Patience is key
on Jun 20, 2023If there is one thing that the bush will teach you, it is to have a lot of patience. When you are out and about on your first-ever safari, you want to see as much as possible, and us as guides will make it our mission to show you everything we possibly can. We want to teach you everything we know, show you the beautiful place we call home, and help you tick off as many animals as possible that you have on your must-see list. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to show you everything, but then you must have faith in your guide and tracker team to show you incredible things.
The first lesson in practising patience is on your early morning safari waiting for the sun to peak over the horizon and paint the sky in red, orange, and yellow. Sometimes it helps to sit still for a moment, be patient, and wait for the perfect moment. Be present, feel the sun heating up your skin, and watch as the sky turns from a cold blue to a warm orange.

You will get better and better at the waiting game, and you will see that those who wait to get rewarded and this is shown every day in the bush.
Even animals must practice patience. We followed a female leopard through the bush as she started hunting. Being extremely careful not to draw any attention to her, she carefully planned her route. A bachelor herd of impalas was her target for this hunt. Feeding around and on top of the termite mound, the impalas did not know about her presence. With little to no wind, she hid away in the long grass, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. But the waiting game got too long for her, and soon we realised she was fast asleep. Waking up a few minutes later, she realised that the impalas had moved even further away from her. Replanning her route to get closer again, she used the empty termite mound as a vantage point. Luckily for the impalas, she just fell asleep again. Despite not seeing an attempted hunt, we still had an amazing opportunity to see the planning and patience that goes into a hunt, although it doesn’t always work out the way it should. We sat there patiently waiting for almost 2 hours, but it was still an amazing sighting to witness.


One instance where being patient is the best is when viewing hippos. During the day, you might find that hippos are quite shy about showing their faces, and all that you will see is a pair of ears and eyes and a nose poking out of the water occasionally. This is because hippos are very prone to sunburn and will stay in cool water during the day. The best time for hippo viewing is when it gets cooler, and the sun starts to set. Trust your guide and have the patience to take you to see the hippos at the right time as they start getting active, where they will give you big yawns and snorts and even play around in the water.


As much as we hate it, we do get quiet days in the bush. This is where your patience gets tested the most. You can easily give up, but keep on searching, and stay alert, you might just find the best sighting of your safari trip. And this doesn’t just test your patience but also us as guides get tested. Like I said we want to show you everything possible and on quieter safaris, the pressure of showing you something incredible gets bigger and bigger. But on days like this, you turn to the smaller details in the bush, things you normally drive past on a sighting-filled day.

Patience can be a big gamble, as it can go your way, but sometimes it can go totally against what you envisioned, and you merely end up with a tail in the grass or a mere butt shot.
So, when you go on your first, second or tenth safari, remember to have patience and that good things come to those who wait.
Blog by Daniel Greyvenstein (Bush Lodge Ranger)