Most people visit places like the Sabi Sands for the beauty, tranquillity as well as the vastness of the African bushveld. It’s hard to believe that this place of serenity also has a dark and evil side. However, this side of nature has an alluring effect on most and even though some things are extremely hard to watch, one still can’t look away. Seeing a kill in a wilderness area where animals are roaming free is regarded by most as the ultimate safari experience. Why is that the case?

Thousands of years ago our ancestors were making a living on the exact same land we utilise today. The same way we roam the plains today in search of wildlife to admire and photograph, they did as well, but only in search of their next meal. In certain aspects we are extremely similair, we are also “hunting” the animals we want and still need to see. The only difference is we can go back afterwards and indulge in the buffet at Bush Lodge. Maybe seeing a kill makes us feel more part of nature and the forces at play in the game of life and death that stares all living things in the eye every day. Seeing the strongest and fittest prevail whilst you witness the demise of the small and weak installs a sense awe inside of us and makes us realise that we are definitely not invincible out here. It doesn’t matter if it’s looking straight into a lion’s eyes while on the hunt, leopards pulling kills up trees with immense strength or wild dogs ripping impalas apart in minutes, it makes me glad we don’t have to compete with these beasts to survive.

One of the most frequently asked questions on safari is whether or not they would see a kill. The main reason for this is probably the amount of kills or hunts one can see on National Geographic for example. In reality that amazing footage you can see in that hour documentary took that film maker most likely months if not years to obtain. Seeing a kill is something special and is not something you can force. I can still remember each and every kill I witnessed. Not only because it doesn’t happen every day, but because it’s amazing to witness what the animals do, what they were built to do, kill. The stealth and patience of a leopard, the brute force of a pride of lions or the lighting speed of a cheetah at full flight is something you can’t explain to anyone.

Seeing a kill also takes a lot of patience, the animals are a lot more patient than we are and a leopard can wait for hours to strike, not wasting an ounce of energy. We don’t interfere in the hunt at all so sometimes we just have to play the waiting game. The build up towards the kill is the best part in my opinion as most of the time the predators aren’t always successful. Much to the relief of some guests on my Land Rover sometimes. One of my best experiences was sitting there in the pitch darkness following the movements of the lions with night vision binoculars as they were circling their prey.

If you were lucky enough to witness that once or twice you experienced nature at its most brutal and you should cherish that experience. For those who don’t enjoy the dark side of nature there is so many other aspects to focus on and remember that even a Lilac-breasted Roller catching an insect can be regarded as a kill.