This week comes with a farewell to one of our incredible rangers at Umkumbe Safari Lodge. Angele has sent us a message and some wonderful photographs from her last week in the Umkumbe bush, and what a week it has been! All the best Angele, and see you back in the bush soon.
My final Week in Pictures. It is hard to believe that this is my last contribution. What a way to end and what a send off!
The bush did not disappoint this week. Guests were enthralled by the smallest to the biggest creatures. Even the rains could not dampen spirits. Green and alive and full of new life, the highlights of the week included the Styx Pride traversing our boundary, both male & female cheetah relaxed at separate sightings and of course, we can’t forget to mention our leopards… Nottens female on the hunt, Nottens cub in a tree, Maxebeni patrolling his territory, Bicycle Crossing male crossing the river in front of the lodge and White Dam on the hunt. What’s more, guests were also treated to wild dogs making a kill on our river front!
With all the leopards around, the hyenas have been just as plentiful and in hot pursuit of their scent trails. The heat of summer has also enticed many reptiles out of aestivation. We’ve had beautiful sites of monitor lizards, leopard tortoises, boomslang and rock python to name a few. If that doesn’t convince you to come to the Sabi Sand, then perhaps experiencing 80+ elephants surround the vehicle this week just might do the trick. Lastly, with the rains, comes not only new growth with a veritable kaleidoscope of flowers, but also new life… Impala lambs, zebra foals, elephant & gnu calves, to name a few. Let’s just say that this week has been the best farewell I’ve ever received. Thank you mother nature!!! – Angele
Cameron Engelbrecht, Umkumbe’s second expert ranger, also mailed through some of his stunning images from the last week’s sightings. Leopard cubs galore, as well as the big male leopard, Maxabeni. A rhino and a buffalo have a staring competition at a wallowing hole, while a pair of plated lizards bask in the sun.
Meanwhile, in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, guests at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp have been treated to wild dog and lion sightings almost every day! It has been an exceptional week in the green bushveld and the earth has become alive with the wild. This morning, the 3 Trilogy male lions were seen panting in a mopane block with extremely full bellies. Scarred faces, and one male sporting a limp, these guys are tough, and it is great to see such ferocious lions out there. The Ross Pride females are always accommodating with our vehicles offering some beautiful lion sightings. Earlier this week they were seen with one cub, photographed here by Conraad Loubser.
Image by Conraad Loubser
Image by Conraad Loubser
Image by Conraad Loubser
Image by Conraad Loubser
On a sad note, there was a leopard found dead near Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp this week. A young female that is assumed to have fallen victim to the two female lions was discovered on game drive. Here are some photos taken by Kevin MacLaughlin in the state that we found her, and a link to the video documenting the story and the aftermath, here.
kayP
Chloe Cooper