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, ...                           ...

Brendon Reports: While searching for leopard tracks yesterday afternoon we were informed that Thandi, a female leopard was in the eastern part of the reserve, so we headed that way.We stopped on the way to photograph giraffe and then elephants, and a grizzly old buffalo bull with gnarled horns and plenty of character. This meant that by the time we reached the area, Thandi had wandered away.A lone young hyena was chewing vigorously on something or other. We photographed him for ages as his antics kept us completely absorbed. He chewed the remnants of whatever it was, then would glare at it, and attack again and again with renewed vigour - as if it would leap up and escape! The sun was starting to set when we heard another hyena calling, and a dialogue started ... the two hyenas called again and again until the caller arrived. The amazing greeting, leaping around,...

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...

Ben's News: A beautiful sunrise greeted us again this morning with the different waking animals dotted around the Plains.                          A pod of around 45 hippos had crowded into a very small pond - it was not large enough to be named anything other than a pond - and we sat an watched them for almost an hour as they jostled one another for space, moved around a little irritably, yawned, shoved each other, and generally kept themselves and their companions on the go all the time.                     We were diverted now and then as different birds flew over, capturing images against the beautiful sky. While watching the birds and the hippos we heard lions calling from an area we have not encountered lions before. We headed in that direction and met up...

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...

Ben Reports: We found the buffalo before sunrise even closer than we had anticipated after seeing them yesterday. Within minutes we spotted a pride of lions across a serenely quiet water channel.Realising that the lions were heading toward the buffalo we positioned ourselves to catch not only the river crossing but also the encounter between the two. Our rewards were phenomenal.The river crossing was one of the most spectacular I have seen. The water was incredibly still and reflected the images of the lions like a highly polished mirror. The lions crossed one by one, and between each crossing the water settled again into that reflective surface, meaning that we captured portraits of each lion with unbelievably clear reflections.And now the action started. The lions were clearly hungry and started to hunt almost immediately. They gathered and with their tails whipping they charged, causing the buffalo to scatter in all directions -...

Andrew's News:We started with a wonderfully restful morning after all that excitement yesterday when Salayexe grabbed her kill in front of us ...                   Sparring Impala, a shy Steenbuck -                                                       - and curious Starlings kept us busy for much of the morning.   But the afternoon was quite different. After the new ODP Safari group arrived everyone was anxious to get started and what a packed afternoon we had!First, a large herd of elephant drinking at a small dam was followed by a mud bath. As the mud sprayed everywhere, including on themselves, at times it looked as though it was actually raining mud!Hearing noises nearby we went to investigate and found a bachelor herd of impala,...

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's News:On the way to the buffalo herd this morning we encountered the pride of lions from last night. We stopped for a few seconds only to capture some photographs against the first signs of the dawn.   After an even shorter stop for an elephant we raced on to catch up with the buffalo before they started to move. As we arrived the sun was rising, creating that magical, diffuse, liquid light and when we could see, there was one of the lionesses from Silver - Eye's pride. Looking around, we saw the other lions also emerge from the lightening duskiness - including the dominant male and one of the subadult males that had been chased by him yesterday. The buffalo stood up and seeing the lions nearby started to move away from the area. The lions followed close on their heels, but made no attempt to hunt. Through water...