A Week in the Bush Vol. 589
on Apr 22, 2026Electrical storm moving through the Lowveld... These storms are spectacular and frequently enjoyed through our summer months!
Late one afternoon, while driving through the eastern reaches of our reserve, we were treated to an unexpected sighting - a large pack of wild dogs just beginning their afternoon hunt. As the heat of the day eased, their energy shifted; individuals became increasingly playful, weaving between one another and reinforcing the strong social bonds that define the species.
Wild dogs are among Africa’s most effective predators, boasting remarkable hunting success rates. Yet, despite their prowess, they remain critically endangered, their numbers diminished by habitat loss and competition with larger predators. Still, against the odds, they persist - delivering some of the most dynamic and unforgettable wildlife encounters on the reserve.
This pack of 13 wild dogs rested in the road after devouring their multiple kills within minutes.
Wild dogs are among the most successful hunters in the animal kingdom, boasting a success rate of over 80%, compared to lions, which typically succeed in only 20–30% of their hunts.
Relying on their mottled camouflage, remarkable endurance, and tightly coordinated teamwork, wild dogs hunt as a unified pack. They communicate through subtle body language and soft vocalisations, working together to pursue prey over long distances. Rather than relying on a single burst of speed, they chase their target to exhaustion.
Their method has often been likened to a relay: the individual closest to the prey takes the lead, while others fall back just enough to conserve energy before rejoining the pursuit. This seamless rotation allows the pack to maintain relentless pressure, steadily wearing the prey down until it can no longer escape. When the hunt is complete, the reward is shared among all members of the pack.
Seeing Brown-headed Parrots is always a special sight! They are typically seen quickly flying overhead, with their shrieking call as they go however getting a close, long sighting of them is very uncommon. We were lucky enough to get just that as we found a pair inspecting a dead tree for a potential nesting sight, allowing us to see these beautiful birds up close!
As the sun dips low, casting golden hues over the savanna, these Red-billed oxpeckers intensify their feeding while occasionally nipping at wounds, a mildly parasitic habit rhinos tolerate for the overall protection against ticks and parasites. This duo exemplifies nature's balance, with rhinos hosting more birds they help the rhinos in detecting threats sooner.
We spotted this Spotted eagle-owl perfectly camouflaged against its surroundings in the late afternoon light, blending in so well it was almost invisible. During the day, these owls remain hidden in safe, sheltered spots, conserving energy before becoming active after dark as skilled nocturnal hunters. They often choose to rest along the banks of drainage lines like this one, where the cooler air and natural cover provide both safety and effective thermoregulation.
We watched in awe as this young zebra foal explored its surroundings, slowly growing more confident in its own body. Although foals can stand and follow the herd within minutes of being born, it still takes a few days for them to fully master coordination and movement, as they learn how to control each part of their new frame.
Two blue wildebeest bulls circle each other in a tense display of dominance, scent marking vigorously to claim territory and test their strength. These powerful bulls rub preorbital glands under their eyes on grass or trees and rake the ground with pedal glands between their hooves, leaving strong odours to advertise ownership. They also drop dung middens and paw the earth, creating visible boundary markers that signal 'stay out' to intruders.
At the centre of a golden web stretched between low bushes, a large female Golden orb-web spider rested, surrounded by several much smaller males.
These males, rarely reaching more than 10% of the female’s size, linger cautiously at the edges, waiting for an opportunity to steal portions of her captured prey without drawing her attention. Along the web’s central line, the female stores her catches - both as a reserve for later feeding and as a subtle warning to would-be predators to keep their distance.
An elephant’s trunk is essential to its survival, serving a remarkable range of functions. It contains no bones but is made up of an estimated 40,000 to 100,000 muscles, giving it extraordinary strength, precision, and flexibility. This highly versatile structure acts as a hand and arm for feeding and social interaction, a snorkel when crossing deep water, a nose for breathing and scenting the environment, and even a straw for drinking.
When drinking, elephants can draw up to 10 litres of water into their trunk at a time before transferring it into their mouth. In this way, they can consume between 65 and 152 litres of water a day, while some large adult bulls may drink more than 200 litres daily.
Nothing beats a leopard in a tree and the Golonyi female made sure we had the best possible view of just that! She made herself comfortable in the fork of a Marula tree not too far from Earth Lodge. She would occasionally shuffle position to get a different view of her surroundings and try a different resting position. We spent some good quality time with her which allowed us to have an excellent photographic experience. After she was satisfied with her rest and lookout, she elegantly made her way down the tree and quietly went back off into the bush. It was an incredible experience to have such a great sighting of such a regal animal!
Minutes after leaving Earth Lodge for our morning safari we bumped into the Golonyi female as she was making her way down the road, scent marking heavily. This female is actively looking for a den site as she is far pregnant and trying to get her scent as dominant as possible in the area to deter any other leopards, making sure she creates a safe space for once her little ones are born.
Over the past few days, Tengile has been moving around the same area of the reserve, pacing up and down, stalking impala and any movement that rustled in the bushes. As she moved through a Tamboti thicket, she briefly stopped in the clearing, pausing to listen to the impala rams rutting nearby, before disappearing into the tall grass in hopes of getting close enough to secure a meal for herself and her cub.
With full bellies, Tengile and her cub rest peacefully in the morning rain. Surrounded by a clan of hyenas that were attracted by their kill from the day before, the cub’s curiosity grew as the hyenas moved around the tree. He climbed down from the safety of the tree to a lower branch, growling and hissing at the hyenas as they moved past.
We caught up with the Khulwana male as he was scent marking heavily while patrolling the boundary of his territory. With other male leopards still moving through this part of his territory, it is crucial for this male to have his scent as dominant as possible in the area, making sure the rival males know of his presence and for him to keep his females and young ones safe from rivals.
We picked up fresh tracks of a male leopard overlaying the afternoon’s vehicle marks and followed them. Before long, we found the Khulwana male, intently focused on something just off the road. We sat quietly, unsure of what had caught his attention, until a scrub hare suddenly burst from the grass and vanished into the thickets. Khulwana quickly judged it not worth the chase and continued down the road. Leopards are highly opportunistic hunters and will attempt to catch prey as small as a scrub hare, using every chance to refine their hunting skills.
Their roars echoed through the reserve as they patrolled their territory, contact-calling to their brother and the Msuthlu female he had been mating with before eventually settling to rest along the road. The cloudy weather made it easy for the N’waswishaka males to relax and sleep peacefully through the day but as the female woke, stretched, groomed herself, and yawned, the three males immediately stirred. They rose with her, lifting their heads and falling in just behind her, ensuring she didn’t wander too far from their presence.
We followed up on the N’waswishaka male and Msuthlu lioness, expecting them to be sleeping peacefully in the shade of trees, but what we found had us all excited. During the heat of the day, an unfortunate impala ram stumbled into the area where the lions were resting, catching their interest and they successfully took down their meal.
The N’waswishaka male dominated the kill throughout the afternoon safari, feeding while keeping a watchful eye on the prize. Nearby, the Msuthlu lioness lingered patiently, seizing any opportunity to snatch at scraps he left behind.
After sunset, we followed up on one of the N’waswishaka males, who was roaring constantly and making his presence known. He was still accompanied by a Msuthlu Pride lioness, clearly drawing a sense of security and safety from his presence. As his sharp roars echoed into the night, it seemed likely he was calling out for his brother - an essential ally - as the two work to reunite and strengthen their chances of finally securing this territory as their own.
Until next time…
Blog by Wendy Claase
Images by Benjamin Loon, Jana du Plessis, Ruan Mey and Viviane Ladner
Video by Josh Duffus and Viviane Ladner
