A Week in the Bush Vol. 501
on May 07, 2024Welcome to another edition of our highlights blog…
A huge herd of buffalo made viewing from the comfort of the Selati Camp decks a sight to behold. The herd spent time grazing and cooling off in the waterhole on a warm autumn morning.
A herd of bull elephants moved through the dense thickets of a small drainage line as the rising sun warmed the Sabi Sabi savannah. Eating and moving along, these gentle giants headed for a small mud pan. Cautiously we moved with them doing our best to avoid the flying mud the elephants were blowing onto their backs. This early morning mud will keep these bushveld behemoths cool during the heat of the day.
These Side-striped jackals were very vocal, alerting us that something might be in the area as jackals often make alarm calls when predators are around. Upon closer inspection we saw a pride of lions sleeping in the distance and once again the jackals had helped us in finding bigger predators. The jackal itself is a very successful predator of small to medium-sized animals and will also scavenge when possible. In our area they do scavenge a lot as we have a high density of predators and thus carcasses.
The N’weti male leopard patrols his territory with silent prowess, his spotted coat blending seamlessly with the golden hues of dawn. With every calculated step, he asserts his dominance, a testament to the untamed power that reigns over the wild.
We found Tengile female with her cub as she managed to take down an impala. With hyenas in the area, she hoisted the carcass up a tree to keep it away from these scavengers. She has fed on most of the carcass and the cub will soon be rewarded as well when he suckles on the nutrient rich milk from mom.
This cub is in a very good condition and only time will tell if he will be part of the 50% that survives to adulthood, especially as he doesn't have a sibling to play with and burn his energy, mom has an important role to play with her young in order for him to stay put when and wherever she stashes him away when she goes out hunting.
Leopards are known for their exceptional climbing ability, often using trees as vantage points while hunting. By perching on a high branch, they can patiently observe their surroundings, scan for potential prey, and then swiftly descend to ambush their target. This behaviour showcases their agility and stealth in the wild.
We heard impala alarm calling and we came to a standstill, allowing the bush to communicate with us. Ntsumi and her two youngsters made their way towards the road whereafter they stopped on a termite mount and fallen over tree. These leopards were very full and clearly just left the carcass they had been feeding on the last two days. They will be spending a fair amount of time in this area digesting their meals as they were still panting heavily. Leopards will often leave the kill site to avoid trouble with hyenas and other scavengers, find a comfortable and safe spot and rest for a couple of hours before moving on again.
While driving through the reserve, something caught our eyes as we saw ears and tails twitching in the grass, to our surprise we found a pack of wild dogs!
These 11 magnificent animals were resting in the shade, trying to escape the warm sun the day was offering. Shortly after, they became active and covered a large area in the hopes to secure a meal before sunset, but with no luck they found a suitable spot to spend the night.
Wild dogs, being active during the day, are mainly active early morning and late afternoon when temperatures are suitable for them to cover long distances and catch prey animals off guard. This pack covers a huge area, not only around our reserve but also crossing into the Kruger National Park.
After enjoying a sundowner, we got back into our vehicle and heard the faint call of a lioness. We immediately followed up and found three of the Southern Pride lionesses including the one female and her two cubs. They were contact calling, clearly looking for the other females and cubs, waiting for their response. We waited around but with no response from the rest of the pride the lionesses took this opportunity to lie in silence, listening to what the night had in store for them before carrying on deeper into our reserve.
With this pride having young cubs, they will often split up to go out hunting, and to go and fetch the cubs should they be successful in taking down prey, thus the contact calling playing a vital role for them to regroup.
In the crisp morning air, amongst the greenery of a drainage line, a delightful scene unfolds as the cubs of the Msuthlu Pride romp and tumble together, their playful antics for all to see in the warmth of the morning sun. Amidst the joyous chaos, younger cubs hone their hunting skills under the watchful eye of their elders, fostering bonds essential for survival in the wild.
The morning started with a layer of mist covering the treetops as we headed out on safari. Driving past one of our waterholes, we were greeted by seven lions making themselves comfortable around the water.
The two Gijima males make an impact on their cubs' lives and make sure they are safe. As these lions are very full, they will be spending most of the day resting, only moving after the shade and for cooler temperatures before they will continue moving on again at night. For now, the cubs have the safety of their parents around, hence why we see them being very active, playing and running across the open areas, staying within sight of their mother. Cubs know they have to burn off their energy somehow before they get stashed away again as they can’t afford to be found by other animals during this vulnerable time.
Until next time…
Blog by Wendy Claase
Images by Benjamin Loon, Devon Jansen, Ronald Mutero and Ruan Mey
Video by Nicholas Coleman
