A Week in the Bush Vol. 615
on Oct 28, 2026Turn the volume up to experience the full impact of a hyena’s whooping call. Used for long-distance communication, these calls can carry up to 5km, with each hyena having a unique voice that allows clan members to recognise one another. It’s one of the most striking sounds you can hear on safari.
On a hot afternoon, a herd of bull elephants made their way to a nearby mud wallow. Kicking up the mud to create a slurry, they sucked it up with their trunk before spraying it over themselves. This important behaviour helps the elephants cool down, protect their skin and control parasites, all while putting on quite a spectacular display of mud spraying.
As we slowly made our way along a dry riverbed, we were delighted to come across a herd of male kudu. Always an impressive sight, their tall, spiralling horns stood out as we watched them move quietly into the bush before continuing our drive.
After watching this Martial eagle hunt Helmeted guineafowl, one of its favourite prey, we were treated to this view as it perched on a dead tree in the golden light. Those huge talons are its main weapon, striking and gripping prey with incredible force after a fast dive from above.
Rush hour in the bush. A Flap-necked Chameleon was making a big effort to cross the road. We waited; he swayed. The guarri bush called, and who were we to argue?
One of the most sought-after sightings on safari, giraffes are majestic and graceful as they move across the plains. While they are often high on guests’ wish lists, finding them is not always as easy as their height might suggest. Locating these gentle giants can take time, patience, and a bit of tracking rather than simply hoping to stumble across them.
As we opened the lodge early one morning, we spotted this beautiful White-browed Robin-chat among the branches, its song carrying through the crisp morning air. Bird calls are an essential part of the bush, serving to communicate, defend territories, and attract mates. Even in the stillness of the early morning, the African wilderness is alive with sound, marking the start of a new day.
Young elephants are always entertaining to watch, and we spent some time observing a herd as they fed their way towards a waterhole. Among the adults, the youngsters kept us amused with their playful antics.
Play-fighting is an important part of a young elephant’s development, helping them build strength, coordination, and social skills. From wrestling with their trunks to gentle pushing and mock charging, these interactions provide valuable practice for the challenges they will face as adults. They also help strengthen bonds within the herd, all under the watchful eyes of the older elephants.
The Hinged terrapin gets its name from the hinge on its plastron (the bottom shell), which allows it to partially close its shell for protection against predators. Its distinctive serrated, or jagged, rear shell edge gives it its name.
Found in freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, and swamps across eastern and southern Africa, these terrapins are omnivorous, feeding on insects, aquatic invertebrates, small fish, carrion, and occasional plant material. During the warmer parts of the day, they can often be spotted climbing out of the water to bask in the sun, helping them regulate their body temperature.
As the impala birthing season approaches, the open plains come alive with increasingly large herds. In the weeks leading up to the arrival of their young, these elegant antelope gather in numbers, helping to improve their chances of detecting predators. With many eyes scanning the surroundings and ears alert to the slightest sound, the herds move across the savanna. Soon, a new generation of impala will take its first steps in the bush.
Tengile pauses for a moment as she moves through her territory. Leopards are solitary and fiercely territorial, so she regularly patrols her range, scent-marking along the way by spraying bushes and rubbing her cheeks against branches. These signals let other leopards know exactly who this area belongs to.
We were scanning a rocky outcrop through our binoculars, searching for any sign of the Golonyi female, when she suddenly emerged into the open right beside our vehicle, as only a leopard can. We followed as she moved effortlessly over large, broken tree stumps before her soft calls began to carry through the bush. She was calling her cub, left safely tucked away while she was off hunting or patrolling her territory.
It is always a drama when a male lion attempts his luck at mating with a receptive female, while another male watches closely from a short distance. In the world of lions, reproduction is rarely without tension, as competing males remain alert to one another, each protecting his position and breeding opportunities within the pride. The observing male’s presence adds an intriguing layer to the encounter, with every movement carrying the potential for a shift in dominance. Such moments offer a fascinating glimpse into the complex social dynamics of lions, where instinct, strength, and opportunity play a vital role in the continuation of the pride.
We followed five lionesses of the Msuthlu Pride as they moved into an open area, passing right by the vehicle with hunting seemingly on their minds. When no opportunity presented itself, they eventually settled down to rest beside the Msuthlu River, the river from which they take their name.
We followed up on the Msuthlu lionesses and, after a short tracking session, found them gathered beneath a Marula tree as the sun grew stronger. A herd of buffalo was nearby, suggesting the lionesses had been tracking and hunting them.
After an unsuccessful hunt, the lionesses settled into the shade, conserving their energy beneath the scorching sun. Hunting requires patience, teamwork and tremendous effort, and even these powerful predators do not succeed every time. For now, the pride rests, waiting for the heat of the day to ease before another opportunity presents itself.
Blog by Wendy Claase
Images by Benjamin Loon, Devon Jansen, Jarrod Oflaherty and Ronald Mutero
Video by Jarrod Oflaherty
