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A Week in the Bush Vol. 231

on Oct 31, 2018

Let’s start with the highlight of all highlights!! Pangolin!! A couple of our rangers and guests were privileged to see the world’s most trafficked animal. Its scales are wrongly believed to have medicinal properties and their meat is considered a delicacy. Seasoned safari-goers often joke about discovering a pangolin, as did Kerry’s guests, and little did they know that their dream would come true at Sabi Sabi!

Another very special sighting – a young Serval. Another species we do not get to see too often but Francois and his guests were very lucky as they spent some time with this youngster who quickly learnt that light from the spotlight was attracting insects and it had a buffet right in front of it!

The Southern Pride were located at the Sabie River – resting on a warm, overcast morning, before becoming active and eyeing out some prey in the distance.

Although the lions were unsuccessful, the leopards had better luck. The White Dam male was seen with a bushbuck where after he kept a low profile in a drainage line.

Maxabeni was seen out and about quite a bit this week, actively marking his territory and calling as he went.

The young N’weti male was seen moving through another leopard’s territory, scent marking to indicate he wants to compete for the area.

After making our way through rather thick vegetation we came upon a scene where Ntsumi was finishing off a small Common Duiker kill in the bare branches of a rather uncomfortable Tamboti tree whilst a Spotted Hyena waited below. We were treated to an incredible scene as she held the Duiker’s head in her month and descended towards us at pace, before ascending another tree nearby. She came to rest on a nearby termite mound after stashing the remainder of her kill in a large Weeping Boer-bean. We came across the same leopard two a day later, hunting Common Duikers and Scrub Hares in thick shrub. She gave chase a few times but unfortunately for her, she was unlucky.

We relocated on the beautiful Kigelia female, who seems to be pregnant, relaxing on some rocks. She was keeping a watchful eye on the hyena not too far away that had stolen her kill that she left on the rocks.

General sightings have been spectacular again this week...

Until next time...

43Ally Ross Sunset Sunday 01 Final
  • Blog by Wendy Claase
  • Images by Ally Ross, Bethuel Mkonto, Francois Malan, Frederik Aucamp, Kerry-Lee Roberg, Kevan Dobbie and Louise Murray
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