I am also very pleased to report that despite our most recent census conveying a slight decline in the eland populations, that we have been seeing lovely herds all over the reserve. The average herd size is anywhere from 8 to 15 members and lovely bachelor herds numbering  up to 20 individuals at times. The…

I have little doubt that something which brings great pleasure to almost everybody fortunate enough to experience it, is watching young animals at play. It is a sure way to bring a smile to the face of even the most serious person, and tends to lift the mood and brighten the day for everybody. It certainly is cute and endearing behaviour, but of course the young animals at play are not doing it for our benefit or
amusement, they are doing it to benefit themselves.

During the afternoon game drive we headed west towards the Chiredzi River, hoping to catch up with the pack of wild dogs we had left there from that same morning’s drive. As we drove along the river bank we were delighted to spot the whole pack of 15 dogs. They are eight adults and seven puppies, and all were relaxed and napping in the riverbed, under the shade of the Natal mahogany trees.

Throughout the month we have had streams of wildebeest making their way back onto the concession. They are all coming in from the north-east entering through the Ikorongo area and filing west.

The Mara River Tented Camp is a great place to be in the month of October, with the migration being in full swing in the area. Crossings were seen on a daily basis with the biggest being around 100 000 animals which crossed at Number 3 crossing point.

Animals, particularly males, are often fighting for dominance. Dominance over females and dominance of territory. It is a tale as old as time that younger stronger males sometimes decide to take their chances and chase a dominant male from his territory.

After being kicked out of the breeding herds between the ages of 12 to 15 by the leading female, the matriarch, bull elephants tend to wander around by themselves and end up forming bachelor groups that can number up to 20. Their movement is determined by the availability of food and water.

As we got to the pan we saw ten elephant bulls drinking and splashing around in the mud, then we moved off to the side and disembarked the vehicle for sundowners. As the guests were enjoying their red wine a group of about a dozen buffalo dagga boys came past us and went to drink and wallow. As the sun was setting a white rhino cow and calf came to the water and drank alongside the elephants and buffalos, and in the distance we saw a black rhino that was waiting for us to leave.

We have had quite a few interesting sightings this last month. Many of these sightings have been covered in the sections about lions or leopards. One interesting sighting was of one of the Mountain Pride lionesses and a large bull elephant. The bull elephant was on his way to a pan to drink and throw mud on himself. At the same time one of the lionesses from the Mountain Pride was also headed towards the same pan. Now, although the lion is often considered to be the “king of the jungle”, sometimes the king has to bow to others. In this case the elephant walked straight up to the water and dominated the pool while the lioness had to lie to the side, waiting for her time. The bull obviously knew that she could not approach while he was there and took his sweet time. The lioness was, however, patient and eventually the elephant had had enough and moved off.

I am also very pleased to report that despite our most recent census conveying a slight decline in the eland populations, that we have been seeing lovely herds all over the reserve. The average herd size is anywhere from 8 to 15 members and lovely bachelor herds numbering  up to 20 individuals at times. The…

I have little doubt that something which brings great pleasure to almost everybody fortunate enough to experience it, is watching young animals at play. It is a sure way to bring a smile to the face of even the most serious person, and tends to lift the mood and brighten the day for everybody. It certainly is cute and endearing behaviour, but of course the young animals at play are not doing it for our benefit or
amusement, they are doing it to benefit themselves.

Living in a modern world, there are so many new ideas, remedies and gadgets being created which are specifically designed to help us function effortlessly and to fix any problems that may affect our lives in one way or another. Out here in the bush we as humans get to disconnect from a lot of those things and are able to just take in the world around us and see it from a different perspective – a world without technology and one where we can experience it in the most natural and untouched state possible.

For the past two and a half years, I have explored the beautiful N’wanetsi Concession that is home to Singita Lebombo and Sweni, and I have had the privilege of sharing this wilderness with a number of guests from around the world.

Whata Pan has become a hot spot for every guide these days. Sitting inside the cool sunken photo hide or stopping nearby for sundowners is so rewarding. With the high temperature we are experiencing this month lots of animals like elephants, rhinos, buffalos, plains game and sometimes lions and other predators come to drink. By…

During the afternoon game drive we headed west towards the Chiredzi River, hoping to catch up with the pack of wild dogs we had left there from that same morning’s drive. As we drove along the river bank we were delighted to spot the whole pack of 15 dogs. They are eight adults and seven puppies, and all were relaxed and napping in the riverbed, under the shade of the Natal mahogany trees.