A Week in the Bush Vol. 521
on Oct 30, 2024The beauty of staying in lodges within wildlife protected areas lies in the unique experience of nature coming to you. From the comfort of your luxury surroundings, you can observe and enjoy wildlife sightings that often appear right on your doorstep.
We spotted a hyena pacing around a waterhole, as if searching for something, so we decided to stay and observe its unusual behaviour. As it continued to walk back and forth, we noticed a distinct drag mark leading into the water. This suggested that the hyena had previously dragged a kill into the water, likely to conceal it from other predators. After some time, the hyena finally retrieved its hidden prey, inspected it briefly, and then left it in the same spot before moving on.
The trackers' spotlights frequently sweep the treetops, often in search of leopards, but also for the more elusive nocturnal creatures. On this particular night, their vigilance was rewarded. In the branches of a towering Marula tree, two piercing orange eyes stared back at us. The unmistakable features of a Southern White-Faced Owl quickly became clear: prominent ear tufts, a white facial disc of feathers, and a subtle feathered "moustache" that gave it away.
As we left the lodge, we stumbled upon a majestic male elephant walking towards us, silhouetted by the rising sun. We paused to let the big bull pass by, allowing him to continue his morning activities undisturbed.
As the sun dips below the horizon, two hippos peek out from the tranquil waters, their curious gaze framed by the warm hues of twilight. With only their noses and eyes visible, they survey their surroundings with quiet contentment, embodying the serene beauty of an African sunset.
Curious about the vultures we saw landing in the distance, we approached the area, only to be shocked by the discovery of a dead baby elephant - the reason for the vultures' presence. In no time, more than twenty vultures had gathered, along with several eagles, all fighting for space to scavenge from the carcass. As more vultures descended, their presence attracted other predators, and soon, hyenas arrived, quickly taking over the remains.
During a sundowner stop we saw a flash of colour on the ground. After some further inspection we found a Ground Burrowing Wolf Spider with its bright orange pedipalps staring at us.
Early in the morning, we spotted a large herd of buffalo making their way toward a waterhole. For days, we had been searching for them without success - buffalo being the only member of the Big Five our guests had yet to see, and their top priority. We tracked the herd for an extended period as they drank from a waterhole and later wandered off, completing the guests’ Big Five experience.
After a day where the Msuthlu Pride were scattered over the reserve and one of the bigger cubs was missing, we were elated to find the tracks of the entire pride reunited and moving to a nearby waterhole. We caught up with them as they reached it and were privileged to see all 15 drinking and playing together.
The Msuthlu Pride was spotted lounging around a waterhole, with cubs playfully interacting with one another. Even the older cubs joined in the fun, chasing after sticks or anything else they could find. Both adults and cubs appeared well-fed and content, a sign that the females have been doing an excellent job caring for the entire pride.
Playtime among the cubs is essential for their development, helping them sharpen their gripping and running skills - critical tools they will need as they grow older and face the challenges of survival.
As the day’s heat lifted in the later afternoon hours, one of Ntsumi’s cubs strolled towards a small puddle of water in a drying waterhole. She lapped up the cool, refreshing water, keeping a watchful eye on what is happening around her, until her thirst was quenched. She soon disappeared into the thickets with an evening meal now firmly on her mind as the day’s final rays began to set.
We have been enjoying regular sightings of Ntsumi’s cubs and often a fair distance apart. This female cub was asleep on a termite mound and would lift her head every now and then to look around for potential threat or prey.
We came across the Khulwana male leopard feeding on a young buffalo carcass. Judging by the strong odour, it seemed the carcass had been there a few days. The leopard ate quickly before retreating into the thick bush to groom himself, seeking shelter from the scorching midday heat.
Although leopards are skilled hunters, they are also opportunistic scavengers. In this case, we suspect the leopard didn't make the kill, as vultures had already swarmed the carcass earlier without any signs of another predator claiming it.
Our week ended with a very welcome sighting of the Southern Pride.
The Southern Pride made a surprise return to a familiar territory, one they hadn’t visited in over a year. We found two members of the pride with a fresh zebra kill. The older female of the two kept calling for the others, though none appeared to answer her calls. It was a thrilling sight to see them so close to their former northern range.
Until next time…
Blog by Wendy Claase
Images by Alta du Toit, Devon Jansen, Franco Hay, Rod Wyndham, Ronald Mutero, Ruan Mey & Willie Woest
