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A Week in the Bush Vol. 128

on Nov 10, 2016

Let’s start this week’s blog with the wonderful news that rain, in the region of 30mm, has fallen at Sabi Sabi! Almost overnight, grasses are turning green, and the bush is alive once again!

With all the buffalo kills made by the lions last week, we had quite a lot of scavenger activity on the reserve, cleaning up the scraps and fulfilling a vital role in the ecosystem.

Maxabeni has been seen on numerous occasions and was on a fresh impala kill near a watering hole earlier in the week. Many of the predators are employing this tactic of waiting for prey to come down to drink and then going in for the kill while they are drinking.

Little Bush’s cub was seen with a bushbuck kill and spent her evening resting on a massive termite mound as she gazed out over her mother’s domain.

Our last leopard sighting of the week was of the Kigelia female who was seen with a bushbuck kill on the edge of the Msuthlu River, in a large Sycamore Fig Tree. She was exceptionally active and gave our guests an amazing sighting keeping everyone entertained, especially after the sun had set.

After a period of absence, the Toulon Pack of wild dogs graced us with their presence with a jaunt across the reserve in which they displayed their amazing hunting skill and speed by taking down a Scrub Hare in seconds. Not a meal to satisfy the pack, but what an amazing display of their incredible hunting skills!

We have experienced some interesting sightings of other species we see on an almost daily basis, just once again reminding everyone that it’s not always about the “Big 5”! Hours can be spent observing the smaller things too...

Our guests were amazed at a very interesting display from a Yellow-legged Burrowing Scorpion, who under the gaze of a black light, glows bright luminous green.

16Sheldon Hooper Yellow Legged Burrowing Scorpion 2 Final

A male giraffe gently browses on a Knob-Thorn Acacia tree showing off how he makes use of his tongue in order to gather the foliage.

17Kevan Dobbie Giraffe 02 Final

A Southern Ground Hornbill found an uncommon meal of a Bushveld Rain Frog after a light soaking of rain around Bush Lodge.

18Kevan Dobbie SGH 01 Final

A Vervet monkey looks on in a nervous manner as we walk out of Bush Lodge to depart on our evening safari.

19Sheldon Hooper Vervet Final

We watched as a little elephant emulated its mother while she was feeding.

20Sheldon Hooper Learning From Mom Final

The Southern Pride, Charleston males and the cubs were all in high spirits after the rain we had in the middle of the week, allowing for an incredible sighting of them as they frolicked in the life-giving rain with relish as the females fed on a buffalo they had brought down.

The week ended off on a “high” with an incredible sighting of the lions! After an intense session of scent trailing and location calling by the Charleston males, they finally met up with one another and the moment was special. This, however, was short-lived, as one of the males was playing with the cubs when Floppy Ear/Mandleve female started growling at one of the males causing an uproar between the females and the males! Although a very dangerous situation for the cubs, peace prevailed and the females and their cubs kept a watchful eye and some distance between the males.

We hope you have enjoyed this week’s recap and hoping the coming week brings with it more rain!

36Sheldon Hooper Sunset Oct Final
  • Blog by Wendy Claase
  • Images by Sheldon Hooper, Kevan Dobbie, Dylan Leo-Smith and Conradie Kruger
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