A Week in the Bush Vol. 580
on Feb 04, 2026Across from Selati Camp, we witnessed a truly rare and beautiful sight. For a few hours the river was flowing at full capacity, and a group of elephants attempted to cross to the other side. After only a few attempts, they realised it wasn’t possible and stayed where they were. Watching the powerful current and the elephants together was incredible, especially knowing how seldom this happens.
With waterlogging in the small waterholes around the reserve during summer, our rainy season, animals such as buffalo are often attracted to wallow rather than simply drink. We found a group of males lying in a shallow waterhole, peacefully chewing their cud.
Buffalos sit in mud or water mainly to cool their bodies and protect their skin, especially on hot days, as they have very few sweat glands. Water and mud help lower their body temperature, while the mud also acts as a natural shield against biting insects and parasites, reducing irritation and the risk of disease. This makes mud and water an important part of a buffalo’s daily routine.
A Tree squirrel is a small, agile rodent known for its bushy tail and sharp claws, which help it climb trees with ease. Tree squirrels spend much of their time in trees, where they build nests called dreys. They feed on nuts, seeds, fruits, and sometimes insects. Active and curious, tree squirrels play an important role in the ecosystems by helping to spread seeds.
We came across a troop of baboons close to the road. While most were busy feeding, this large male appeared to be acting as a sentinel, standing watch for predators and ready to give an alarm call at the first sign of danger.
Baboons live in large, well-organized groups called troops, sometimes numbering over a hundred individuals. Within each troop, every baboon has a clear role and rank, helping to reduce conflict and maintain order. These close-knit communities offer protection from predators, strengthen social bonds through grooming and communication, and make it easier to locate food as they move together across their territory.
This hippo bull was having his own spa day, from rolling around in the water exposing all four legs above water to being cleaned by the Red-billed oxpecker sitting on his head. These birds play a vital role in our ecosystem, keeping our animals clean and ticks to a minimum. The hippo would go under water, trying to get rid of the bird, but every time he would come up to breath, the oxpecker saw this as an opportunity and would land on him to continue his feeding frenzy.
The distant alarm calls of various birds caught our attention and what we found was an unexpected sight. A large Black mamba curled up around the branches of a Marula tree with its head inside a hole. We watched as the birds dive bombed the snake to scare it off, but it was clear that the mamba had intentions of feeding on all the chicks that were in the nest.
Hyenas are intelligent, social carnivores, best known for their distinctive “laughing” calls and powerful jaws. Far from being just scavengers, many hyena species are skilled hunters that work together in complex clans with clear social hierarchies. Adaptable and resilient, hyenas play a vital role in their ecosystems by controlling prey populations and cleaning up carrion.
The recent rains have created the perfect flooded grassland habitat for some very rare and hard to find birds like this African Crake. Patience paid off as this curious male emerged for a closer look, rewarding a mud-splattered Ranger with an unforgettable moment.
A Red-billed Buffalo Weaver takes a moment to clean off his beak and admire his handywork after diligently gathering sticks for the nest. These birds live in small colonies and often share these nests but still have their own chambers in which they lay their eggs within the large outer structure.
Two Little Bee-eaters perch on the branch of a Bushwillow, pausing to rest after their acrobatic aerial displays. Remarkably agile, these small birds launch from their lookout to hunt, twisting, somersaulting, and making sharp turns to snatch insects mid-air before effortlessly returning to the branch.
Perched quietly on a branch on a cloudy morning, the European Roller displays its opportunistic hunting skills as it subdues a blind snake. Despite their name, blind snakes are harmless, burrowing reptiles often mistaken for worms, and they form part of the roller’s varied diet. Rollers typically hunt by watching from an elevated perch before swooping down to seize prey, often returning to a branch to dispatch and swallow it. Even under overcast skies, this striking bird remains an efficient predator, playing an important role in controlling small reptile and insect populations.
A Woodland Kingfisher keeps watch from its leafy lookout. Its vivid blue wings and bold black and white markings catch the eye, yet it is a master of patience, waiting to swoop down on insects, frogs, or small reptiles below. More often heard than seen, its loud, laughing call rings through summer and the rainy season - a familiar sound that speaks of healthy woodlands and riverine habitats.
In the cool early morning, two male lions from the N’waswishaka coalition lie alongside the road, taking advantage of the open space as the surrounding vegetation remains soaked after the recent rains. Roads and open areas dry faster and offer better visibility, allowing the lions to rest comfortably while keeping an eye on their surroundings. During wet conditions like these, lions often adjust their movement and resting spots, conserving energy until the ground dries and temperatures rise later in the day.
One of the N’waswishaka male lions is seen resting in an open area after mating with a lioness from the Msuthlu Pride earlier in the day.
After a period marked by uncertainty and pressure, the Southern Pride has quietly turned a corner. In the face of adversity and watchful suspicion, the pride has grown - now confirmed by the presence of at least one new addition. At around two months old, this young cub remains nestled close to its mother as they rest within a dense Tamboti thicket, where thick vegetation offers vital concealment from predators and rival lions. Entirely dependent on its mother for protection, warmth, and nourishment, these quiet moments of rest are essential for bonding and early development, laying the foundation for the confidence the cub will gain as it begins to explore beyond the safety of cover.
Shortly after leaving the lodge, we found tracks of lions along with signs of multiple prey species that had been running during the night. This indicated to us that a pride of lions tried to hunt during the night. Hoping that we would find them on a kill we followed their tracks and, in an opening often frequented by herds of zebra and wildebeest, the Msuthlu Pride was found feeding on a large wildebeest.
The interspecific competition between the lifelong rivals - lions and hyenas - unfolded in a tense standoff of aggression and raw power. An adult Msuthlu lioness sat isolated in the tall grass, separated from her pride, as a surrounding hyena clan attempted to attack her. The confrontation shifted dramatically when the rest of the pride emerged from the thickets, charging in to her rescue.
After following tracks of a female leopard, the team came across the Jacana leopardess who had hoisted a young impala carcass in a tree. With the rising morning temperature, she climbed down from the tree and found shelter in some thick shade nearby. Resting in the shade all day, we patiently waited for her as she moved back into the tree to finish off what was left of her meal.
The following day, Jacana was seen early on our morning safari. She is a notoriously shy leopard, and so even a brief sighting of her is always exciting. Although this time, something was different…
She was moving much faster than usual, weaving in and out of the thickets making it incredibly difficult to keep track of her. When we eventually caught up with her, she disappeared quickly into the Msuthlu riverbed. Disheartened, but hopeful, we decided to sit and wait quietly in case she chose to come out. A few moments later, she emerged from the vegetation, followed shortly after by her tiny cub!
We confirmed that she had two little ones with her and estimated them to be less than two months old. This was incredible to witness as Jacana is not often seen and we never dreamt we would come across her cubs so young. Due to their age and vulnerability, the Safari Team made the decision to close off the area as it's a potential new den site. This will keep the new mother and her young feeling safe and confident as they learn to navigate their environment together.
While observing a herd of elephants, we heard monkeys calling in the distance and decided to investigate. As we rounded the corner, we were thrilled to find the young Kurhula female leopard scent marking. We followed her as she continued to confidently patrol and mark her territory, before she moved gracefully through the water - likely in search of fish or frogs. What an incredible and memorable sighting of this elusive and beautiful predator in her natural environment.
After the rains that blessed our ecosystem and brought much-needed relief, the grass and bush have grown so dense that it has become difficult for predators like leopards to locate and observe prey from the ground. As a result, we often spot leopards perched in trees, using the higher vantage point to scan for potential targets before descending and moving in that direction. The long grass can also work to their advantage, providing cover that allows them to approach prey more closely without being seen.
Leopards are often observed rolling in and even consuming the dung of herbivores, such as the wildebeest dung in which the young Kurhula female was seen rolling. By coating themselves in the scent of their prey, they mask their natural odour, allowing them to stalk and ambush more effectively while minimising the risk of detection.
Until next time…
Blog by Wendy Claase
Images by Jamiel Malherbe, Jana du Plessis, Josh Duffus, JP van Rooyen, Ronald Mutero, Ruan Mey and Viviane Ladner
Video by Josh Duffus
