A Week in the Bush Vol. 493
on Feb 28, 2024This week has been all about the lions and we have had some incredible sightings…
On a hot afternoon two Talamati females and three cubs were huddled in the shade in an open area. The cubs were clearly hungry and hassling the adult female for food. Something caught her attention in the distance. With ears perked she immediately sprung into hunting mode. The cubs remained behind playing and we followed the adult females. We could not see what had spiked their interest, but we followed from a distance as they stalked closer with intent, the pair had stalked to within metres of a large warthog. With no hesitation they pounced and brought the warthog down. The two females fed and eventually called the cubs in to feed. A much needed and well-deserved meal that lasted two days.
On our way back to Earth Lodge after an already successful safari we came across one of the Talamati lionesses making her way down the road. We followed her and suddenly she stopped, focused on what was ahead. We switched the vehicle off and heard male lions calling not far away, she responded with a contact call and continued. Shortly after a second lioness joined her; they greeted each other and suddenly another figure appeared. The bigger Gijima male appeared out of the bush joining the two lionesses. They continued deeper into our reserve, scent marking as they went.
One of the last Talamati females that doesn't have cubs is on heat and this is why the Gijima male has joined them, to mate with this female. As we left them, we came across a third Talamati lioness, following them in the hope to catch up. These are very exciting times for the pride to grow, and for the Gijima males to get more offspring and become even more confident.
We enjoyed our first sighting of the two smallest members of the Talamati Pride. Peering over their mother’s panting belly, the two cubs took in their surroundings, suckling happily. The female’s success in bringing down a warthog ensures that there’s plenty of food to fuel her cub’s growing bodies and appetites.
With the big buffalo bull that died on our reserve after losing a dominance battle with another male, there has been a lot of activity around this carcass, with hyenas being the first to find this reward they filled themselves as much as possible, knowing that when other predators find this, they will most likely be pushed off and have to surrender.
As expected, the next day, we found the Kambula Breakaways on the buffalo carcass as they could see all the vulture activity in the area. These predators often look up into the sky looking for vultures landing as they know this indicates a carcass. With the 4 males and 1 female from the Kambula Breakaway Pride, they have spent the last 2 days on the carcass while keeping hyenas and vultures off their meal.
With the high temperatures we are currently experiencing, the rotten smell of meat has filled the bush, attracting yet another lion, the Southern Avoca male. To our surprise, the Kambulas have accepted him at the carcass, and he has been feeding with them, not without a lot of growling between him and the rest. This male is still not looking very good, and this meal will play a vital role in his survival. Only time will tell what will happen from here, but he will not be allowed to join the Kambula Breakaways as he is past his prime and will not be able to bring anything good to the table for the Kambula Pride.
Since finishing the buffalo carcass completed, the Kambulas have spent their days sleeping and digesting their meal. These lions will most likely start moving again soon as they know they are trespassing into other males’ territories and don't want to be caught off guard by the dominant males.
After a big meal like these lions had, they are not forced to cover long distances in search of water, as they absorb a lot of liquids from the blood and meat they feed on, making it possible for them to digest their meal and carry on again.
The N’weti male is in peak condition currently, having sired cubs with Ntsumi and Tengile females it is his responsibility to ensure no unwanted male leopards pass through the area that could pose a threat to the cubs. He has been constantly patrolling and marking territory ensuring no unwanted competitors enter the area.
We decided to head into one of the drainage lines after spotting tracks of a female leopard. As we slowly covered the area, scouting every possible hiding place, we spotted Ntsumi’s cubs as they were stalking a Francolin. With no luck they continued down the drainage line where they waited for mom’s return. Their mom still stashes them away when she goes out hunting as these cubs are still young and don’t have all the patience needed to hunt successfully. They are getting bigger and more confident by the day, practising their stalking skills on each other and smaller prey animals.
We found tracks of a male leopard heading north into our reserve. After a short follow up we came across the Nottins male making his way into thicker areas as the temperature was already very high early in the morning. He was actively stalking warthogs but with no success.
This male is busy moving further away from his father’s territory as he is getting older and he will need to venture off eventually in search of his own area to one day take over as his own territory.
With Marula trees bearing fruit at the moment elephants are in their element walking from tree to tree feeding on the fallen fruits.
No better way to end the safari with not only an incredible sunset, but an even more beautiful moon rising over the lowveld.
At nighttime the excitement levels are often very high, not knowing what the next corner might be hiding. With the spotlight moving from left to right we were looking for any movement or strange shapes in the trees or bushes. With the eagle eyes of tracker Donald, we spotted this beautiful African barred owlet as it was perched in a small tree, viciously looking around for its next meal. These little owlets mainly feed on invertebrates but will also look for small birds and lizards.
Driving at night often hides beautiful wonders. We found this Spotted Eagle Owl on our way back to the lodge as he was perched in a tree next to the road, carefully listening and watching every move of potential prey that might be crossing.
We watched as these freshly hatched Helmeted Guineafowl chicks followed their mom on the road, not being strong or big enough yet to navigate their way through the thick bush and long grass. These youngsters only have a 50% survival rate as they are very weak and small for the first 8 weeks of their lives. These eggs take about 28 days to hatch which requires the female to choose a good location to make her nest, making sure no snake or bird and even smaller mammals feed on her eggs.
After being caught in the rain, this young Lilac-breasted Rolled was soaking wet. It was perched on a low hanging branch before going in search of breakfast.
While watching a herd of elephants, the frantic alarm calls of Burchell’s Starlings caught our attention. A Black mamba made its way up a Knobthorn tree, in and out of cavities in search of a meal. Black mambas will actively hunt squirrels, rodents, and other suitably sized mammals as well as birds and other snakes. Prey is usually bitten once or twice and quickly succumb to the potent neurotoxic venom.
Male hippos show dominance by advertising their weaponry with large yawns. Male hippo will actively defend their pools and pod from other males, and this can lead to a titanic battle and paying the ultimate price for the loser if he does not move on.
Chacma baboons are common residence around the drainage lines at Sabi Sabi. These drainage lines are home to large trees in which baboons will roost at night and forage for food by day. Here a baboon forages in a Sycamore fig tree and feasts on the syconium produced by the tree.
Until next time…
Blog by Wendy Claase
Images by Devon Jansen, Jason Street and Ruan Mey
Videos by Devon Jansen, Jason Street & Viviane Ladner
