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Sabi Sand Leopard Update from Umkumbe Rangers

The rangers from Umkumbe Safari Lodge are at the forefront of the scoop when it comes to leopard happenings within the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

Our efficient khaki clad rangers, who are talented wildlife photographers, have been hard at work feeding back information to the office based digital team. The Sabi region is leopard central, which means there’s never a dull moment in terms of leopard antics. For the curious cat lovers out there who are passionate about the slender panthera pardis species who roam the Umkumbe traverse, here is your much anticipated leopard update.

Litte Bush and Kigelia

Little Bush’s cub has finally been named. In the past we referred to her has “Little Bush cub” but she is now officially called Kigelia and is often seen around the western area of the Umkumbe property. Bradley Chambers told us that Kigelia is part of the scientific name for a sausage tree (Kigelia africana). Although Kigelia has been fervent in exploring her new found freedom, Little Bush hasn’t been seen in a while.

Mxabene Male

Max has been distant for a few weeks. Rangers speculate that he is hanging around neighbouring camps. Mxabene’s Houdini act of disappearing and re-appearing is not uncommon. The last time Max was spotted was when he was casually strolling along a drainage line. Male leopards traverse large territories, which means we’ll see this agile cat returning in the coming weeks.

White Dam Female

We all know that White Dam has cubs. She has been seen on a regular basis and her cubs are located close to the lodge. Leopard cubs are completely reliant on their mother and are vulnerable when young. A few weeks ago White Dam had a fight with Nottens female – this could have been because she was protecting her cubs. We hope her cubs enter into adulthood without any glitches and grow up to become stealthy hunters with eagle-eyed accuracy.

Nottens Female

Sightings of Nottens have been scarce. If she is around, then she is not making her presence known. The last time the rangers had a full sighting of Nottens was when she was on a duiker kill.

What’s New? Leopard Gossip

5 days ago rangers stumbled across a new female on their property – the Dudley female. She has never been seen on the Umkumbe traverse before, so this was quite an interesting sighting. She was badly injured due to a showdown with a leopard from a neighbouring property and most likely sought refuge in an area unknown to her.

Wild dogs hunt impala in Africa on Foot camp!

This was one of those ‘right place, right time’ mornings here in the bush, and although we are in an unfenced camp at Africa on Foot, we couldn’t have expected what happened in the lounge before the sun rose this morning…

A confused and exhausted impala found its way into the living area under Africa on Foot’s thatched roof where guests were swallowing the last of their coffee before heading out on a walking safari. As it finally found its feet and rangers helped to guide it out into the open, the unbelievable happened, and a hungry pack of wild dogs took their opportunity to take down the prey they had obviously been chasing before it wound up in Africa on Foot’s lounge!

When guide, Mike Beard, and filmmaker Kevin MacLaughlin, were gearing up to head out into the bush this morning, guests alerted them to a commotion in the main lodge area. An impala had come hurtling in and was stuck, unable to gain any traction on the screed flooring, and couldn’t move without slipping and collapsing. The animal was exhausted and panicked, and had obviously expended a lot of energy escaping the predators that were chasing it. Kevin explains what happened before the impala’s fateful exit from the lounge:

It was all a bit strange at first when the guests came to us and told us that there was an impala in the lodge. I didn’t think much of it because impala regularly hang around the lodge in the early hours of the morning. When I got there I saw that this animal was not only in the lodge, but in the lounge and about 30m away from it there were 4 wild dogs waiting for their chance.

The wild dogs were keeping their distance, as they are wary of humans, but they were keeping their eyes glued to the impala they had chased into a corner. Guests were in disbelief as they stood (just they had eaten dinner the night before) and watched as the next events unfolded…

Once the impala escaped from the lounge the dogs were quickly able to take it down in full view of the guests, and Mike and myself, as we all stood in awe while still holding a cup of coffee! An amazing moment we all got to witness, right on our doorstep.

As soon as everyone had managed to pick their jaws off the floor, they sprang into action and piled onto the game viewers in order to get a good view of the wild dogs devouring their meal. Mike and the team positioned the 2 game viewers so that guests got a full view of these 4 incredible dogs at work. Despite what many people think, wild dogs are superior hunters and their method of killing their prey is more efficient than that of a lion or leopard. In a matter of minutes, the entire carcass had been cleaned, and each of the 4 dogs was full to the brim. Watch the incredible footage of this incident happening within the Africa on Foot camp grounds:

What’s more is that this pack of wild dogs is the same small pack that we have been watching over the last week as they bring up 2 tiny pups in their den near Africa on Foot. Such incredible sightings of these rare and endangered predators, reminding us how privileged we are to share our space with wildlife. Once the dogs were satisfied that they had eaten all they can off the impala carcass, they trotted off in the direction of their den where sister camp nThambo Tree Camp were hoping to get a glimpse of the young pups! Sure enough, as the pack arrived back home, the pups emerged from their hiding place and were fed chunks of meat from the returning pack members. What an incredible memory for guests at both Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp!

Week in Pictures: A Walk on the Wild Side

It’s been yet another bumper week in the bush, with the highlights being 1) the sighting of two tiny wild dog pups at their den near Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp; and 2) the sight of a leopard cub with a kill in a tree near Umkumbe Safari Lodge in the Sabi Sand. What can we say? Baby animals get the hearts pounding and the cameras clicking, and everyone walks away a happy camper.

Less cute and cuddly are the buffaloes, which have been moving in their big herds throughout the Klaserie. Their impenetrable stares are always full of suspicion, and one can never quite read their mood. Our suggestion: treat them with caution!

Birds and chameleons come in next with much appreciation, because the bush just would not be complete without its smaller, most beautiful members. From smallest to biggest: elephants are a firm favourite all over Africa. Their pure size and unexpected elegance humbles any audience and creates the biggest memories.

Saving the best for last: our resident lionesses in the Klaserie were seen stalking buffalo (only to turn and run for their lives!), and the mega pride known as Olifants West was seen rough and tumbling around the Balule with Ezulwini Game Lodges. At nDzuti Safari Camp, one of the most unique sightings took our breath away when a leopard was grunted at by a hippo, only to respond with his own call into the darkness… needless to say the hippo kept its mouth shut after that.

Take a look at the Week in Pictures!

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

nThambo Tree Camp

nDzuti Safari Camp

Africa on Foot

Ezulwini Game Lodges

VIDEO: Wild dog pups get a meaty breakfast!

Something incredible has been reported from within the heart of the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, and we are now considered some of the privileged few to have witnessed such an intimate act of the wild. Africa’s endangered painted dogs have settled in a den near Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp, and the alpha female has given birth to 2 pups who we have been able to see exploring the den site over the last week or so. Yesterday, we were treated to an even more intimate look at the life of these highly endangered predators when 3 adult dogs returned to the den and were welcomed by a singsong of the twittering and whistling as the expectant pups called for food. Sure enough, the dogs regurgitated whole chunks of meat and fed the ‘babysitter’, the alpha female, and the 2 young pups.

When ranger-turned-photographer Kevin MacLaughlin arrived at the den (at a designated time and from a specific distance so as not to disturb the den site), one adult dog was the acting ‘watch dog’ and the others were nowhere to be seen. Knowing that wild dogs are daylight hunters, preferring early mornings and evenings, Kevin set up his equipment and hoped that he might be in time to see the other dogs return from a hunt. At this stage, the pups are too young to leave the den, and they will stay put for the first 2.5 months of their lives. During this time, various members of the pack will take turns to stay back and guard the den while the others go off hunting, and this time it was lucky there was a babysitter on duty! Kevin explains what he saw:

We must have been waiting for about 20 minutes when we spotted a hyena sniffing the ground about 80-100m from the den, but shortly after it bolted from the area as the rest of the wild dog pack came back and gave chase. Once the hyena was far away, the dogs approached the den, and then we saw the alpha female (mom) and the 2 pups come out of the burrow to feed.

The pups are estimated to be about a month old and are still reliant on their mother for milk, but even at this tender age, wild dogs are eating small amounts of meat, which is regurgitated from adult dogs. At about 2.5 months old the pups will leave the den and tag along behind the pack as they hunt, learning the ropes and getting a feel for how these predators achieve such a high hunting success rate.

We are so lucky to have glanced this incredible world of the African wild dog. The second most endangered predator in Africa, there are only an estimated 4000 individuals remaining in the wild. They are constantly on the move and the only time a pack stays put in an area is when they are denning, which is for 3 months between May and July. Kevin describes just how memorable this sighting is for him:

I’ve often seen documentaries of what happens at a wild dog den, but I’ve never seen it in real life. It’s incredible to watch the dynamics within the pack. Seeing how they all work together to ensure the survival of their pups, and ultimately their pack, is really something special. This has to be right up there with my most memorable memories out in the bush.

How thankful we are that they chose this spot in the Klaserie, and that we can implement a secure and unobtrusive visiting roster so as not to disturb this precious nest. We hope that our guests at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp will be introduced to these cubs very soon. Watch this space for updates!

Wild Dog Pups Seen in the Klaserie

The discovery of wild dog pups in the Klaserie has led to much excitement among the rangers at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp. Reports and sightings of predator kills have always been a firm favourite with our readers and guests. However, it’s always nice bring you news of birth rather than death! The circle of life in the wild can be mean and harsh; so these bundles of joy have bought many smiles and much happiness to all and sundry. To see young animals thriving and surviving in the wild is always a memorable occasion .

A week ago the rangers saw the pack hovering around a disused aardvark burrow and noticed a heavily lactating female. This led us to believe there was the presence of pups. There was speculation that the pups were very, very tiny because there was no sign of movement from the burrow. Pups need the safety and security of the burrow to fully develop, which is why there was no activity from the youngsters. The pups are vulnerable which makes the rest of the pack acutely aware of protecting the newborns from predators. Out of respect for the pack, guides and rangers at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp have decided to maintain a 30 metre distance from the den site. There is also only one access road to the area and only one vehicle at a time will be allowed at a sighting.

At the moment, there are recorded sightings of two pups. There could be more stashed inside the burrow but they’re just not ready to come out yet.

5 Facts About Wild Dog Pups:

Pups only leave the den area after 2.5 months because they need the security of the burrow and den to mature. They are blind and completely helpless when born, which means they are easy prey for predators.

Adult wild dogs take turns in hunting and guarding the den area. The “den guards” chase off potential predators.

The dogs which return from the hunt regurgitate chunks of meat in order to feed the pups. Pups, out of instinct and not hunger, whimper for food.

Wild dogs are co-operative breeders. This means that only the alpha male and female breed. The rest of the pack/clan are there to help with breeding.

Wild dogs use old termite minds that have been re-used by aardvarks. They’ll den in an abandoned burrow and line the area with grass and leaves; making it comfortable for the pups.

Wild Dog Puppies

Puppies ! Managed to capture an amazing video of the wild dog pups. These adorable little bundles of joy are slowly emerging from their den site. Cutest video of the month ! Thanks Kevin for the footage. http://www.africaonfoot.com

Posted by Sun Destinations on Monday, 20 July 2015

Trilogy lion gets himself a girlfriend

These two certainly seem to like each other (although there’s not much to be said for monogamy in the animal world), and we are getting quite used to seeing the big cats of the Klaserie working on growing their families! This male from the Trilogy coalition – identified by his particularly scarred nose – has been seen mating with a Ross Pride breakaway lioness, AND he has been seen hanging out with the Hercules lionesses and their 4 small cubs. This boy is all about sowing his seed, and it is a clear sign that the Trilogy is here to dominate.

Umkumbe’s favourite leopard on a kill

Ok, so ‘favourite’ might be a bit biased, because with all the leopards loping in and out of the Umkumbe traverse, there are bound to be other ‘favourites’. But the Notten’s female has been around for such a long time and she exudes confidence and elegance like no other cat does, so it is safe to say that all those guests and guides that have been privileged enough to see her on safari might rank her highly on their leopard sightings list. This time, we got her just as she was tucking into a meal she made of a white-tailed mongoose! This is the Notten’s leopard on a kill.

The Notten’s female strolls through her territory with purpose and is beautifully habituated to the Umkumbe game drive vehicles, which results in fantastic sightings like this one.

Guide Marius has commented on this leopard’s behaviour saying, “When Nottens has made up her mind of where she wants to be, nothing will stand in her way. She will climb over obstacles to get to her destination. I have noticed that she loves strolling through open areas.”

Lezel, who snapped these shots of Notten’s while out with her guests, also described this legendary leopard: “Nottens is the oldest leopard. She has a torn ear but doesn’t have as many scars as White Dam. We believe Nottens is roughly 14 years of age. To me she is a very, very relaxed leopard. She is really not aggressive.”

So, everybody might have their favourite, but for now, Notten’s is topping the charts with her expert hunting and super casual attitude towards her fans in the game viewers!

In the middle of a buffalo herd at Africa on Foot

The Klaserie Private Nature Reserve is a buffalo hotspot and usually when we spot a couple, there are hundreds more just out of sight. That was the case on this particular morning on an Africa on Foot walking safari when guide, Greg, led his guests to Twala Dam just before a big herd of buffalo arrived for a drink. Photographers Jochen Van de Perre and Kevin MacLaughlin were on the scene to capture some fantastic footage as guests settled down in the hide and watched a buffalo herd of 800 wade into the water.

Well known as some of the most dangerous animals in the African wild, buffaloes get a lot of respect especially when approaching on foot. They are pretty nervous animals, as their sight is not particularly good, but their incredible sense of smell more than makes up for that! They stick together in herds, and they are not afraid to protect themselves and their young – a lesson learned by lions quite frequently.

Twala Dam has a wonderful hide, which is the solace of many a photographer and bird-watcher. (See photographers and film makers Russell MacLaughlin and Shannon Wild at work filming elephants from this fantastic spot earlier this year). Greg’s morning walk had incorporated a visit to this fantastic spot and he and his guests were just getting started with a traditional game of “bok drol spoeg” when the arrival of the massive herd called for an interval.

Week in Pictures: Predators in the Power Seat!

It’s been an undeniably awesome week in the Greater Kruger region, which makes this edition of the Week in Pictures particularly difficult. Such a small collection of images to represent such a dynamite week on safari just doesn’t seem fair, but each event has been documented in much greater detail on our Facebook pages, which are well worth a visit!

Predators have dominated the wildlife news this week, with numerous leopards being spotted down south in the supreme Sabi Sand, and all sorts of lion activity bursting out of the Klaserie, including an exceptional sighting of a solo white lioness last night!

We’ve seen the well known leopards and their cubs at Umkumbe Safari Lodge, the Trilogy male lions mating with Ross Pride lionesses at Africa on Foot, while blue-eyed male leopard, Chavaluthu, has made another appearance at Ezulwini Game Lodges, and African wild dogs have given birth to pups near nThambo Tree Camp! It truly has been a sizzler of a week, so sit back and take a look at this photo summary of a predator-filled safari…

Africa on Foot:

nThambo Tree Camp:

Ezulwini Game Lodges:

Umkumbe Safari Lodge:

nDzuti Safari Camp:

Watching the Birth of a Giraffe

Umkumbe Safari Lodge was the scene of yet another historical wildlife moment. This time, there were no graphic moments where the life of an unsuspecting steenbok came to an end, but rather it was the start of a new life. During the course of last week we witnessed a giraffe being born. A nurturing and tender moment between cow and calf presented itself on Wednesday last week. Birth and death comes around so quickly in the wild and it’s nice to finally be in the presence of a “hello” rather than a “goodbye”.

The cow seemed to have an uncomplicated birth and the calf slid out with ease; dropping into a crumpled heap on the ground. A cow remains standing during the birthing process and the baby is not harmed when it falls to the ground. The calf is surrounded by a thick sac, which prevents any damage being done to it during the birth. When born, these gentle giants are a staggering 6 feet tall and they learn to walk within a few hours. For the first two weeks the calf rests and becomes used to its new surrounds, while enjoying protection from its mother.

A calf spends a long time with its mother, while in utero and after being born. The gestation period of a giraffe is 15 months and after the calf is born it will spend the first year of life drinking from its mother. Because of their height and not being fully developed, they will spend the first couple months satisfying the remainder of their nutritional needs from low-lying shrubbery until they can reach the taller trees.

The survival rate for a calf in the wild rests at a minimal 25%. Wildlife in their infancy are weak and vulnerable, making them ideal targets for ruthless and fearless predators. The presence of a calf is actually a threat to the entire herd – predators will stalk and “eye out” the herd, targetting the calf. Let’s hope our leopards leave this calf alone.