A Week in the Bush Vol. 526
on Dec 04, 2024It has been a very exciting week at Sabi Sabi… herewith the highlights from the past seven days on safari…
Sabi Sabi Ranger Academy students set out on a morning safari when one of the students spotted a silhouette of unmistakable cat ears perched atop a prominent rocky outcrop. This leopard wasn’t unfamiliar to us. The Golonyi leopardess is often seen near the academy, sometimes strolling right past camp. Just a few months ago, she was spotted mating outside. As they approached, they spotted a cub with her!! They stuck around just long enough to capture the moment, before moving off to give them the space they needed. What a special sighting and the first of Golonyi and her first cub.
After our initial sighting of Golonyi and her cub, we were eager to see them again, but mindful to ensuring we gave them the space they needed. Luck was on our side as we spotted Golonyi resting gracefully on a rock. Moments later, she began calling softly, and soon, the tiny cub emerged cautiously from between the rocks. The little one made its way toward its mother, and they greeted each other tenderly before the cub eagerly settled to suckle. At just about a month old, the cub remains fragile and vulnerable. However, Golonyi has chosen a remarkable location for her den - the rocky terrain provides a natural barrier, making it difficult for predators to intrude. Only time will reveal whether Golonyi has the strength and skill to successfully raise her first cub.
We found the Nottins male as he was making his way into a very thick area, escaping the warm temperature. He was very focused as he stopped every now and then, making sure not to ruin a possible hunting opportunity. He later found a comfortable spot in a thicket where he rested and would most likely remain until hunting later when it was cooler.
We were fortunate to locate this beautiful female cheetah with her three cubs. The female was focused on an impala lamb and wasted no time in securing a meal for her and her cubs, just before sunset. They rested briefly before starting to feed but unfortunately, not long after, a hyena strolled in and stole their kill, forcing them to move away to safety.
This female cheetah's determination and survival skills are remarkable, especially in such a competitive ecosystem dominated by apex predators like hyenas, lions, and leopards. Raising cubs in this environment is no small feat, and her success so far speaks volumes about her capabilities.
Cheetahs' vulnerability to scavengers underscores their precarious position in the food chain. Yet, their grace and agility give them a unique advantage. Let's hope her persistence pays off, and these cubs grow up strong and independent, continuing the legacy of their remarkable mother.
A couple of days later, we spotted them again. After a run-in with a leopard in the northern parts of our reserve, this female decided it was safest to move deeper south into our reserve. We followed them as they made their way from one open area to the next, constantly alert and on the lookout for hunting opportunities. The female and cubs are in good condition, but the mom will look to secure a meal soon, knowing she has a lot of pressure on her to look after herself and the three cubs.
After a rainy evening, we followed up on tracks for the Msuthlu Pride. We found them as they were heading south in our reserve, with the youngsters being very playful, tackling each other and practising their skills on one another. This pride is currently following the tracks of a buffalo herd that has moved through the area. Only time will tell if they will be successful or not.
The following day, we found the fourth lioness from the Msuthlu Pride with her cubs in the central parts of our reserve. This female was on the scent of the rest of the pride trying to reunite with them. She left her three remaining cubs behind and continued to follow the scent, but shortly after stopped on an open area where she started contact calling, looking for her pride and hoping for a response from them. Prides with young cubs often split up as the mothers need to stay with their cubs to ensure safety and can't always keep up with the pride, giving the cubs time to rest before moving on again and reuniting.
We followed up on tracks of male lions crossing into our reserve and soon after found these two males resting in the shade. With lion dynamics always changing, these males are currently finding themselves in the heart of the Gijima males’ territory. They are posing a massive threat to the cubs of the Gijima males that are in the area and only time will tell what will happen. Hopefully, these males get the scent of the dominant males and decide it is safest to move out of the area, leaving the territory, otherwise, we are up for a territorial battle once the Gijimas realise they have rival males in their territory.
With the Gijima males back on our reserve we found them early morning after a rainy night. They were sleeping in the middle of a big open area. In the afternoon, they became active, following the contact call of one of the Msuthlu Pride lionesses who was lying not far from their position. Male lions will often respond and follow up on contact calls from their prides, checking up on them and making sure all is well in their territory. These males are currently faced with lots of problems as multiple other male lions are busy moving into their territory so they will need to stand strong and protect what is theirs to ensure the survival of their young.
Trying to follow up on cheetah tracks we drove slowly, eyes fixed on our surroundings making sure not to miss a thing. We then spotted this Boomslang lying on a branch absorbing the late afternoon sun. Snakes are cold-blooded so need the sun to warm their body temperature making it possible for them to move quickly and hunt successfully.
On our way back to the lodge we were spoiled by a sighting of this Spotted eagle-owl sitting perched right next to the road. These owls often sit close to roads during the early summer months as the bush is getting very thick, making it difficult for them to hunt as the grass cover blocks their sight and only opens up when rodents and other prey cross roads.
We observed a Water thick-knee actively patrolling the area around a dam. It darted forward with quick bursts of energy before suddenly pausing, its bill pointed downward in keen focus, scanning for prey such as frogs, tadpoles, and beetles.
Known for their distinctive calls, these birds are a familiar presence near water sources. Their vocalisations often echo through the night, as they are primarily nocturnal foragers, skilfully hunting under the cover of darkness.
We spent some time observing Large Copper dung beetles as they turned a rhino midden upside down. These beetles are in full swing, each male searching for both a mate and the ideal ball to showcase. They get very aggressive with one another as they often try to steal another ball, where they will fight and throw each other away until the winner gets to escape with the ball.
Dung beetles create their balls for various purposes. A male will often roll a ball to attract a female, who then climbs aboard as they work together. The pair takes turns rolling the ball to a suitable site, where they dig a hole to bury it. These buried balls serve both as a food source and a breeding chamber, with the female laying a single egg in each ball to nurture the next generation.
Until next time…
Blog by Wendy Claase
Images by Chané Jansen, Ruan Mey and Ruan Spies
