WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA SABI SAND, SOUTH AFRICA For the month of July, Two Thousand and Seventeen Temperature Rainfall Recorded Sunrise & Sunset Average minimum: 13 C (55 F) For the month: 1 mm Sunrise: 06:35 Average maximum : 28 C (82 F) For the season to date: 861 mm Sunset: 17:25 Minimum recorded: 9 C (48 F) Maximum recorded: 38 C (100 F) The pastel colour of winter has blanketed the bush, bringing delights of boundless sightings, wild dog puppies and wilderness activities that extend throughout the day with the temperate conditions. Sound is accentuated by the colder morning air and can be heard for several kilometres, the roar of the Majingalane lions continues to echo across the valleys. The cool air drifts along the Sand River and as the sun rises it illuminates the mist rising off the warm water. This is a typical scene whilst sipping on a hot cup of coffee being engulfed into your surroundings; what a way to start your day! Here's a highlights package of the month's sightings: Lions: The Manghene pride continues to flourish, with all four lionesses looking in great shape, and continuing to be excellent providers for their twelve rapidly growing youngsters. This pride is riding the crest of a wave, and is possibly one of the most successful prides ever to have roamed the Sabi Sand. It is interesting to note that one of the lionesses seems to be pregnant again one would imagine it most likely that this is the
mother of the two oldest of the twelve youngsters. The previous daughters of the Mhangene pride, six young lionesses in their prime, are now known as the Tsevu pride, a pride which spends much of its time further south and east of the area generally controlled by the Manghene pride. The Othawa pride seems to be doing well, and there has also been a welcome return of the surviving members of the Ximungwe pride. There has not been any significant change of late, regarding the dynamics of male lion coalitions seen on Singita Sabi Sand land. Golden afternoon light shrouds one of the Majingalane male lions as he follows the Manghene pride in the hope for a prized meal. Full-bellied lions warmed themselves in the sun on top of a dam wall, to the excitement of the guests watching them at eye level. The lions listened intently to the hyena fighting over the remains left of the buffalo that was devoured the night before by the pride.
The aftermath of the Manghene pride, after killing an adult buffalo. Due to the size of the pride it is unlikely that much food is left for the scavengers. One of the nine young male lions in the Manghene pride. Take a look at that mane starting to grow already. A female hyena lifts a heavy buffalo skull away from the marauding clan. With hierarchal status in a clan, it often comes with reward.
Leopards: The Hlab Nkunzi female and her seven-month-old male cub continue to move further into the north, while the Schotia female and her female cub spend more time just west of the lodges. The two mothers have been a delight to watch as they raise their cubs in the wild, with tribulations of avoiding lions and wild dogs and finding suitable areas to leave the cubs whilst the mothers are away hunting. The Schotia female is, of course, the Hlab Nkunzi female s daughter. The Mobeni female has been spending time with various males, who vie for some of the vast territory vacated by the old Kashane male. Male leopard viewing has been excellent, and there have unavoidably been some skirmishes, with the Torchwood male apparently being the loser in clashes with the Ravenscourt male, while the Nyelethi male also took a beating, probably at the hands of the large Anderson male, north of the Sand River. Buffalo: The smaller herds have attracted the Mhangene pride and they have capitalised in hunting the buffalo calves, recording one per night over a three-day period. Twenty-four hours later they killed two adult male kudus in a drainage line. The pride s success lies in the large numbers of lions that are able to hunt. With nine young males in the pride they continue to dominate in hunting the larger prey species. Wild dogs: The exciting news is that wild dogs have returned to a den-site on Othawa for another winter. With the previous den being a successful location, we were fortunate enough to see the pack of 10 return back this year. Over the last few weeks, we have had a few glimpses of the new litter. So far we have counted 12 puppies in the litter, with the pregnant beta female also moving into the den. This means that this pack could increase significantly in size over the next few weeks. The high-pitched whimpering echoes along the drainage line and the excitement on the vehicle hits fever pitch as we arrive at the den-site. The first glimpse of the wild dog puppies. Twelve puppies have been counted and they continue to grow at an alarming rate, for impalas that is Elephants: The typical pattern of elephant viewing at this dry time of the year is that we are seeing good numbers of elephants along the Sand River and its tributaries, particularly in the warmer part of the day. Grass is particularly dry at present, so the elephants are consuming large quantities of Phragmites reeds while in the riverbed. In the cooler part of the day when the elephants move to higher ground, they are browsing on various palatable trees and shrubs. They are particularly fond of chewing the bark off young stems of round-leafed teak saplings.
Adventure awaits Article by Ian Mey One of the great privileges of being a guide in an area like the Sabi Sand is our incredible viewing of large predators and their interactions with the various species of prey and other predators that might compete for the same resources. And while I urge guests and guides alike not to just rush out and accrue lists and ticks on these specific sightings, there can be no doubt that for me very little compares to getting to spend time with Africa s large cats and canids. Being part of an area like the Greater Kruger National Park, that has seen protection for wildlife in some form for well over a hundred years, allows encounters and interactions with wildlife not often achieved in newly established concessions or reserves, as wildlife has simply not had time to get used to the fact that we are not a threat and that humans in game viewing vehicles in particular are of no major consequence to their days, and as such allows truly incredible experiences where animals allow us to look in on very secretive and special parts of their usually not very often glimpsed lives. Things like seeing mating leopards (which may I add took me almost five years of guiding to see), having a pack of wild dogs denning on your reserve and watching their month-old pups emerge and interact with the world around them for the first time. On one of my recent morning safari drives my guests and I were treated to one of the most incredible experiences I have had in over a decade of guiding and I will try to do it what little justice I can:
We had set off from Boulders lodge on a very chilly morning where the air seemed to hold your breath as we clutched on to our jackets, scarves and blankets full of excitement at the morning to come. We had stopped to listen to the dawn chorus of hippos and watch as the sun s first ruby red rays touched across the waters of the Sand River, when our tracker Rebel spotted some fresh tracks of a male leopard, and thus began one of the most ridiculous sequences of events. After driving not even 200 hundred feet down the river we came across a large herd of elephants that were enjoying a sand bath and feeding on either side of the road around us, and before we could even start to point to everything going on around us we suddenly heard a male leopard s rasping call further west, very close to where the elephants were feeding. So, we hesitantly left the herd of elephants and quickly came across the male leopard responsible for the territorial calls, but he was not alone! In fact he was with a female, and one he was mating with. After spending about an hour watching in awe at how we were allowed to be part of such a secretive and special ritual, we again had pandemonium as suddenly a pack of wild dogs appeared from nowhere, hunting a very unlucky female bushbuck who was not only chased by the great long distance athletes but then into a mating pair of leopards who both gave short chases before realising they were not the only hunters and hastily beating a retreat from the excitable pack of canines. I turned to my guest at this point and for what seemed like the 50 th time that drive told them how lucky we had been and how I was still in a state of minor shock at all we had seen in a mere 1 kilometre long drive. After recapping stories and sharing pictures over a cup of hot coffee later that morning on a lovely stretch overlooking a beautiful sycamore fig tree along the river, one of my guests asked me with a smile, Well we are intrigued what you have in store for us next? To which I could only laugh and reply, Whatever the bush has planned for us!
Hidden cameras and secret animals Article by Michelle Campbell With 9 000 sightings of 142 leopards in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve last year, the area demonstrated itself as an important region for inclusion in a nationwide study to uncover the true population density of leopards in South Africa. In June, Singita Sabi Sand saw the implementation of 37 camera stations, covering an area of 100 square kilometers, and the start of a 45-day camera-trap survey, run by Panthera. Researcher Lisa Thomas, Panthera s Monitoring Field Technician, was responsible for setting up and checking the cameras used in the survey. Spaced roughly 2km apart, each station comprised two Panthera digital camera-traps positioned opposite each other to photograph both flanks of the animal. Visiting the stations once every five days, Lisa checked that the cameras were functioning correctly, replaced the batteries and downloaded the images, before cataloguing the findings according to date, time, station location, species, and number of individuals captured. The project has been a huge success, Lisa reported at the end of the study. So far, we have captured close to 70 000 images, with more data still to download. Generally, we have had a great capture rate, with very little wasted footage, for example due to shadows, or branches in front of the camera. Of course flashing cameras in the bush not only attracted the attention of guides and guests, but animals too. In the first week of the cameras being out in the field, three were lost to hyenas who chewed them up, and a fourth was trampled by an elephant. One problem we encountered was that the animals did not like the smell of the cameras, Lisa explained. Elephants, particularly, smelled them and then tried to squash them or pull them out! Lisa s solution? To smear the camera with fresh elephant dung to hide the human scent! Sometimes the animals even did it for her! There was one particular camera near a waterhole that was well covered with hippo dung by a bull who has kindly incorporated the camera trap into his midden! Even a honey badger was caught scent marking one of the cameras. Luckily, the animals got used to the cameras and after a week, broadly ignored them. While the Panthera team will now spend the next two months compiling a detailed report on the vast number of images captured and other statistical data, Lisa shared with us some of the special photographs taken during the survey, as well as some surprise findings. In one instance, a camera captured a game viewer crossing a drainage line, and seconds later, a leopard crossing after it, highlighting just how elusive these animals can be! Although the surveys aim was to find out more about leopards, some of the most interesting captures were in fact those of nocturnal game, and the relative abundance of it versus how much we see during game drive. Similarly fascinating, were the images captured of the more elusive, rarely seen animals, including honey badger, porcupine, black rhino and aardvark. The discovery too of larger than expected jackal and African wild cat populations were also welcome surprises. The survey also captured excellent images of ground birds and mongoose - both of which were particularly attracted to the green and red flashing lights on the camera traps and as such, provided very entertaining images! Black rhino, African civet captured by camera traps. Credit: Panthera, Singita Sabi Sand, Sabi Sand Wildtuin
Porcupine, serval, honey badger and aardvark, captured by camera traps. Photo credit: Panthera, Singita Sabi Sand, Sabi Sand Wildtuin It is hoped that the information gathered in this project will provide a rare estimate of leopard and other animals population densities under natural conditions, establishing an important baseline for Panthera s past and current studies, and contribute to South Africa s National Leopard Monitoring Programme. Such data are required to act as reference points to establish the ecological carrying capacity of populations i.e. how many leopards there should be in a system in the absence of anthropogenic pressure. The knowledge generated will also be key to informing leopard conservation policies going forward and assessing the effectiveness of management decisions. Keep updated with the survey results in this wildlife journal and discover, as we do, more about the leopards and other animals of the Sabi Sand. Making the most of the midday game viewing period Article by Leon van Wyk Oh, you need to be up at the crack of dawn, is often the advice that people are given, regarding the best time to see animals. Or, Early morning and late afternoon are by far the best times to see and photograph wildlife. Well, there is some truth to this, of course. Certainly some of the best natural light is the beautiful soft low light that is only regularly encountered just after sunrise and for a short while before sunset. But what of the rest of the day? The truth is, not everybody likes to get up early enough to already be out and about in a Land Rover before sunrise. Furthermore, some people prefer not to be out once the sun has set. Some of the guests whom I regularly guide for lengthy safaris, prefer a routine of having just one extended game drive of about 7 or 8 hours every day, leaving the lodge at around 8h00, having had breakfast, and returning to the lodge a couple of hours after having enjoyed a picnic lunch. Yes, it does indeed mean that they miss the so-called prime viewing hours of post-sunrise and pre-sunset. Yet, they invariably have some really wonderful game viewing, and I can recall many, many superb sightings that I have enjoyed while out on game drive at the less conventional times.
Animals don t just disappear over the midday period. Neither do they all just go to sleep! Yes, of course SOME of them are significantly less active around midday than during the cooler early morning or late afternoon hours. Lions, for example, will generally be less active from mid-morning to mid-afternoon than they are in the cooler hours of early morning, late afternoon and at night. Note, I use the word generally, for it is indeed a generalisation. Often lions will continue with their extended slumber, deep into the night, when they would be expected to be hunting. On the other hand, there have been numerous occasions when I have seen well-fed lions make a kill in broad daylight, even in the heat of midday or early afternoon. We should always remember that most animals are opportunists! While many books describe leopards as being nocturnal predators, I have had consistently better leopard viewing in the daytime than at night, and yes, even in the midday period when it is less expected. Just a few days ago, we found a mating pair of leopards shortly before noon, and the mating was very frequent (four times within the first ten minutes of finding them!). Furthermore, the male leopard was very interested in two adult porcupines, which we saw from some distance off before they withdrew into a deep burrow in a large termite mound. A number of times this winter we have found leopards hunting around mid-morning, with both the Schotia female and the Hlabankunzi female being successful. We have watched them then go and fetch their cubs and lead them to their kills. Cheetahs of course are well-known to be diurnal rather than nocturnal cats. Yes, they might generally be likely to be active in the cooler part of the day, but we have frequently had very high quality viewing of these beautiful speed merchants even around midday. Having said that they are diurnal, I would like to qualify this, because like most other animals, they don t read the books which explain how they are expected to behave! While most of their hunting takes place in daylight, or occasionally on a moonlit night, it is not unusual for a cheetah to walk great distances overnight. We do not view cheetahs at night, however, because they are vulnerable to attack from stronger carnivores. While predators are certainly popular with most guests, they are by no means the be all and end all of what is out there to be seen. The vast majority of herbivores are a great deal more active than carnivores for most of the hours of daylight. Elephant viewing is definitely better in the day than at night, and the warmest hours of the day, either side of noon, are often great times to spend quietly with elephants. Whether they are resting in the shade of large trees, gently tossing dust on their bodies as they slowly flap their ears, or are drinking and bathing at a water source, elephants are highly viewable during this midday period. One can occasionally find anything up to ten members of a herd of elephants lying flat-out on their sides, while other members may be dozing on their feet. I venture to suggest that resting elephants are a great deal more entertaining to watch than sleeping lions!
Zebras, giraffes and most antelope continue to be active over the midday period, and even if they are not, some, such as kudu, will still offer some really good photographic opportunities, as they allow a closer approach and a more extended viewing opportunity than when more busily feeding or on the move. Baboons can be highly entertaining at whatever time of day they are seen, and half an hour spent watching their antics in the middle of the day is invariably half an hour of amusing entertainment. One obviously needs to be sensible and clever in choosing which areas to conduct a game drive during the midday hours, as a random route chosen without too much thought can often result in disappointing viewing. Shady lanes along the various river systems are likely to be productive, and when other waterholes are visited, it is generally worth investing some considerable time at those waterholes. Many people might arrive at a waterhole, find nothing there, and move on. But wait is there really nothing? What about that pair of Egyptian geese? Just watch them for a while, they re actually beautiful birds. And that sleeping hippo how many terrapins are on his back? Whaaaat..? EIGHTEEN! Oh! Now some doves have come down for a drink. Let s wait a little longer; these lesser creatures out there are also quite fun to watch! Seemingly out of nowhere, two or three warthogs appear, trot cautiously towards the water s edge, dip their snouts below the surface and slurp up the cool liquid. Eventually one of them can resist the urge no longer, steps right into a muddy patch and wallows with gay abandon. Such bliss! Minutes later about twelve zebra make their appearance, approaching with caution at first, and then plucking up more courage to take that long-awaited drink. They jostle for position a little, somewhat ass-like in their manner, have their drink, stand around for a while and get on with their day. Before we know it, we have been at one waterhole for forty minutes. Just as we are about to move on, a single trumpet announces the approach of a herd of elephants, so we wait a little longer, and soon no fewer than thirty elephants have gathered around the waterhole for a drink. I absolutely love watching them do this, and I also derive great pleasure from watching the guests revel in their enjoyment of the whole scene. I am a huge fan of extended game drives and extended stays in one of our lodges. There is just so much going on out there every single day, and if guests are able to spend several hours on safari every day for several consecutive days, they are going to be richly rewarded. Being a very patient person myself, who loves to spend as much time as possible in the African bush, but hates to rush around, I really enjoy guiding guests who have a similar outlook. Utter epic chaos Article by Daniella Kueck As guides, we are extremely fortunate to be able to spend so much time out in the bush with all of the animals, watching them interact and go about their daily business. But every so often we have the privilege to experience something completely out of the ordinary, something that leaves us speechless. Between May and June is one of my favourite times in the bush. The temperatures are a perfect contrast between the mornings and the afternoons. The leaves are starting to turn into those beautiful autumnal colours of golden browns, reds and burnt orange. The grass starts to turn a more tawny brown as it dries. There is a delicious dusty wood smell, and it s the start of the endless blue skies as we approach our dry season. These conditions make it perfect to kick back and sit for longer periods of time with the predators.
One afternoon towards the end of May, my tracker, Orange, and I had decided to head out and follow up on the Mhangene pride, a pride of 16 lions, 4 adult lionesses and 12 cubs all a little over a year old. After about half an hour, we had found them slightly further away from where they had been found in the morning, all lying flat out, fast asleep underneath the shade of some red bushwillows. We sat with them for about 20 minutes, none of them having moved a muscle. And it certainly didn t look like they were going to move anytime soon, but that day I had a good feeling and mentioned to my guests that I thought we should wait, be patient and see what happens. About ten minutes later they started getting a little bit active. We then noticed one of the mothers looking very determined, she walked to the edge of the clearing and started scanning her surroundings and intently sniffing the air, her three sisters following suit. You could almost feel a bit of excitement amongst the youngsters as they watched their mothers closely as they walked away. They followed but gave the mothers some space. My tracker and I decided to do a big loop around to give them some space, but with them still clearly in view. We stopped and noticed a herd of impala not too far away from them; the lions seemed to have just noticed the impala as well, although I m sure they had known they were there long before we did. We sat and watched as they split up into a perfect unspoken formation, some of the cubs even joining two of the mothers. It was one of the male cubs who ended up being overly excited and perhaps a little bit impatient, and decided to run forward toward the herd of impala. We thought that he was going to spoil the hunt and give up their positions but it just ended up kicking the mothers into high gear. There was a stage where there were lions and impala running everywhere, we didn t know where to look, until we did. About six of the lions managed to catch one of the male impala. He may not have been one of the lucky ones but it s all about survival of the fittest. The twelve cubs tucked straight into their dinner that they and their mothers had caught. One impala though, is barely enough food for a pride that size, and two of the mothers ended up taking a backseat because there was not enough space in the middle of that feeding frenzy. There were lions piled on top of lions, growling biting and scratching at one another, all trying to get their share. As if this wasn t exciting enough, a herd of about 25 elephants along with three big bulls in musth had also caught a whiff of the frenzy and came to investigate. The only problem is that elephants don t take well to lions and we knew that I had to get to a safer distance to give the animals space. As the elephants came in, as expected, they started trumpeting, kicking up dust and chasing growling lions around in every direction! After about 20 minutes of absolute chaos, the elephants eventually lost interest and moved off about 150 metres away. The lions regrouped to find any scraps that they had left. They then started to clean each other off when we heard the elephants starting to trumpet again, we had no idea what it could be this time because the lions were all accounted for in front of us. When we looked over to see what was going on, we realised that one of the elephant bulls in musth had started mating with one of the smaller elephant cows. This was the first time I d ever seen elephants mating! It was almost too much to take in. There was a stage where we didn t know what direction we should have been looking in. It was incredible! A once in a lifetime sighting! Birds of a feather Highlights for the month included an African finfoot and white-headed vulture. A woodland kingfisher and a Wahlberg s eagle were both seen unusually out of season. The abundance of black-shouldered kites and great flocks of red-billed queleas were also special this month.
Photographs on location by Ross Couper and Leon van Wyk Singita Ebony and Boulders Lodge Sabi Sand South Africa Thirty-first of July 2017