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Video of Elephants Drinking from nThambo’s Splash Pool

“We watched the elephant herds drinking from the small splash pool at nThambo Tree Camp and I realised we were part of something significant. In this moment I realised that Africa had stolen a place in my heart. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a friendly herd of jumbo socialising and interacting adjacent to where humans are doing exactly the same thing! A delicate divide between the human and animal world. So different, yet so similar.” – Carolynne Higgins

Sometimes you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your lodge to enjoy an epic big five sighting. nThambo Tree Camp in the Kruger’s Klaserie Private Nature Reserve is no stranger to “from the lodge sightings”. The camp is open, which means large predators and other wildlife can roam freely throughout. The resident elephant herds seem to love the fresh, crisp water of nThambo’s splash pool. From time to time, they are caught soaking up water with their trunks. And guess what? The elephants were seen drinking from the pool just less than a week ago.

Here’s what happened.

While guests were quietly enjoying a traditional South African lunch in the open dining area, they noticed a herd of elephants in the distance. The dining area at nThambo comprises wooden decking and unsurpassed views of the Klaserie. It’s an idyllic spot for lunch. Clearly the elephant herds wanted a slice of what guests were enjoying, so they slowly ambled over to the lodge.

What happened next was incredible. The herd decided to drink from the splash pool in front of the lodge and created quite an animated spectacle for guests. A huge bull decided to join in the fun and came from behind the boma area of the lodge. He casually sauntered across the path and approached the herd in a rather excited, but bolshy manner!

Watch how the bull pushes the calf out of the way – clearly there is a social hierarchy at play here! If you look closely at the video you’ll notice a new born calf stretching over the rim of the pool to slurp up water with its clumsy trunk. In the background you’ll see another herd approaching the swimming pool. With so many herds wanting a slice of the action, we think that the nThambo maintenance crew will be spending the next few days filling up the pool.

When Brett took this video, the temperatures in the Klaserie had reached a searing and uncomfortable 37 degrees celsius. Although the rainy Summer season is approaching, nThambo hasn’t seen much rain. It’s still quite dry, which means the herds need to find readily available water sources to replenish their thirst and find respite from the heat. And let’s face it, the pool at nThambo Tree Camp is a perennial, reliable source of fresh water. Even elephants need to quench their insatiable thirst and they have the ability to drink up to 100 litres of water per day!

The breakfast table and lounge is well-positioned to take advantage of wildlife strolling past. While you’re digesting your food or latest novel, take the time to cast your eye across to the pool – you never know what you might see.

And you thought it was only humans who spend hours drinking, wallowing and socialising at the poolside…

Hyenas and Cubs Parade at Ezulwini

A little less handsome than lions, yet far more entertaining, are these cackling creatures of the bush: spotted hyena. Ezulwini Game Lodges encountered a clan of Crocuta crocuta on game drive in the Balule Nature Reserve – a bunch of adults plus their cute and fluffy cubs. Fondly known as the ‘laughing hyena’ and characterised as such in the Disney classic, The Lion King, the spotted hyena has a variety of calls and vocalisations, which indicate different things to their clan mates or an opposing clan.

These notorious meat-eaters are in fact the most successful large carnivores in Africa, and can be classified as ‘super predators’ of the African wild. With unbelievable endurance, extremely strong neck and jaws, specially designed teeth, and social structures that are brutal right from birth; it is no wonder that these misunderstood creatures take on lions, and win. Famous documentaries feature the hyenas as the lions’ most feared enemy. Of course, one on one, a hyena would be foolish to take on a lion, but when hyenas outnumber lions, they fearlessly attack the king of the jungle and cheekily steal their meals!

Leopards are even more fearful of the bone-crunching strength of a hyena, and will almost readily give up a heard-earned feast to avoid injury should this thieving predator attack. The female spotted hyena in particular is larger and more dominant than any male in the pack. They pack more testosterone than the males, and they even have a pseudo-penis, making them all the more masculine!

Africa on Foot’s Leopard and Lion Extravaganza

Africa on Foot is no stranger to extraordinary big cat sightings. There’s often a whirlwind of cat videos and images flooding our inbox on a daily basis – we’re not complaining but we’re often taken aback at the absolute abundance of lion and leopard sightings within the Klaserie! Over the past few days, the Trilogy trio and leopardess Rhulani + cub were spotted while out on game drive. Quite an extravaganza of cat sightings!

The dominant lions of the area include the Ross pride, the Ross pride breakaway females + cubs, the Trilogy males and the Hercules pride. All three boys from the Trilogy were seen over the weekend. They weren’t doing anything particularly news breaking, but rather indulging in what lions do best – relaxing, scratching and eyeing out the game viewer. Ah…the Trilogy boys, with their manes that flow like maple syrup and their aloof mannerisms, it’s hard not to love this dynamic trio !

Rhulani has returned to the Africa on Foot traverse, which has delighted everybody at camp. She has been seen quite regularly over the past few weeks together with her adorably shy cub. Rhulani is a beautiful leopard who carries herself with such grace. The cub is still very shy and introverted; but once the confidence develops we expect a stealthy cat to confidently emerge from hiding. Rhulani seem completely non-plussed with the presence of vehicles and hopefully her cub will adopt the same attitude.

About 4 – 5 days ago Rhulani and her cub were seen on an impala kill. When guests saw Rhulani over the weekend she was actually finishing off the morsels from that kill. After savouring the last pieces of her meal she got up and ambled into the bush. She was heard contact calling for her cub and her distinct bark like call reverberated throughout the area.

What we find interesting about the Rhulani sighting is that she initiated two kills in the same area – close to a drainage line. Leopards love drainage lines because they can remain hidden and camouflaged from their competitors. If Rhulani’s cub is shy, it makes sense that they enjoy returning to this “safe zone”. We are hoping there will be other kills in the same area in the future – we’ll just keep checking.

And what about the Trilogy? Well, we suspect we’ll see them patrolling their domain and asserting their dominance in their territory over the next few days. This weekend certainly has been an enjoyable extravaganza of leopard and lion sightings at Africa on Foot.

Big lion pride on the move at Ezulwini

If there’s one animal we can count on seeing almost every day, it’s lions. Although one can never predict what happens in the bush, and we count ourselves lucky for each and every moment we spend with the wildlife in the Balule Nature Reserve, we are really spoilt with the biggest African cat.

The complicated dynamics of a lion pride mean that male cubs grow up and have to move out of the pride as ‘teenagers’ in search of their own turf. There can only be one male or coalition of males in charge of one pride, so when equally matched males come head to head, there is bound to be a fight, and at times the pride can split. This was the case with the Olifants West Pride, which is a known pride at Ezulwini. The two dominant males fought and one left taking half of the pride with him.

Now each pride has 13 lions, one of which we saw over the weekend! Also referred to as the Mohlabetsi Pride, this parade of cats with very full bellies moving through the area was a fantastic sight to behold. It looked as if they had killed something large like a giraffe and were now on the move for water. The natural behaviour of lions can be quite predictable if you get to know them. After a big meal and a lot of lying around, the next destination for these cats is most likely, water.

This pride was seen again after this occasion, while 2 of the original Olifants West pride lionesses were also seen, and the complete OW pride was moving around our area last week!

Ross lionesses and cubs on a buffalo kill

The Ross Breakaway lion cubs have grown to 2 months old, and we love seeing them looking well fed and healthy! They are both male cubs, and they engage in a lot of wobbly wrestling, which is something they will continue to do throughout their lives. Lions have a close social bond, and they use nuzzling and grooming as a signs of affection. Their mother and her sister have stuck together for life and they always lie close to one another, feeding together, and showing a lot of love. A few days ago Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp watched as they experienced another first when the lionesses took down a buffalo calf.

The small family is growing closer, and even the second lioness puts up with the cubs’ playful behaviour. A few weeks ago when one of the cubs almost got trampled by a buffalo and another cub got separated from his mother, the second lioness didn’t seem set on looking after him in the slightest. She growled at him and swatted him with her paw if he got too close, but now it is hard to tell which lioness is the true mother because the cubs move so freely between the two adults.

The small buffalo was the perfect meal for the 2 Ross Breakaway females and they relaxed in the open area with the carcass over a couple of days, drifting in and out of sleep, and slothfully getting up to feed every once in a while. The cubs are not yet eating meat and they nuzzled into their mother’s tummy to feed when she lay down to rest, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t interested in the great, big, smelly carcass! On a few occasions, the cubs moved gingerly closer to where the lionesses were feeding and curiously checked it out.

We’ve always enjoyed these 2 lionesses at such close range, and their familiarity with the Africa on Foot and nThambo vehicles makes for really fantastic sightings. They have no fear in walking right passed the vehicles in order to get to where they want to go, and they have come to accept us being close to their food, and now to their cubs. We are excited to see the cubs becoming accustomed to us as well! Everything is a new experience for them at this point, and they are developing incredibly cute behaviours and attitudes already.

Watching the cubs dodge proverbial bullets is a reminder of what a tough life they have ahead of them, and even with the protection of the two lionesses, they face danger every day. Hyenas, leopards, and buffaloes are the main threats at this point, but each day they get a little stronger and a little wiser, so we are hoping for the best!

Oct 10, 2015
Blog, Ezulwini, Uncategorized, Videos

Painted wolves at Ezulwini Game Lodges

These super-specialised hunting machines go by various names: painted wolves, Cape hunting dogs, and most commonly, African wild dogs. They are also highly endangered. With ears like satellite dishes, these dogs have exceptional hearing and they rely a lot on vocalised communication. They sound nothing like one would expect a dog to sound, as they do not bark or yelp, but rather ‘whistle’ and ‘twitter’. Extremely social animals, their sense of family within their pack is what makes them such a cohesive hunting force, and aids in the survival of their pups.

At Ezulwini Game Lodges in the Greater Kruger’s Balule Nature Reserve, a pack of 6 African wild dogs emerged for only the second time this year; a clear indication of how rare and special it is to see these animals. Numerous prides of lion claim the area, closely bordering each other’s territories and creating a dominant predatory force. Leopards are also sighted frequently on game drive with Ezulwini, adding to the predator population even more. It is no wonder the painted wolves are more scarce – who would want to compete with large, blue-eyed leopards, and lion prides that number 13 members each?

Years ago, the wild dogs were shot and killed by farmers who misunderstood their hunting method and believed them to be vermin. As farm boundaries encroached on wild land, and people and animals became closer neighbours, it was a common occurrence for leopards, dogs, jackals and caracals to prey on sheep and goats belonging to the farmers. The shooting of packs of wild dogs has contributed heavily to the scarce population we have today; so much so, that this supreme animal is the second-most endangered large carnivore in Africa.

The Kruger is a safe haven for the dogs, and they are now protected and treasured animals. What makes wild dogs difficult to see is their fleeting presence in one place – they do not stick around for very long and cover a very large range when they hunt (95% hunting success rate). Each year the dogs settle down between the months of March and June to den. If you’re in the right place at the right time, you’ll be lucky enough to see them raising their pups during this time!

Week in Pictures: Wildlife Showcase

Welcome to Friday. What a week it’s been! We are having difficulty pin pointing the best of the week’s sightings, what with the array of leopard sightings, lion cubs, elephants galore, and interesting bird action. The Okavango Delta is teeming and fruitful as always, and Afrika Ecco Safaris has taken full advantage of its splendour. The Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, where Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp are nestled, has taken cute to another level with the addition of 2 baby lions, while leopardess Rhulani has outdone herself yet again. The neighbouring Balule Private Game Reserve is home to some of the most spectacular prides of lion, and Ezulwini Game Lodges are enjoying sightings of them every single day.

Embrace the upcoming weekend and indulge in some safari inspiration as you scroll through these spectacular pictures of wildlife highlights from our camps and lodges this week!

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp: Sister camps in the private Klaserie reserve in Greater Kruger, this pair enjoys most of the wildlife wonders together in two-vehicle locs. This means that only 2 vehicles are allowed in a sighting at any one time, which keeps the impact on the animals low, and it ensures the quality of the sighting is exceptional. Some of the highlights from this week are as follows:

A Leopardess, a Cub, and a Kill

Video: Cute Lion Cub Causing Trouble

All 3 Trilogy Lions Together Again

A Lion Kill by Night

Ezulwini Game Lodges have enjoyed a parade of lions, wild dogs and leopard this week! The famous blue-eyed male leopard called Chavaluthu was caught in the act with a freshly killed warthog between his teeth. Guests watched in awe as this phenomenal creature tucked into his hard earned meal after ambushing the inhabitants of a warthog burrow. What’s more is that the large Olifants West lion prides have been full of action, and we’ve been able to watch the youngsters playfully interact with each other. And to top it all off, a pack of African wild dogs arrived in the area! Look out for that story tomorrow…

Up into the famous wetlands of the Okavango Delta, Afrika Ecco Safaris is pulling out all the stops to create the most memorable and exhilarating experience for their guests. Gliding up to a sandbank in the waterways that is adorned with salty snacks and icy drinks is one unforgettable way to enjoy the sunset! Then it was off to Moremi Game Reserve for some quality time with elephants at a waterhole.

Three’s a crowd: Trilogy male lions seen together again

Even as they lie sleeping, the vision of this fierce coalition is intimidating. The dominant male lions in this territory have made their mark, and any wandering lions from the Kruger Park would be foolish to take them on.

nThambo Tree Camp and Africa on Foot are spoilt rotten with sightings of the Trilogy males, but they are seldom seen together. Since they settled in as the leading lions around town, they often spend time apart, sewing their wild oats and defending their territory. Under their reign fall the Ross Breakaway lionesses and Hercules Pride, and they’ve even dabbled in the Giraffe Pride mating with both white lionesses and a tawny lioness. Four Hercules cubs are growing up nicely, and now 2 Ross Breakaway cubs have joined the scene, only increasing the Trilogy gene pool!

Recently we saw 2 Trilogy males feasting on a buffalo kill they stole from the RB lionesses, and before that they growled and snarled at the old Ross lioness as she tried to get in on their meal. Passed sightings of one or two Trilogy males have included feasting, mating, sleeping, and snapping at flies, but it has been a good few weeks since we’ve glimpsed the almighty coalition as a whole.

This morning, Isaak and Matt took to the ground on foot in pursuit of the male lions they had been tracking. And after some bundu bashing, they drove their guests in to view the trio sleeping alongside each other. As they lay peacefully, their golden eyes were trained on the movement in the vehicle, and every so often guests saw a head rise and those eyes shift to the vultures that were circling overhead.

The RB lionesses are currently on a buffalo kill with the cubs, which could be where the vultures were aiming to land. Wouldn’t it be nice if the big Trilogy boys followed the vultures to the kill site, and we could see the whole family together? Holding thumbs…

A Leopardess, a Cub and a Kill

“While we were out game drive we noticed an abandoned leopard kill nestled in the fork of the tree. In that moment we knew that our rosette patterned cats would re-appear to continue their feast. It was just a matter of time. We had no idea which of our leopards made the kill, but we waited it out and our efforts were rewarded! We did a bit of our own stalking and eventually the shy Panthera pardus revealed itself” – Kevin MacLaughlin, Africa on Foot

A couple of days ago a bloody impala carcass was seen draped over branch. The freshly butchered impala met its untimely death at the hands of Rhulani, a leopard commonly seen on the nThambo Tree Camp and Africa on Foot traverse. The carcass wasn’t fully stripped of meat and was stashed in a safe place, out of the way of eager scavengers and predators looking for an easy meal. These were clear indications that Rhulani would come back to devour the rest of her meal.

All it took was a bit of perseverance and patience on behalf of the rangers. And it paid off – they were able to deliver incredible leopard sightings to their guests. The kill was seen first and when Rhulani returned, we were able to identify her. However, she wasn’t alone…her cub was was with her! The cub is still quite shy and is not as oblivious to vehicles as Rhulani is; but she will eventually get used to the presence of the game viewers.

The walkers from Africa on Foot saw the leopards again this morning again. This means we’ve enjoyed two consecutive days of leopard sightings. Leopards get most of their moisture from the meat they eat but if water sources are readily available, they will drink. The kill happened close to Buffeldam so both mom and cub have been spotted lapping up water from the edge of the dam.

So, why do we consider leopards elusive if Rhulani and cub have remained in the same spot for two days? Leopards do not devour their kill in one day and will return to their kill over a span of few days or until the carcass is eaten. When a kill is made they require a few days of undisturbed feeding. The tree stashing habits of leopards protect the carcass from thieving lions and cheeky hyenas. Leopards are far more agile than scavengers and other big cats, so they can afford to make their meal last for a few days. When we see a fresh carcass dripping with meaty morsels, we know that a leopard is likely to return to the area. This always allows us a good few days of sightings before our stealthy cat is absorbed into oblivion!

A leopardess, a cub and a kill – just another average day in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve !

VIDEO: Lion cub caught playing with lioness’ tail

The Ross Breakaway lion cubs are quite the sensation around Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp. After a few days of quiet concern for the cubs’ wellbeing, the two 6-week olds have been having a whale of a time playing together out in the open.

The two lionesses are so habituated to the game viewers that we can enjoy some exceptional, up-close sightings of them when they are on the hunt, or feeding, or merely relaxing together. Now their cubs are picking up on the same relaxed behaviour, which means the guests at Africa on Foot and nThambo are being treated to some of the most precious moments with wild lion cubs during their safari.

From the beginning we have witnessed the mother lioness carry her tiny babies to a safe spot, then we watched nervously as one cub nearly got stampeded by an angry buffalo, after that the cubs were separated and for a couple of days we hoped they would be reunited. Now, the last week has presented some of the best moments with the cubs and their mom and ‘aunt’.

Watch this video of one curious little cub takes on the fluffy end of a lioness’ tail. This lioness is not his mother, and she doesn’t have to put up with his pesky interruptions, so she swiftly gets up and moves away. He will learn soon enough!