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A Week in the Bush Vol. 269

on Aug 07, 2019

It has been another wonderful week in the bush. Spring is on the way with the morning and evening temperatures changing almost daily.

We have enjoyed numerous wonderful cheetah sightings this past week! The duo has been seen playing around with one another, resting, as well as making numerous hunting attempts but none were successful during our time with them.

Maxabeni was seen outside Bush Lodge one afternoon as he stalked some guineafowl foraging on the side of the road, but he was unfortunately unsuccessful in his attempt. A few days later we caught up with him again as he went about his business of looking for something to hunt.

We followed the White Dam male leopard through the bush before he took a little break on a fallen over tree. Over the weekend he even had a little snoop around Selati Camp!

After heading down to the water for a quick drink, a herd of buffalo was moving in for a drink themselves, the Kigelia female leopard quickly made her escape into a riverbed where she proceeded to have a little nap on the cool sand. We have seen her on numerous occasions this week, hunting and calling for her cub in some very thick vegetation.

We have had regular sightings of a pride of lions which now consists of 7 lions: 5 males and 2 females. The group initially spent a lot of time sleeping but became active once they caught scent of some Cape buffalo in the area.

An iconic animal for Africa stands brilliantly in the long grass.

27Louise Murray Zebra Winter Final

A big herd of buffalo in front of Bush Lodge.

28Jacques Smit Buff BL 02082019 Final

A herd of Blue Wildebeest slowly moved over a big open area, grazing as they went along.

A multicoloured Lilac-breasted Roller posed beautifully for us on our morning safari.

31Frederik Aucamp Lilac Breasted Roller 04 08 2019 Final

A White-backed Vulture was perched on the tip of an old dead tree, probably settling down for the evening as the sun was starting to set.

32Frederik Aucamp White Backed Vulture 04 08 2019 Final

It helps to have a trunk when you need to reach the juicy parts during the winter months.

33Kevin Van Der Linde Elephant 02082019 Final

A popular and common resident around Earth Lodge, this male hippo is occasionally visited by various females in the area.

34Steff McWilliam Hippo 28072019 Final

The Impala Lily or Sabi Star is one of the most gorgeous wild flowers that occur on the reserve. Inconspicuous for most of the year, it lies un-noticed until its vibrant flowers bloom.

35Steff McWilliam Impala Lily 28072019 Final

Hyenas are one of the few species intelligent enough to utilise these small areas of water to help cool themselves on hot days.

36Steff McWilliam Hyena 21 03 19 Edit Final

A male and female steenbok rested in the shade as the morning temperature began to rise.

Until next time...

40Ally Ross 20190220 Sunset 02 Final
  • Blog by Wendy Claase
  • Images by Ally Ross, Frederik Aucamp, Jacques Smit, Kevin van der Linde, Louise Murray, Stefan Schoeman, Steff McWilliam & Tyron van der Walt
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