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Kyle’s Cycle Highlights: June/July

on Aug 17, 2017

I thought I would share the highlights of my last cycle as we had some amazing sightings over the course of 6 weeks.

I'll start off by sharing this image of an Aardvark. I have only ever seen an Aardvark once before. This one was running in the distance away from us. The image is not clear or sharp by any means, in fact, it is possibly the complete opposite of what is considered a good picture but it was my first time capturing an Aardvark and it gives me hope to one day get a better one.

01Kyle 01 July Aardvark Final

Having seen the Aardvark, I was quite happy with the cycle already. I thought it couldn't get any better! But then one evening as I was not out on safari with guests, the rangers came back from safari and told me they found a Pangolin! So of course, without any hesitation, I went out to see if I would be able to find it... And I did! I couldn't believe my eyes. This magnificent animal is just so rare and threatened AND it was there right in front of me, what a privilege! It was quite a funny sight I am sure, trying to hold a torch and trying to take a picture of the pangolin at the same time, I had a shutter count of over 500 and managed to get 1 or 2 good ones.

June/July being peak winter time, the temperatures have not been as low as what they were last year and it has been incredibly hot during sunlight hours. Going out at 06:30 just before the sun is rising with the mist over the open areas and it just adds to an image, it doesn't matter what the subjects are you are photographing, it always adds an extra element to an image.

Cats Cats and more Cats! Winter is an amazing time as the bush starts to die out with all the leaves falling off the trees and all the grasses dying down you can see a lot further and spot animals easier. The herbivores this time of the year are probably at their weakest as the nutritional value in the vegetation is low. This is the time when predators take full advantage.

The one evening we watched the Southern Pride hunting 2 huge male buffalos and I thought there was no chance they could pull one down. The 2 Dagga Boys where in a drainage line when they picked up the scent of the lions and came bursting out towards the lions as they all scattered. Floppy Ear managed to get hold of one buffalo and the rest followed. Once the buffalo was surrounded it was finished. They pulled it off its feet, turned it onto its side and then one lioness got a hold on the throat and the others around the muzzle.

It was also great seeing one of the Charleston Males as the last time I saw him was in February.

The Tsalala males have been around having brought down 2 young buffalos within a day of each other. They were lazing around Bush Lodge and on the 3rd day they killed a large male buffalo right next to the entrance to the lodge!

Leopards have been plentiful! I will just add one sighting which really stood out for me. It was Little Bush female hunting a herd of impala when we lost sight of her. Maxabeni appeared out of another thicket and chased the herd of impala straight into Little Bush female who was successful in pulling a young male impala down. Maxabeni then stole the kill and hoisted it into a Marula tree. What an event!

  • Blog by Kyle Strautmann (Selati Camp Ranger)
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