THIEVING HYENAS!
Cheetahs are delicately built creatures and have literally no defence sytem at all except to run away. Especially when faced by animals like leopards lions or hyenas who could do them serious harm or death retreat is the first and only option. This puts a lot of stress on cheetah moms who have to hunt […]
KRUGER’S HYENA DENS
The Kruger park has a fair number of hyena clans and they are quite visible most of the time. It is fairly common to see a hyena or even a few traversing the bush looking for food. They are quite skittish creatures though incurably curious as well. They are not so much disturbed by the […]
The huge male of Rooikop.
This is a story about the lions of the Kgalagadi. Specifically the huge male I saw at Rooikop. I left Nossob camp a little late cuz we were moving camp and I was a little put off about missing the ‘early’ morning, it was already about 730am and I had lost an hour. But when […]
Now you see me!
In the bush you have to be in tune with your surroundings and sensitive to the animals you see and what they are feeling. Its not always simple to do and often you don’t get a amazing reward for it but when it clicks its very special. I was driving along the southern river road […]
The Nsemani pride
Deep in the heart of Kruger is a beautiful waterhole called the Nsemani dam. The dam abuts the road and while parked there one can have a panoramic view of the dam and the surrounds and naturally such a large dam attracts wildlife of all sizes, so it’s a game viewing paradise. I had […]
The portable airconditioner of the bush.
Rhinos are huge. You look at them and really wonder at them cuz they look like they are from a different time. Almost dinosaur in size and shape and the black rhinos have a mean disposition. Those have been hunted to near extinction all for the horn. These two mother and calf, have obviBously been […]
The huntress and the Go-away bird.
One bright winter morning in Kruger we driving along the Sabie river and saw some movement down the slope to the bank from the road. I had a good feeling about this and stopped to check it out and sure enough….. leopard! She was sneaking around the bushes tail down and that got my […]
Hippo Mock fighting!
One thing about the bush, there is a lot of testosterone going around. These young adult hippos are no exception. There is a strict hierarchy and pecking order and it is to be maintained and followed without question. Except of course when it is challenged. Young males of most species are continuously scuffling, fighting, sparring […]
The baboon Hilton!
While you explore Africa there is one animal that you will find at once endearing and ever present. The ubiquitous baboon. They are gregarious creatures living in troops of up to a 100 and run by a set of males who all have equal status as Dons and yet among equals there is usually a […]
Botshelo at the waterhole
It was early morning in the deep winter and the sun was late rising. We had just entered the Kgalagadi and were heading out on drive with the sun rising to our right, heading north on the Nossob road. The mornings are simply awesome in the Kgalagadi and we were taking it all in. A […]