A Week in the Bush Vol. 617
on Nov 11, 2026A pack of Wild dogs were resting near a waterhole, clearly exhausted from not just the heat of the day but also from digesting a meal. As the afternoon started to cool off, the pups became a little more energetic, especially after discovering a large stick to play with, and a very unlucky young tortoise who became their next victim.
After spending the warmest part of the day resting in the shade, this large pack of wild dogs became increasingly active as the late afternoon temperatures cooled. With the adults setting off to hunt, the playful pups struggled to keep up. Their efforts soon proved successful when they brought down a newly born impala lamb. What followed was a remarkable feeding frenzy, with pack members eagerly competing for their share. It was a powerful display of the wild dogs’ hunting efficiency, teamwork and complex social dynamics.
After finishing their impala kill, the Kurhula female and her cub were moving east through the thickets. We returned to the last area where they had been sighted, picked up their tracks and began tracking them. After a short tracking exercise, we located the pair as they continued moving through the dense vegetation, seemingly searching for a safe spot to rest and digest their meal. With her cub still very vulnerable, Kurhula will be keen to move away from the feeding area before settling down. Hyenas had also been gathering around the remains of the kill, hoping to scavenge any scraps left behind.
With the young leopard cub left alone near a waterhole, its mother, the Kurhula female, was never likely to be far away. She had left her cub in a safe, sheltered location while moving through the reserve in search of her next meal. Unfortunately, several hunting attempts proved unsuccessful, and with little luck finding another opportunity, she eventually settled into a shaded spot to rest through the heat of the day. As the afternoon temperatures began to drop, she slowly made her way back towards her cub, still without having secured a meal.
Shortly after leaving Earth Lodge, our safari team set out in search of the elusive leopard. Following the previous night's rain, we were hopeful that the leopards would be out marking their territories, and we were not disappointed.
The Golonyi female leopard was moving through the southern section of the reserve, marking her territory as she made her way from one vantage point to the next. Eventually, she settled beneath the canopy of a large tree, finding some welcome shade to rest through the heat of the morning.
We returned to the Golonyi female after finding her fast asleep earlier in the morning. With daytime temperatures currently soaring, these nocturnal predators tend to limit their movements during the heat of the day, seeking cooler spots to rest and conserve energy before becoming more active after sunset. We spent some time with her as she slowly shifted from one resting spot to another, showing little urgency to go anywhere just yet. She will likely remain settled until the cooler evening temperatures encourage her to become more active.
When out on safari, patience is an important thing to have, and while sitting with the sleeping Southern Pride our patience paid off. Hidden in the tall grass the two cubs were barely visible, but after a short wait they both emerged to play near the adults. After settling down, the cubs entertained themselves by playing with sticks and with each other.
This playful behaviour is a vital part of their development and physical growth, as it teaches them what their bodies are capable of. Playing with the other’s tail and with sticks will improve their coordination, which will be used when they start hunting alongside the pride.
On a cold, cloudy morning, we set out in search of the lions in the southern part of the reserve. After a lengthy search, we were rewarded with tracks belonging to the females and their cubs, which eventually led us to the three Southern Pride lionesses and their two young cubs resting on the road.
All three females were fast asleep, their stomachs full after a successful hunt the previous night, while the cubs were making the most of the opportunity to play, entertaining themselves with each other and occasionally turning their attention to the adults' tails. At around 6–8 weeks of age, lion cubs begin to incorporate meat into their diet, and judging by their rounded bellies, these youngsters had clearly enjoyed their share of the previous night's meal too.
We found a lioness from the Msuthlu Pride with her three cubs on the banks of a drainage line late in the afternoon. While mom continued to rest, the youngsters were full of energy, making the most of their playtime before she would leave to hunt after dark. Still too young to defend or protect themselves, the cubs remain entirely dependent on their mother for safety. Keeping a watchful eye on them, she allowed them the freedom to play, explore and strengthen the social bonds between them.
A visit to the hyena den always provides plenty of entertainment. After a particularly hot day, we stopped by to find an adult female resting outside the den with two youngsters. While she slept, the youngsters made the most of the opportunity to explore and play with one another. Despite the high temperatures, they seemed to have plenty of energy to burn, having spent much of the night tucked away in the den and only emerging after sunrise when the adults returned.
Over the coming weeks, the youngsters will gradually begin accompanying the adults, learning important skills and gaining the experience they will need to survive and navigate the many challenges of life in the bush.
A newly born impala lamb takes its first wobbly steps under the watchful eye of its mother. Within minutes of birth, lambs begin trying to stand and walk, an important survival skill that allows them to stay close to their mothers and keep up with the herd while avoiding potential predators.
This giraffe bull stood still, gazing into the distance with a watchful eye. Their impressive height gives giraffes a unique advantage, allowing them to scan the surrounding bushveld for potential danger while feeding on leaves high in the treetops. Smaller species, such as impala, blue wildebeest and zebra, are often seen nearby, benefiting from the giraffe’s excellent vantage point. In this way, giraffes can act as an early warning system, alerting other herbivores to potential danger and giving them a better chance of survival.
We watched this klipspringer ram standing proudly on his rocky lookout in the early morning light. With their specialised, rubbery hooves, these agile little antelopes are perfectly adapted to navigating steep, rocky terrain, making them true masters of the bushveld.
This waterbuck bull stood overlooking his territory, with his impressive horns and shaggy coat making for a striking sight. Often found close to water, these antelope are well adapted to life around rivers and dams. Their distinctive shaggy coats contain an oily substance that helps repel water, an ideal adaptation for their preferred habitat.
Blog by Wendy Claase
Images by Jana du Plessis and Ruan Mey
