Safari Updates

Brendon's News: As we started to search for leopard tracks near the Lodge this morning we received news of a male lion close by. It took us moments to reach him, and found him busy with a large buffalo kill. You can imagine how large, healthy and strong he is ... he captured and took down that large, adult buffalo single handedly .                                      We spent ages with him as he fed, and only left when he had gorged sufficient for a while and collapsed on his side for a siesta.At around this time we became aware of alarm calls. Impala snorts were followed by kudu and then baboon alarms. We started to follow these, and passed a large herd of buffalo, ...                           ...

Ben Reports: We went in search of the lions that had spent a fruitless but persistent day hunting yesterday and found them easily before sunrise.During the night they had finally managed to capture a Lechwe ram, and when we arrived they were still tucking into the final remains - a few meagre morsels were all that was left. After a few photos using the spotlights ...                        ... we positioned ourselves so that the colours of the sunrise appeared behind the lions.                                           When they had eaten enough the lions slumped on nearby mounds to catch the first rays of the rising sun. This gave us an excellent opportunity to practice some HDR photography, and as the sun began to rise, we...

Wim Reports: We went straight to the vantage point that overlooks Paradise Island this morning to see if the buffalo would be returning to this side of the wide water channel. When we reached the vantage point the first morning sun rays were beginning to pierce the sky. We started to take photos of the beautiful scene ... and as it became lighter we saw the buffalo.   And not only the buffalo!A pride of lions was using the shadowy light to stalk the buffalo, and the lions had created a semi-circle around their unaware prey.And chaos reigned for the next two hours! The buffalo were chased left and right, back and forth. They regrouped to chase the lions, but the lions were wily, and as the buffalo charged some of the pride members, others attacked from the other side.   The commotion was compounded by the bellows and snorts, and water and...

From Wim: An extra early start meant that we were in Silver - Eye's territory before sunrise, searching for buffalo and lions.There was a breathtakingly beautiful mist over the plains, with glistening water channels peeping through here and there. Elephants, lechwe, warthogs and other game appeared and then disappeared into the mist with the golden rays of the sun shining behind them and creating a glorious scene which we watched and photographed in awe.                         We found the lions from yesterday right on the boundary of  Silver - Eye's territory. They were hastening to catch up with the buffalo, stopping now and again for some playful interactions.                     We were saddened to see that the mauled lioness was not with her pride - and we assume that she has not made it....

From Wim: Today was one of the most eventful and emotional days that I have experienced in my years in the bush.It all started with a magnificent dawn and a Serval hunting in the glorious light giving us a chance for some really successful photographs.The pride of lions from last night were less than 300 meters away from the serval and were within a short walk from the buffalo.As the sun rose the lions were right in amongst the buffalo. The lions were beside themselves with hunger and the next few hours showed their desperation.First they caused some confusion by chasing the buffalos in all directions. The frenzied buffalo were chased again and again - across open plains, through shallow water, and then we realised that there was a plan developing. The buffalo were being chased gradually but very firmly toward a water channel which would slow down their escape.The lions harried...

Andrew Reports:It was still a bit cloudy when we started out early, intent on finding Salayexe, the young leopard mother resident in the area.We found her tracks with those of her cub and were following these through a dry river bank when we looked up and saw a young Hippo bull on the river bank at eye level with us.     After a stop for for about ten minutes for photographs we followed the leopard tracks again. In an open clearing we encountered four hyenas ... three adults and a young subadult. They were cavorting around, playing and enjoying family interactions in the early morning light.                  Thirty elephants were drinking at at waterhole when we arrived. The youngsters and babies were enchanting,                                           ...

Wim's News:Breakfast on the boat in the still, magical predawn added an element of mystique and excitement to the early still dark morning.We were on the water about five minutes before an absolutely spectacular sunrise. Fish Eagles were out early and were swirling around, diving, and grabbing fish in full view. These magnificent birds fishing against that warm, vibrant sky created scenes to behold.(And photograph!)   In a backwater we encountered a pride of lions. They had a kill close by but unfortunately for us they had dragged it behind a bush - inaccessible for our boat. But the interactions between the members of the pride and the arrival of hordes of vultures that were continually chased by the lions, only to return again and again, kept us busy until it was time to return to the Nguni Voyager for brunch.After relaxing and thoroughly enjoying the surroundings from the boat, we...

Brendon's News:We were up extra early to maximise the wonderful time we have had on this safari. On the way to the buffalo we found the pride of seven lions ...  and they were in the middle of a meal, having caught a lechwe during the night.The sun provided backlighting for our first shots, and then we moved around to get photographs of the lions not only feeding feeding but also interacting with one another.   Right next to where the lions were eating was as all pond and suddenly an unusual drama erupted out of the water. A young lone hippo has taken refuge here after being kicked out of his pod. And he was guarding his pond jealously and with vigour.                          .     He charged furiously out of the water and sent the lions scampering away. When...

Brendon Reports:Duba Plains is one of the few unspoiled regions where one can view game in an area which has not been impacted by men or civilisation. The abundant wildlife in the area also hosts the 'Relentless Enemies' so beautifully documented by Dereck and Beverly Joubert.It was in the hopes of photographing these 'Relentless Enemies' that we set out on this Outdoorphoto Safari. Our hopes and expectations were high, and cameras ready with plenty of memory cards.And we would need those cards!On our first game drive we quickly found lion tracks which we followed and came across not one but two prides of lions lying mere meters from each other.     Thirteen lions in total!       They showed no inclination to hunt ...     ... but realising that both prides had not eaten for days we realised that this was where we needed to start in the morning....

Brendon's Amazing NewsWe dashed out to reach the buffalo just as the sun started to rise this morning. They had not moved far since yesterday and we tracked them quite easily.They were just waking up as we arrived and with the magnificent sunrise behind them we started the day with some beautiful shots again.The six lionesses were also in close attendance and as the buffalo began to move away the lionesses followed close behind but in a leisurely fashion, feigning a total lack of interest in the buffalo.After about half an hour of this game of tag the buffalo lay down again. The lions again pretended a lack of interest and rather spent some time playing, leaping on each other and rolling around in the grass until they were tired of the game and also flopped down for a rest.The buffalo started to move again and with this the entire mood...