Safari Updates

Brendon Reports: Everyone was here by lunchtime yesterday ... and none of the guests have experienced the wonder of Elephant Plains before!So, it was with great excitement that we left for our first afternoon drive.And Elephant Plains sure lived up to its well deserved reputation.We were hardly out of the gate to the Lodge when - about two minutes into our safari - we found two lionesses. As we approached we recognised Bebe from the Salala Pride. She was accompanied by a young - probably about two years old - gorgeous young lioness. The two were lying out in the open on the airstrip, soaking up the afternoon sun.   While we started filling our cameras with images of these two we heard alarm calls nearby. Then again, more urgently! Baboons were in a real state, letting all and sundry know that there was real danger close by.We followed the sound and sure...

Andrew Reports:It was still dark when we found a clan of eight hyenas feeding on the remains of a kill. There was not enough of the kill left to determine what the few remnants were but we were able to get some super feeding and family interaction photos before the sun started to make an appearance.After eating their fill the hyenas started leave the area. Seeing the direction they took we realised that they were heading to a waterhole for a drink. We went ahead to position ourselves well for the arrival of the clan and to get the best angles of them drinking.The hyenas duly arrived, and yes, we were perfectly positioned to watch and photograph them as they drank.As they finished, they started to wander away from the waters edge, but one of the youngsters leaped into the water where he chased bits and pieces of random vegetation, splashing...

AndrewReports:Searching for Salayexe this morning we first bumped into a clan of eight hyenas. They were moving along close to the road, scent marking, examining and sniffing bushes intently as they went, leaving their anal smears to warn any intruders. We followed them, capturing images of individuals, groups and the interactions between the clan members.                                             After stopping for a drink at a small dam they disappeared into thick bush.So on with our Salayexe search - but we were interrupted again,this time by a lone hippo wandering around quite a distance from water. He was very relaxed, munching on the vegetation, totally ignoring us with our clicking cameras.                   Again our search for Salayexe resumed - and this time we were not...

Andrew's News:There was a tremendous commotion early this morning as we woke up and prepared to depart. The whole bushveld sounded alive ...We could hear Wild Dogs yipping incessantly, punctuated by lions roaring. At the same time leopard calls echoed across the valley in front of the lodge, and exited hyena were carrying on about something or other while the sounds of jackals mingled with all the above. The cacophony spurred us on and within minutes we were on the vehicles prioritising our first move, and wondering what event had sparked the din.We decided to follow the sounds of the Wild Dogs and headed in the direction of the now diminishing sounds. We followed their tracks and found 13 Wild Dogs. It was a great sighting, and the whole pack was still milling around. We searched but could not determine the cause of their disquiet.              ...

Andrew Reports:   We were determined to find Salayexe again this morning after the great viewing that we had of her yesterday, so we headed straight to the area  to search for her.   It was a cloudy day again, meaning that the light was wonderfully diffused and the heat from yesterday was gone.   While we were searching for Salayexe we heard from one of the other vehicles that while they stopped for an early coffee break Salayexe wandered right into the clearing where they had parked, almost inviting them to accompany her. We headed straight there and were delighted to find both Salayexe and her cub.   The remainder of the morning was spent taking shots of the two as they strolled around, hunting one another, chasing each other, pouncing and playing in the open plains. The two stopped their antics to enjoy a drink at one of the...

Hilton's News:   There was an ethereal mist covering our world this morning, giving the area that mysterious, isolating feel and when animals appear out of the mist everything takes on that almost surreal quality.   As we peered into the mist, picking out shapes that became various animals and birds, we saw a charming sight that kept us entranced for much of the morning. The rolling, tumbling, leaping shapes turned out to be Salayexe and her cub. They frolicked, played, jumped on each other, then licked and groomed one another, only to start hunting one another again.   The beautiful sight in the truly enchanting  setting kept us busy and very reluctant to leave.   Back at the Lodge we had breakfast and then spent some quality time on photographic post-production work. We enjoyed transforming some of our images -including this Thick-knee.   This afternoon we headed back to where...

From Andrew:   Although it was quite overcast this morning when we set out, there was no rain and the morning was cool, crisp and very picturesque.   We soon came upon Salayexe (the young leopard mother) and her cub. Although they were in thickish grass they were moving around a lot and we managed some excellent sightings and photographs.   Salayexe’s cub is at that very playful, cute stage and we watched as he pounced on his mom’s tail, then climbed a tree to ambush her, and then crept around in the grass to surprise her. They were both enjoying themselves so much, and we thoroughly enjoyed capturing the fun and interactions between the two.   The playful mood changed momentarily when two adult hyenas arrived on the scene. Salayexe stopped, glared at the two and watched them carefully as they strutted through the area.   When we left a...

From Brendon:We really wanted to find a leopard this morning and as we left the Lodge we picked up some fresh leopard tracks. This is surely Salayexe's prints we decided and followed them. The tracks became fresher and fresher as we followed them and after what felt like a very exciting and suspenseful time we found her.The tracks did belong to Salayexe and we were able to get some lovely shots of her in the decent morning light.       We remained with her until the time came for  us to return to the Lodge for breakfast.During the day a cold wind blew in and when we left for the afternoon drive we heard that four male lions had moved quite close from a neighbouring reserve, so we off we went to find them.But before we reached that area we came across a large herd of elephants in the lovely...

  News from Brendon We met at Elephant Plains at lunch time - and what a lunch time! As we gathered for our meal on the deck we looked up and could scarcely believe our eyes - at the small dam close by and in clear view from the deck was a female leopard, probably Salayexe. She was very relaxed, drinking, glancing around from time to time and making sure that we all had a chance not only to see her perfectly well and also to get some lovely initial photographs of her. After the usual briefing and discussion about photographic conditions we started on our first first afternoon drive. To our amazement we had hardly ventured far when we encountered a very young male leopard. He was so relaxed, so at home where he was and totally at ease as he wandered along. We followed him for most of the...

Hilton Speaks:This morning was the final drive for the safari participants who experienced such amazing sightings during the past few days, and we sure ended on a high note.We returned to the tree where we had seen Tingana with the kill last evening and he was still there but not alone. Hyenas had moved in and were determined to keep him away from the tree and the kill. Every time the leopard started to approach the tree the hyenas would get together and chase him away. He was forced to keep his distance.Suddenly something stirred in the tree causing us to look up. While the hyenas and Tingana were having one of their confrontations another leopard climbed the tree. We looked closely and recognised Salayexe, who was thoroughly enjoying her meal.   We were now left with he question - could this be Salayexe's kill that Tingana had appropriated? Or was...