Sun Destinations

Mike and Fiona Clark are repeat guests of ours that return annually to the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. This year, they broke the routine a bit and decided to stay at Umkumbe Safari Lodge in conjunction with their stay in the Klaserie. We encouraged them to explore the Sabi Sand Private Nature Reserve.

Here’s what they had to say about their time at Umkumbe and their sightings:

“How time flies, and here we are again back in South Africa. We thought we’d try something a little different to start our holiday, and have decided to spend a night in the World famous Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve just on the border of Kruger National Park.  We arrived at our lodge – Umkumbe Safari Lodge, in late afternoon, to be greeted by 2 old buffalo sleeping in the ‘Sand riverbed’ in front of the lodge. What a great greeting and a lovely outlook whilst sipping cold beer by the pool. After a very hearty ‘light lunch’ (now I know why there is a gym on site – to work off those extra calories!) we set off on our first afternoon/evening game drive.

We were on the lookout for the Sabi Sand leopards. The weather, unfortunately, was overcast and a little cold and windy, so game viewing was going to be rather hard. However, not long into the drive we came across a large heard of over 300 buffalo, with lots of small calves. This is always a good sign. We stayed with them for a while and then headed on in search of leopards. We passed plenty of general game including zebra, impala and waterbuck. As it got dark we saw the nocturnal animals coming out, including scrub hare and the rarely seen white tailed mongoose. But unfortunately, the leopards were being elusive – but there is always the morning drive.

The following morning, whilst having early morning coffee, we were told that 2 male leopards had been spotted late in the night in the riverbed just in front of the lodge – the tracking was on!!! We jumped quickly into the vehicle, eager to find the leopards. Leopards are renowned for being very relaxed around the safari vehicles (which is why many people choose to visit Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve). We looked and looked, following tracks, but the leopards were hiding. Whilst looking we found tracks for the endangered African Wild Dog – no sign of them either!!

Suddenly over the radio we heard that one of the male leopards had been found, slowly walking down the road. We raced over to find him. How beautiful he was, and so relaxed -walking in the road, scent marking, resting and trying to catch lunch (a little scrub hare that ran off into the bush). We spent well over an hour with him. We followed him and he was oblivious to our presence, carrying on with his own thing. He then vanished into he thick bush, so we carried on our way – to be greeted by a large male rhino (or Umkumbe, that the lodge is named after). Then over the radio we heard they found a second male leopard, following in the tracks of the first male leopard. He too was relaxed, walking down the road, so we went to have a look at him.  He was bigger than the first leopard, but still as relaxed, walking close to the vehicles until he too vanished into the bush. What a game drive -totally living up to the brochure and the famous sightings of Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve.

Back at camp we were relaxing over lunch, reminiscing over the leopard sightings, when a pack of 11 wild dogs were spotted in the distance, crossing over the Sand river. What a fabulous end to a great day and our first visit to the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve.”