It’s about high time we filled out your prescription and administered your monthly dose of wildlife, a theme we hope to continue over the next few months. After all, nature is the finest therapy! As we slowly migrate into the peak safari season, we’re noticing a shift in bushveld colours and increase in predator sightings. Giant herbivore herds are also appearing in dense concentrations, delighting onlookers with their often comical behaviours’. Our content channels are buzzing with reports of big cats, wild dogs, elephants in camp, and side-striped jackals hooting and howling on camp perimeters. There was also a real showstopper sighting of a pangolin.
Local lion legends, the Grietjie Pride have become quite comfortable on Chacma’s traverse. If you recall, a few weeks ago this hungry pride was seen gorging on a buffalo kill. Since then, they’ve been spotted on a regular basis engaging in very lion-like behaviours. It’s incredible to see sightings of this pride escalating, indicating that they’re happy with the prey and water sources on offer in the reserve.
On 24 March, Chacma’s guides were trundling down the jeep track when they stumbled across the pride sprawled across the road. Lions are known to sleep for up to 20 hours during the heat day, which meant our talented guides had to navigate their way around the flat cats. In total there were 4 sub-adult and two lionesses from the pride showing off for the camera.
Just when you thought things couldn’t get more awe-inspiring, camp manager Karen sends through yet another incredible safari update…A lone male African wild dog appeared at the waterhole in front of camp to replenish his thirst! There are only four African wild dogs that come into this area of Chacma, marking this as a rare occurrence.
Umkumbe Safari Lodge Riverside, Sabie
We’ll never tire of featuring Umkumbe’s remarkable lion and leopard sightings. The Sabie Game Reserve is the heart and soul of predator activity, with a biodiverse landscape that provides abundant easy meals, drainage lines and riverbeds for hiding cubs, and easy access to water during the drier winter months. It’s a haven for predators.
Here’s a summary of the sightings enjoyed over the past few weeks:
- The Kambula Pride of lions, together with their cubs, were spotted on a warthog kill
- Again the Kambula Pride was spotted but this time with the N’waswitshaka male
- The team enjoyed another lion sighting of the Kambula Breakaways
- A rare sighting of a hyena darting through a crash of rhino, provided a bit of game viewing entertainment for everyone
- The guiding team reported an endearing sighting of a huge elephant herd with a really young calf feasting and feeding on greens
- A sighting that really stood out was that of Ntsumi the leopard walking in front of the lodge
- In other Umkumbe news, Ndzanzeni the leopard was seen casually walking down the road toward the vehicle, not flinching as it strutted past.
nThambo Tree Camp and Africa on Foot, Klaserie
I know what you’re thinking: Vuyela Pride of lions. But what if I said Western Pride of lions? April Fools’ Day is long gone, so this isn’t a joke. For the second time in a couple of months, a small pride of lions from the western area have wandered across into Vuyela turf around Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp. Some believe these are breakaways from the Sark Pride. Could this breakaway pride cause trouble for the Vuyelas? We’re not sure yet—but so far, so good.
Right…back to the Vuyela Pride of lions. They were spotted feasting on a zebra carcass just recently and a kudu kill a few weeks ago together with their cubs. From gorging on kills to lying across the road and sharing affectionate moments, the Klaserie team frequently spot the Vuyelas engaging in typical lion behaviour.
Iconic guide JD, Calvin and the team were leading a group at Africa on Foot when they spotted yet another apex predator: African wild dogs! The dogs were seen in full course mode chasing after an impala on both game drives and walking safari. Also, the team enjoyed a magnificent sighting of a leopard, buffalo, and elephants frequenting nThambo Tree Camp’s swimming pool.
Two of the more unique sightings included that of the shy Schlegel’s blind snake (Africa’s largest blind snake), white rhino and….a PANGOLIN!
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