Safari Updates

Andrew Reports:The early dawn found us back in the Northern marshy area of Phinda where we have seen so much action in the past days. We were hoping to find black rhinos and cheetahs and were surprised to find the pride of lions exactly where we left them yesterday - close to a small waterhole. They were grooming each other and restfully enjoying a quiet morning, watching the water hole without interest. The scene was so very peaceful with White-faced Ducks swimming in the tranquil water and we knew that the lions would not hunt today after that huge zebra meal they finished off yesterday. We started started to move on to continue our search for rhinos and cheetahs.We had scarcely moved a meter away when one of the subadult lionesses who was watching the ducks suddenly sprang into action . She ploughed straight into the water in an attempt to...

From Andrew:We decided to head North again this morning, this time hoping to sight a black rhino. We searched for some time and although we saw black rhino tracks we could not find the animals. But we were not disappointed as instead of black rhinos we found white rhinos.       We spent quite a bit of time with the rhinos as they were close by and in a great position for photographs.   We moved off and found a large bull elephant at a water hole. He entertained us with his splashing around and drinking.   After a brief visit to the North Pride of lions who were resting in the warmth of the sun, we headed back to the camp for breakfast. We took a packed lunch with us as we left quite early to visit the southern areas of this diverse park.To our absolute delight we found...

Wim reports: Having seen Tingana (the large dominant male leopard) starting to hunt last evening we headed straight toward that area this morning. However, a cold front with rain had moved in overnight and all the big cats eluded us as they sheltered from the weather. We were following some leopard tracks when we came across a very agitated Wild Dog. He was running this way and that way, in circles, up and down, calling to his pack members. We followed him and each time we caught up with him, he was off in a new direction, searching and calling and moving all the time. As he finally disappeared into the bush we returned to the Lodge for a welcome, warm and appetising breakfast followed by some Lightroom work on the images we had captured. This afternoon seemed to be reserved for the very large mammals. We found White Rhino...

From Ben Cranke This morning started with beautiful panning shots of impala on the open plains. We are getting really good at panning techniques, and came away with some winners. A shortish encounter with a pride of lions was cut short when they disappeared into thick bush after a flurry of photographs. Our next great sighting was two male white rhino walking toward a pan. We drove ahead and placed ourselves in a position to photograph them approaching the pan. In addition, we got fabulous reflections as they drank from the pan. During the late afternoon drive the highlight was the sighting one of the female leopards, Salayexe. We flirted with her,  getting more lovely images until she disappeared into the darkness. As we gather around this evening, everyone is thrilled with the pictures they have captured and looking forward to the morning ...  ...

  Leaving the camp this morning, the ODP Safari group headed straight for the southern areas of the Reserve where the cheetah family with tiny cubs was sighted yesterday. On the way, they shared some of their images from yesterday: The first exciting encounter upon reaching the south was with a different cheetah family, a mother and her two eighteen month old cubs. The family was very active and it soon became clear that they were hunting. The ODP Safari group followed the family, capturing wonderful images.   The family soon spotted and caught up with a herd of impala, the ODP group close behind ... Action! The mother approached closer and closer to the impala, followed by her cubs. The photographers held their breath, cameras trained on the action. Through the long grass she walked, quietly, intense, ever closer, concentrating, focussed ... And suddenly, she leapt and the chase began....

Excitement was tangible as the vehicles left before dawn again this morning.  The morning was overcast as the vehicles headed to the marsh area again to catch up with the pride of lions. The pride had killed a wildebeest in the early hours of the morning and all eleven lions were eating. (the pride of nine had been joined by two more females). The six cubs were feeding, playing, getting in the way of the adults, then feeding and playing some more, all creating wonderful photographic opportunities. Then the sun broke through the clouds and the beautiful lighting meant that even more magnificent photography was possible. Moving on, the two male cheetahs were found. They posed, strutted, stretched and again caused cameras to work overtime. It was time to return to the camp for lunch, and a detour through the forest produced some beautiful landscape photos again. While the group were...

Everyone arrived at Phinda by lunchtime, and after a quick briefing, and lunch, the excited group were ready for their first game drive. Where to go? Phinda is so very diverse, with different ecosystems, all with different attractions .. Reports of a large pride of lion in the Marsh area meant that the decision was not too difficult. On the way, white Rhino posed delightfully for photographs. Then, from the enormous to the not-so-big. Dung beetles were rolling dung, and everyone was keen to get some really creative shots of these busy insects. Finally the group decided to go off to the lions. A pride consisting of two males, two females and six cubs was lolling in the shade. The cubs were every active, climbing all over the adults, suckling, napping, and rolling around. Cameras clicked as they cavorted around, with the adults looking on peacefully, occasionally dealing out a sharp...