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Wildlife from the lodge

on Jan 08, 2016

It’s often a question that we get asked upon check in - "What are we going to do between the morning and afternoon drive?" Well even if you are not interested in doing other activities like a bush walk, spa treatment, community tour or some retail therapy at our curio shops, it’s about relaxing at the lodge and enjoying the "Arm Chair Safari"!

01Terry Ennever Ellie Phuza

The "Arm Chair Safari" is all about the animals coming to you, in the comfort of the lodge with a nice gin and tonic in hand. All of Sabi Sabi lodges have been carefully located close to some of the most precious water sources in the reserve. Carefully constructed not to influence the movements of the animals that our guests have travelled thousands of miles to see.

02Terry Ennever Ellie Deck

These water sources are especially vital to the animals in the dry season, May through until October. The lack of rain dries up a lot of the mud wallows around the reserve forcing animals to take up residence around the larger water sources. What this equates to is some of the greatest game viewing right from the lodges. Now when water attracts water dependent herbivores, its inevitable that they in turn will attract predators. On numerous occasions we have been drawn out by the warning calls of Vervet Monkeys who are ready to tell the world that a predator is close.

On one occasion in the last couple of months we had the Little Bush female, a gorgeous leopardess decide she was going to feed on a nyala she killed the night before. All of this took place at eye level in a large Jackalberry tree in front of the Selati Camp deck while the guests were enjoying their own breakfast!

Another occasion I remember fondly was when a large bull elephant strolled casually down the path from the Ivory Suite at Selati Camp towards the pool. After stopping for a short drink, he moved closer towards the dining area at the lodge while the guests were enjoying lunch. Our Head Chef at Selati Camp, Gift Khoza, still maintains that it was the wonderful smell of her food that drew the attention of this large bull!

A crowd favourite among the guests are the Vervet Monkeys, who with their playful antics and human like appearances, keep guests’ cameras clicking with regularity - thank goodness for digital!

07Terry Ennever Vervet Monkey 6 8 15

Large herds of buffalo use the waterholes to have a quick drink and a mud wallow before moving off to find highly nutrient grazing areas. There is nothing better than seeing large numbers of animals and the joy they express upon the final 50 meters before they reach the water.

08Terry Ennever Buff4

There is no better exponent of a jubilant animal than a young baby elephant when water is involved. Generally it would result in a gallop where its legs can hardly keep up followed by a completely submerged wallow in an attempt to cool off from the harsh African sun. When they do eventually get to the water they are often met by some grumpy buffalo who are reluctant to give up their prime spot, but the world’s largest land mammal wins by literally throwing its weight around.

Now being a male, I struggle to multitask, so in order write this blog I had to leave Selati Camp`s deck so that I didn’t get distracted by the animals coming for happy hour at the pan. While I was writing this in my room, one of my colleagues came in to tell me that I had just missed Little Bush and her 2 cubs coming to have a drink in front of the lodge. The irony is ridiculous, I should have taken my own advice!

All of these pictures have been taken either from the lodge, in the lodge, or from an alternative view back towards the lodge. The safari in between the safari, AKA "the Arm Chair Safari" adds a huge dynamic to the safari experience. A dynamic we cannot play down - a real sense that we are in the animal’s territory, not to affect it but to live in it and immerse ourselves in their world.

  • Blog by Terry Ennever (Selati Camp Ranger)
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