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Chavaluthu the leopard kills a warthog at Ezulwini

Known as Ezulwini’s blue-eyed leopard, Chavaluthu has got to be one of the most beautiful male leopards around. His unique name means ‘afraid of nothing’ in the local language, Tsonga. Brave indeed, this spectacular cat hunted a warthog and settled down to enjoy his hard earned meal in full view of admiring guests at Ezulwini Billy’s and River Lodge.

The Balule Private Game Reserve has been a performance of wildlife action recently, but watching this relaxed, confident leopard in his natural habitat has to be a highlight. Afternoon game drive is always full of activity with thirsty elephants visiting the local waterholes, herds of buffalo bulldozing through the bush, steeples of giraffe, and a healthy population of lion prides featuring almost daily.

Ezulwini has a long history with Chavaluthu, having consistently enjoyed sightings of him in his territory. He is a professional warthog hunter – evidence of which our guests have enjoyed on countless occasions. He stakes out termite mounds in which he can hear the movement of pigs and waits in ambush. This is a method used not only by leopards, but lions too. His ultra-relaxed manner and his ‘afraid of nothing’ reputation makes him one of the stars of the Balule bushveld.

Heartwarming Sighting of Lion Cubs and Porcupettes

Just less than a week ago two tawny bundles of fluff bumbled their way out of the thickets and into the open, surprising both guests and rangers. Observing two adorable lion cubs making a cameo appearance was certainly a highlight of the week. Cubs appear to be in good condition and they’re displaying the typical bravado of most toddlers. The cubs belong to one of the Ross pride breakaway lionesses and we believe that one of the Trilogy sired the cubs. Guests were delighted with the playful interaction between the cubs and their mother.

It’s been a whirlwind of baby activity at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp. In addition to the incredible cub sighting, guests managed to see a shy porcupette exploring its surrounds. Both the porcupettes and lion cubs have been braving unknown territory and, unbeknown to them, we’ve been watching their antics! Animal babies are cute, clumsy, naive and innocent – this is what they all have in common but they differ vastly in physical ability when born.

Here are 5 differences between porcupettes and lion cubs:

Pocupettes are born with their eyes open. Lion cubs are born with their eyes closed.

Porcupine parents raise porcupettes together. The mother lioness is the only one who stays with the cubs. She only introduces them to the pride when they are older and less vulnerable.

Sub-adult porcupines will leave the parents after a couple of months and lead a solitary life. Sub-adult lions will stay within a pride.

There are normally between two and four lion cubs in a litter and two porcupettes in a litter.

Porcupines forage alone when they need food. Adults will teach porcupettes how to forage but they are own their own when they reach 5 months. Lions hunt together with the pride.

Nothing more heartwarming than a few new additions to the Klaserie to turn heads. Hope you enjoy the images as much as we enjoyed the sightings.

nThambo in the middle of the action during a lion kill

We consider ourselves very fortunate to be able to show our guests what the wild is all about. It’s a responsibility and a privilege. Any game ranger and guide would agree. Each day there is something new to see, and we might not always see what we expect, but when we are watching lions stalking buffalo, things can only go one of two ways… This time we found ourselves bearing witness to nature at its finest as the two Ross Breakaway lionesses took down a young buffalo right in front of nThambo Tree Camp guests.

It’s not an easy sight for many people, and even the most hardened bush folk find the raw nature of the kill hard to watch. Ultimately, this is what the life of lions is all about, and survival of the fittest is what keeps the ecosystem functioning at its strongest and best. The two lionesses are currently looking after two 6-week old cubs, which were born to one of the females in a drainage line nearby. They have to stay well fed in order to bring up healthy cubs, and this was their opportunity.

What they didn’t count on was having to share that precious meal with 2 big males from the Trilogy coalition! The dominant males (one of the 3 having sired the new cubs) were hanging out around the corner when the females took their chance with a young buffalo, and soon joined them to take part in the feast. What an incredible sight to watch 4 lions feasting by spotlight.

Before the feeding festivities could begin, the herd of buffalo pulled a typical buffalo move and returned to the predators with a vengeance! The targeted buffalo was already too far gone, and the herd’s attempt to chase the lions off the victim were in vain. However, the buffaloes came back in the direction of where the nThambo vehicle was parked and guests found themselves even closer to the activity than they thought when the buffalo stampeded within centimetres of the vehicle. Serious action, and serious excitement. nThambo guests won’t be forgetting this in a hurry!

Africa on Foot entered the sighting soon afterwards and got to observe the aftermath of the feast. Buffaloes provide a lot of meat and the lions will stick with the carcass until its down to the bone. It’s nature and it is brutal, but we’re glad that the lionesses protecting the 2 tiny cubs are keeping well fed, fit, and strong. The cubs are fathered by one of the Trilogy males, so we are happy to see them continue to dominate the area.

African Painted Dogs Return to Our Turf

The African painted dog is a gregarious canine species that lives in closely knit packs. There’s an alpha pair who lead the pack and the rest of the dogs have a tightly woven bond which is evident in their co-operative breeding habits. The entire family is involved in rearing the young pups. This nomadic species remains sedentary for 3 months of the year while the pups mature into adulthood.

It’s a delight to watch a tight nuclear family unit helping to rear their young in the wild. 4 – 5 months ago, nThambo Tree Camp and Africa on Foot guests found a wild dog den site and observed incredible interactions between the pups and the alpha pair. If you recall, we posted plenty of videos and blog posts of the wild dog den area where the dogs based themselves for 3 months. During this period of time we knew exactly where the dogs were located and were able to show guests the roles the dogs play in their familial group.

Wild dogs time their denning period with the end of the impala rutting season. This is when the rams are exhausted and stressed, which means their defences are down and they become an easy target for our ravenous carnivorous dogs. The denning period is generally between May – July and this is when we enjoyed prolific wild dog sightings.

When the cubs are 2.5 – 3 months old they leave the den site. If their domicile comes under threat from predators, they will move their den site. After the pups are old enough, the pack will resume their natural nomadic tendencies. The denning period is the best time to see the wild dogs. Their whereabouts are a bit more predictable !

When the pups reached the age of wandering, the wild dogs disappeared and we barely saw the dogs. Being fast moving, nomadic dogs made it difficult for us to locate them. They have been known to occupy a wide range and follow herds across an expansive area. Lions are their major competition and they are far more territorial; which means they attack approaching dogs.

3 weeks ago we were incredibly lucky and spotted the “local” pack from a few months ago on a kill. The pups appear to be in good condition and are proving to be fearless hunters. Over the weekend we spotted the entire pack with pups. They were greeting one another, drinking from the dam and appeared to be quite relaxed. For now, they appear to be in our turf again. But who knows what next week will bring? Hopefully they’ll hang around for a while.

The African wild dog is Africa’s most endangered carnivore and they’re in grave danger of becoming extinct. We certainly have been lucky with our wild dog sightings over the past 2 – 3 weeks !

Week in Pictures: A Parade of Wild Creatures

Hello Friday! As promised, here is our collection of photos and highlights from the week. This has been largely dominated by big cats, small cubs and a flurry of odd activity.

Enjoy the pictures!

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Leopards are a common sight when out on a game drive with Umkumbe, but this week we’d like to share our lion sightings with you. We’ve spent the past week updating with you leopard sightings so it’s time to focus on our fearless Panthera leo species. However, there’s still time for a quick leopard recap. A remarkably beautiful leopardess called Tatowa came over from the north. Her visit was fleeting and we hope she’ll be back soon. White Dam was spotted relaxing outside one of the game ranger’s rooms, which was incredible to see.

Over the past week we’ve also had a glimpse of Mahlatini, a young male leopard. The male most commonly seen is Mxabene who seems to dominate our leopard sightings. Is there room for Mahlatini?

Three unknown lionesses who appear to be hanging out with the Matshapiri males have been seen fairly regularly. The Matshapiri males have free-flowing, dark manes and certainly live up to their king of the jungle title!

These unknown trio of lionesses have been marking their territory and masking their scent in buffalo dung. The Kruger Park male and Solo male were seen together. They were doing what lions do best – nothing! The males have now moved further north.

We’ve also enjoyed other big five sightings and Mauritz managed to capture an incredible photo of buffalo in the morning light.

nThambo Tree Camp

The old lioness from the Ross Pride has died – famous for her attack on a honey badger a few weeks back, this fighter has finally given up. Sad, but such is the circle of life!

We follow a story of death with a story of new life. One of the Ross pride cubs has been seen in the open, exploring his surrounds. We saw one of the Ross females swatting the cub as it tried to follow her. She even growled at him to back away and find his own place of refuge. The mother of the cub (the other Ross breakaway) hasn’t been seen in two days. We assume she is tending to the second cub. This same female was seen contact calling for the mother of the cub.

Let’s not underestimate the beauty of our antelope species – they’re not just food for predators! Kudu are the Kruger’s horned beauties and are rather skittish creatures.

Africa on Foot

Our predators are out in full force and there’s no shortage of plains game to feed our big cats! Even our rather solitary, shaggy looking raptors like the tawny eagle have had their fair share of stolen morsels on which to feast. They’re quite ruthless in their quest for survival. On the topic of survival, a highlight this week has been the sighting of one of lion cubs avoiding being trampled on by a buffalo! Cubs are curious by nature and the phrase “lion hearted” certainly brings to life the origins of the word.

The Ross pride breakaway mother was seen approaching a buffalo in an attempt to ward off the old bull. The bundle of fluff run forward to inspect the bull and was subsequently chased away. They all came away unscathed! The two Ross pride breakaway females separated and they were heard contact calling. Hopefully the sisters will re-unite shortly and ensure the safety and well-being of the cubs.

We’ve also had our fair share of leopard sightings, which is good news for the Klaserie. Firm favourite, Rhulani, was spotted enjoying her impala feast and left the carcass tucked away neatly in the fork of a tree.

Yesterday was quite a sad day. we can confirm that the brave, tough and fearless old Ross pride lioness who annihilated a honey badger, is dead. She was past her prime and struggling with a few natural injuries.

Afrika Ecco Safaris

One of the best aspects of camping with Afrika Ecco Mobile Safaris is that you change locations within this pristine area of the Okavango Delta. Travelling through the impeccable wildlife area and arriving at a mobile campsite with all the tent setup, cooking and cleaning done for you makes for a relaxing and unbeatable experience in the bush.

Here are a few highlights from our safari with Afrika Ecco. Being in such a remote location means access to prime game viewing positions. Enjoy these highlights from Botswana.

Ross Lionesses: The Warthog Specialists

Time and time again, we’ve found the pair of Ross Breakaway lionesses feasting on warthog. Don’t be fooled, these wild pigs pack quite a bit of weight and a fully grown male can weigh up to 100kg, which is a substantial meal for the two ladies! Armed with dangerous tusks and lightning speed, warthogs are not the easiest items on the menu, but true to lion behaviour, these females have specialised their hunting method, and the unfortunate warthogs of the Klaserie are constantly under fire!

This morning, guests at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp set out to pick up on the lionesses after seeing them head out on a hunt last night. It didn’t take long to pick up on the girls who, in true fashion, had got themselves a warthog! Both females were working on a piece of the carcass right at the scene of the crime where we could see the warthog burrow had been dug up. A nice open clearing meant that both vehicles could pull in and watch the lions at close range as they crunched on their breakfast. Unexpectedly, a warthog that had escaped the lionesses’ attack stuck its head out of the torn-up burrow and made a break for it while the girls were distracted. Both lionesses glimpsed the pig and made a quick run at it, but it was gone in a cloud of dust.

The unfortunate warthog had clearly put up a fight and left the mother lioness with a gash in her cheek and the beginnings of a swollen jaw. The second lioness is still sporting a ‘lazy eye’, which is also the result of some foul play. There is always a risk of injury for lions when they take on their prey, and warthogs are some of the toughest fighters out there!

These two females used to be a part of the famous Ross Pride, and although they stuck to themselves, they often hunted and ate with the pride. As a mega pride of over 20 members, these lions targeted buffalo and other large species to satisfy their appetites, but since the pride fragmented (when the Trilogy arrived), warthogs have become the go-to meal for the Ross Breakaway females. The rest of the pride has also targeted warthog, but are not always successful – see this fantastic video of 7 Ross Pride members tirelessly digging at a warthog burrow only to lose out in the end.

The death of an old Ross Pride lioness

It has been confirmed that one of the old Ross Pride lionesses has succumb to her ripe age and old injuries that left her battered and fighting to survive in the harsh world of lions in the wild. You’ll remember her from her brave attack on a honey badger – footage that was both breath-taking and traumatic.

A few months ago, she unexpectedly joined the Ross Breakaway lionesses and a Trilogy male during the night, while they were working on a meal of buffalo. She was fierce and determined, feeding alongside the dominant male lion, while the 2 other lionesses behaved submissively. She was bedraggled, skinny, and limping. It was unusual for us to see this third lioness join our ‘usual two’, but it was clear why she had joined them – she was in poor condition and probably unable to kill for herself, and in her fight for survival she intruded on another lion’s kill.

She proved her ferocity when she battled a honey badger as Africa on Foot and nThambo guests looked on. A kill that took her almost half an hour! Most recently she was feeding once again alongside 2 of the Trilogy males, behaviour which elicited severe warnings from both male lions, but again, she stood her ground.

In the time since then, this old Ross Pride lioness must have had a tough time sustaining herself, and a constant loss of strength left her in her poorest condition yet. Finally, mercifully, she gave up. Imagine what a force she must have been in her prime!

White Dam the Leopardess Visits One of the Rangers

We think it’s time for a leopard update from Umkumbe Safari Lodge. This week we introduce Tatowa, wow you with photos of Mxabene and leave you in awe of White Dam’s antics.

The highlight of our leopard update is the surprise visit from White Dam. Just to remind you, White Dam is a leopardess who has a male and female cub. We speculate that both cubs were sired by Mxabene. White Dam moved south of the property after Mxabene and Warthog Wallow were seen mating close to the lodge. It appears that White Dam has now returned to her old stomping ground! She was seen cruising through the reeds on the banks of the river and subsequently disappeared. Just when we thought she was only back for a fleeting visit, she appeared at camp. There she was – sitting outside one of the ranger’s rooms! Was she lying in wait for Mxabene?

Tatowa is a breathtakingly beautiful leopardess who crossed over from the northern boundary onto the Umkumbe traverse. She’s quite a tough cat and is the only surviving leopard from a litter of 4. She appears to have a mind of her own and boasts a naturally curious nature. Could she have crossed over in the hopes of mating with dominant legend, Mxabene? Whatever her motives, she didn’t hang around for too long before heading back into more familiar territory. We know that Mxabene wasn’t around when she crossed over.

A few weeks ago, we introduced a female called Warthog Wallow who wandered over from Sabi Sands in hot pursuit of Mxabene. Never underestimate a leopard’s ability to stalk, whether it be for food or love! Could Tatowa have had similar intentions? Perhaps we’ll see Tatowa again when Max returns.

After the sighting of the youthful Tatowa, we managed to see Mxabene. He wasn’t doing much apart from showing off his gleaming coat and handsome demeanour. The below photos are purely of Max being Max.

Let’s wait and see what happens next week in the world of the Sabi Sand leopards !

Close call for lion cub when buffalo charges

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again; it’s a tough life for lions in the wild, even if they are the kings of the jungle. Even when the small and vulnerable cubs have grown into mighty lions, they are faced with having to fight for their food, and for their territory. Right from the start, lions, just like all the other members of the wild, have to fight to survive.

Yesterday, guests at Africa on Foot bore witness to this concept when the two Ross Breakaway lionesses + cubs endured a stand off with a couple of buffalo. At just over a month old, these two cubs are still very small and they are carried from place to place by their mother. When we saw one of the little fur balls run, panicked, out of its hiding place, we realised just how tiny they are. Watch the video and see one cub narrowly escape from an angry buffalo by running into the open in front of the game viewer.

Both lionesses and the cubs stood their ground as the buffaloes looked uneasily at them from only a few metres away. In the clip, it is clear that the lions are not comfortable and are deciding whether or not it is necessary to move out of the buffalo’s way. The moment arrives when the buffalo moves menacingly closer: both lionesses turn and move away, but in the panic, one cub tries to take cover in a bush even closer to the buffalo. In a jaw-clenching moment, the buffalo takes charge and bulldozes its full weight right into the bush where the cub is hiding.

Instincts kick in and the tiny cub jumps out of hiding and into the sand, scrambling to get away from the enemy. As fast as its legs can move, the cub keeps running to escape, briefly stopping to look around for his mother. Luckily, the buffalo didn’t pursue the cub and it managed to take cover in another bush where it stayed hidden by itself. The lionesses and the other cub had moved off and we left the sighting not knowing if they returned to fetch the hiding cub.

Then, this morning, nThambo Tree Camp guests were woken to the sounds of lions calling around the camp. After jumping in the vehicle and driving just onto the nThambo access road they found one of the Ross Breakaway females lying down and calling loudly to her sister. Guests watched her and listened to the intense calls until she got up and moved in the direction of the responding lioness who was near the open area in front of the lodge.

When she got there, something unexpected happened. We didn’t find the sister lioness she was calling to, but we watched as one little lion cub made a break from its hiding place in a bush and started making its way across the open area towards the lioness. The cub called a few times and paused before turning around and heading back to its hiding place. Maybe it realised the lioness wasn’t its mother and returned to safety? Mother lioness was somewhere close by, hopefully with the second cub, and was going to reunite with the lone cub soon, but that is all speculation, and at the moment we don’t know the status of this little lion family.

Week in Pictures: All things wild and wonderful

At the end of each week we like to ease into the weekend with a collection of wildlife snaps taken in the pristine safari regions of the Greater Kruger and Botswana. This week is no different, and as usual we have been lucky enough to enjoy a variety of fantastic game viewing all the way from the Sabi Sand Wildtuin, through the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, and up into the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, until finally we arrive in the renowned Savute Marsh. This is the Week in Pictures!

Umkumbe Safari Lodge, Sabi Sand.