Off Their Kill

The location of the lion kill was full of activity yesterday afternoon. With hyenas getting into position to get a piece the buffalo carcass, we were anticipating a bit of snarling from both the Ross Breakaways and the clan of scavengers, but what we weren’t anticipating was the arrival of a pack of wild dogs! The lionesses were not happy to risk losing their hard earned meal, and chased both the dogs and the hyenas away with a powerful charge in their direction. The dogs ran for it – wise enough to not get physical with feasting lionesses – and the hyenas scattered briefly in a fit of hysterical cries and giggles.

This sort of interaction between predators is remarkable to watch, and the guests at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp were thrilled with the excitement. After an almost unbelievable presence of wild dogs in the area lately, unknown lions sneaking through during the night, and the ferocious Hercules Pride keeping the Ross Lionesses on their toes, this was the cherry on top! Needless to say, the wild dogs took off after the lionesses made their intentions clear, but once again, morning game drive produced. The wild dogs had chased a herd of impala and after trapping one, they began to feast. It’s a gruesome sight, but it is fantastic to see the predators thriving during a very concerning drought.

Ross Breakaway Lioness Beaten Up by Hercules Pride

Guests at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp witnessed the true power of the Ross Breakaway lionesses after watching them feast on a large female buffalo today. These two are adept warthog hunters, and second to that, they’ve been on the scene of many buffalo kills. Often, these kills are aided by the strength of the Trilogy males, but this unbeatable duo has the capacity to take down buffaloes alone. With the current drought, buffaloes are bound to be weaker than normal, giving the lionesses a window of opportunity to prey on a full grown cow. This is a huge victory for the cats, but despite their success, they are under serious pressure from the ferocious and merciless Hercules Pride. The condition of one lioness is not looking good as a result of a fight with the Hercules Pride a few weeks ago.

One of the Hercules Pride females is a monster lioness. Her size is seriously impressive, and if she had a mane, she could pass as a male! In addition to this, she and her sister, plus 4 subadult cubs, have aggressive attitudes that stem from a life of solitude. Their territory is deep inside the neighbouring property where very little vehicle activity is permitted, so they are not nearly as habituated as the Ross Breakaway lionesses.

In the past, they have responded to our presence with either fear or aggression. They used to threaten those who approached with mock charges, kicking up clouds of dust and baring teeth through a deep, guttural growl. If they didn’t charge, they would retreat from sight and lie in the thicket where they could be alone.

Times have improved, and as they venture further and further out of their territory and into the Africa on Foot and nThambo traverse, they become more used to our presence. We watched them on a buffalo kill right outside Africa on Foot’s camp grounds recently, and although the lions fed well, they were alert to every sound, ears pricked and ready to flee at the slightest suggestion of a threat. But just because they are slightly more patient with us, doesn’t mean they have any tolerance for rival lions like the Ross Breakaways! This may be the Ross Pride territory (and the Hercules are ex-Ross Pride), but the tough females and their youngsters are clearly dominating.

Both Breakaway females bear scars of the battles they have had with the Hercules lions – one has a permanently scarred eye, and most recently, the other was badly beaten up receiving neck and back wounds. Worst of all, the Hercules Pride is responsible for the death of the 9-week-old Breakaway cubs in October. A few days ago the Hercules Pride was glimpsed briefly on night drive, so they are hanging around in the shadows. Now the Ross Breakaways are back and gaining strength with a large meal to themselves… Let’s see what the next move is!

Top 3 Videos of the Week: Nature is in Control

Wild Dogs, Hyenas & Predator Action at nThambo

Yes, you read correctly. Wild dogs are right on our doorstep, yet again. Don’t think that tires us in any way – we could not be more privileged to have the best seats in the house for some of the most exceptional sightings of some of Africa’s most endangered predators! This morning topped it all off at nThambo Tree Camp (after 2 solid weeks of sightings, that’s saying a lot). Resident ranger-turned-photographer, Kevin MacLaughlin, had the following to say:

“First, Ryan (Africa on Foot student guide) saw an African wild dog shoot across the road and disappear out of sight. Then I bumped into about 6 dogs finishing off an impala nearby! Following that, they ran through the vegetation block and Matt (nThambo guide) found them, all contact calling to find the lost dogs in the pack. I counted about 12 dogs. Then, I heard the distinct hysterical sound of a hyena, and assumed they were having a stand off with the dogs. I made my way there and it was clear that the dogs had made another kill, but this time the hyena had stolen it. The dogs headed for Buffel Dam where I was waiting, and a few minutes later they made their third kill for the morning behind the dam. I heard on the radio that there were another 3 dogs on the road, which we assume were part of the same pack. So a total of 3 kills this morning… not bad!”

Estimated about 15 dogs seen this morning at nThambo

So these super efficient hunters, the underdogs (excuse the pun) in the world of African predators, made not one, or two, but three kills this morning alone. The impalas must be in a state of shock! What an incredible experience for guests at nThambo Tree Camp to witness the interaction between the notorious hyenas and the skilful wild dogs. Enjoy the following video snippets of this extended sighting this morning.

Bush Braai Fail – Africa on Foot & nThambo Tree Camp

Things don’t always go according to plan, and when we’re dealing with the summer weather in the Kruger Lowveld, we can almost rely on it! The warm evenings are alive with the sounds of cicadas and other insects and frogs that emerge during the wet season. The bush is green and succulent, making the scenery all the more beautiful, and giving us every reason to want to spend time in it. For this reason, the teams at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp go the extra mile to arrange a ‘bush braai’ for dinner under the stars; however, the other reality of summer in the Kruger, is the thunderstorm activity!

Recently, in our behind the scenes segment we intended to film the setup of a famous bush braai, and what we ended up getting was a Bush Braai Fail. All teams on board transported everything from crockery, cutlery, table settings, cooking equipment, and enough chair and table space for guests at both lodges. The bar table with an assorted variety of drinks was set up to welcome guests to dinner in the bush after their game drive. As the dinner site started taking shape, the dark and ominous cloud formations became more and more suggestive, and sure enough, lightning struck in the distance! The wind picked up, and the storm grew closer until finally a decision was made to pack everything up and reload the vehicles to take everything back to camp. The thunderstorm had beaten us to it!

Take a look at the video demonstrating the ups and downs of organising an al fresco dining affair in the wild and wonderful Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. This was not the planned outcome for our ‘behind the scenes’ bush braai episode, but it is what we got, so we had to share it with you. Well played, Jen and Nadia. Better luck next time!

Unknown lions almost clash with Hercules Pride

Last night brought some exciting lion activity that was about 800m away from a head on collision! The Hercules Pride ventured out of their usually hidden territory, and we know from experience that they remain as unnoticed as possible. Coming from the other direction (we are assuming Northern Klaserie) a pride of 8 unknown lions arrived in the darkness; alert, silent, and moving quickly. The unknown lions were spotted within a kilometre of the Hercules Pride, and ranger-photographer Kevin was hot on their trail! Kevin radioed Ranger Mike who brought Africa on Foot guests to the sighting, and luckily the game viewer arrived in time to watch the nervous pride move swiftly along and eventually out of sight. Our guests got the lions, but unfortunately our cameras didn’t!

The pride looked like it consisted of some adult females and a combination of male and female subadults, while no big male was present. This is Trilogy territory, and with surrounding prides laying claim to the area, it is an unsafe place for an unknown pride to be. With water levels low, animal activity is not easily predicted, and we are seeing more of some species, while less of others, and the arrival of new lions is certainly unexpected, yet never impossible.

These lions missed the vicious Hercules Pride by the skin of their teeth, but who knows where they are hiding out now. We will have to keep an eye open on this afternoon’s drive to try and relocate these lions and get better info on them. Hopefully we will be able to land some photos of the pride if we are successful this afternoon. In the meantime, familiarise yourself with the small, but efficient Hercules pride consisting of 2 adult females and 4 (now subadult) cubs.

A closer look at leopards of the Klaserie

Leopards are territorial, just like lions, but unlike lions, they are solitary cats and choose to live alone, only pairing up to mate. Leopards are also usually nocturnal, and they are notoriously elusive, quick, camouflaged, and stealthy, making them some of the more difficult creatures to spot in the wild. The Klaserie is home to numerous leopards, which occupy neighbouring and overlapping territories around Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp. Over time, camp rangers have identified various individuals that have been spotted (pun intended) during game drive hours, crossing through camp in the dead of night, fleetingly through the bushes while on foot, and some giving us the full display with a kill stashed in a tree.

Rhulani, meaning ‘relaxed’ in the local Tsonga language, is a female leopard we’ve known for quite some time. Towards the end of last year, she was spotted around the same place with various kills she had made, and with a cub in tow. Despite her ultra-relaxed temperament, her youngster was very skittish and stayed hidden most of the time, only coming out at night to feed alongside its mother. At one point the duo was disturbed by the presence of yet another female leopard, known as Ross Dam, creating some speculation that Ross Dam female could be one of Rhulani’s adult cubs. The two were not entirely pleased to see each other, but they had a certain level of tolerance for one another, which is not normal for unrelated leopards, male or female.

Ross Dam was named after the dam found in her territory. She was spotted in the same place on numerous occasions, and became a real highlight on game drive after she appeared both during the night and day while guests were out on game drive. She is also incredibly relaxed, and if she is indeed one of Rhulani’s (now adult) cubs, it is no wonder she has the calm temperament she’s now known for!

Cleo is one of the longest known leopards in the area, and when we laid eyes on her mid last year she was having an after dark snooze on a termite mound, entirely unfazed by the attention and spotlight on her. What made this sighting particularly memorable was the fact that her cub bounded up to join her on the termite mound. One for the books!

Zero is our man of the hour. Seen numerous times with a kill stashed away up in a tree, and also out at night and on the prowl, this male has a ‘zero’-shaped rosette pattern on his shoulder that defines him from other leopards. He has taken over the ‘main man’ role after Shaka was reported to have died. The life of big cats is not easy, and we have to expect injury and death as we follow the lives of these lions and leopards.

Mauritz Photographs a Trio of Leopards at Umkumbe

Last week we shared Marius’s photographs of Umkumbe Safari Lodge’s leopard sightings. This week, Mauritz compiled a selection of leopard photographs from his encounters with Kigelia, Tatowa and White Dam. There have been plenty of leopardess sightings but only the occasional sighting of dominant male, Mxabene. Seems like the females are stealing the show and hogging the limelight ! Let’s hope the exquisite female leopards of Umkumbe retain their power to enchant us.

Kigelia, the young leopardess, certainly has come into her own. During the course of last year she was often spotted with her mother, Little Bush. She has matured and blossomed into a curious and tactful hunter. Kigelia was spotted chasing an ostrich, which is an unusual choice of prey. She pounced, prowled and darted around after the flightless bird, but eventually gave up and took refuge in a nearby Marula tree. Mauritz and the other rangers marked this as unusual sighting. It’s not often you see a leopard chasing an ostrich !

It is always a privilege to see White Dam. Recently, there have only been fleeting sightings of her and she doesn’t hang around. When Warthog Wallow and Mxabene were seen mating close to the lodge, White Dam started to move south of the property. She actually has two cubs sired by Mxabene – a male and female; but we’ve had any recorded sightings of them in the past few months. Mauritz spotted White Dam lapping up water from a small waterhole and managed to capture her on camera before she disappeared into a drainage line.

Tatowa is a breathtakingly beautiful leopardess who crossed over from the northern boundary onto the Umkumbe traverse. She’s the only surviving leopard from a litter of 4 and appears to have no fear. She ambushed an young impala and made a successful kill. The area is surrounded by other predators and hungry scavengers, so she dragged the antelope up a Marula tree to prevent it being stolen.

We hope you enjoy Mauritz’s photographs of this trio of leopards.

Week in Pics: A Kruger Kaleidoscope of Colours

When you go on safari to the Kruger, a kaleidoscope of colour awaits. The fawn and tawny hues of lions, colourful plumes on birds, blood red sunsets and khaki-green landscapes combine to produce an incredible palette of natural paints. You’ll see hues and tints you probably can’t pinpoint on any colour spectrum. The interior design of lodges is often based on the colours nature has naturally placed together.

For this week in pictures, we’re going to highlight the images that combine the most intense and contrasting colours. It’s Friday and we want you to have a vibrant weekend!

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

Before we share a few of our most spectacular colour-filled photos with you, we just want to quickly give you and update from the week. The highlight of the week at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp has been the sighting of the endangered nomadic wild dogs. The pack was spotted close to the dam and appeared to be quite playful. Another incredible sighting, not to be surpassed by the wild dog sighting, was that of a male leopard. This elusive cat kept its distance and strolled along the road in front of the vehicle.

Ezulwini Game Lodges

Below are just a handful of our most colourful images from Billy’s Lodge and River Lodge. This week there have been incredible sightings. Duma, the king of the Olifants West Pride, was seen while out on game drive. He wasn’t the only cat to make an appearance. An elusive but majestic leopardess was seen hiding in the fork of a tree. The usual suspects were seen enjoying time in their natural habitat – elephants, giraffe, Cape buffalo and an array of birds.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

We are inundated with reports of leopard sightings at Umkumbe and Mxabene seems to hog the limelight in terms of sightings. Tatowa, a relatively new leopardess, was seen feasting on a young impala. Kigelia, Little Bush’s cub, was spotted exploring her immediate area. During the weekly #LiveBushFeed session, a somewhat reserved and shy cheetah was seen surveying the landscape. And let’s not forget the unusual appearance of an ostrich during the sundowner session.

Enjoy the week in pictures – have a bright and colourful weekend !

Two Weeks of Wild Dogs in Klaserie

How lucky can you get? African wild dogs with the unending expanse of the Kruger National Park to roam, have stuck around Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp for at least 2 weeks. These pack animals are exceptional hunters, they don’t have territories and are always on the move. Their home ranges can reach up to 1500 sq. km and they will constantly circulate their area, chasing prey during dawn and dusk, and resting overnight, perhaps two nights. Unless the pack is denning with pups, we don’t expect to enjoy their presence for such an extended period of time, but what do you know?

This morning was the most recent in the unbelievable wild dog activity in the last 2 weeks, and we couldn’t have expected what we got! Our ‘usual’ pack of 7 was nowhere to be found, but in its place was a fantastic scene of 17 wild dogs together! These are certainly not the same dogs we’ve been seeing since July last year, and it is not big enough to be the famous Orpen Pack, which is about 30-strong. It is a possibility that this group of 17 is a split from the Orpen Pack, but that is only speculation – we would need to get a status update on the Orpen Pack to be able to know for sure.

Either way, it was a spectacular sight! The dogs gathered at Buffel Dam near Africa on Foot and enjoyed a drink and a rest while guests looked on in awe. Enoch was taking guests on a walking safari and managed to position the group in the perfect spot to view the dogs, making for one memorable morning! It’s astonishing that as our 7 wild dogs move off, these 17 move in. Hopefully the dogs stick around during the heat of the day and the afternoon game drives are as lucky as this morning’s!