The Kruger National Park has a healthy Leopard population and the Skukuza-area of the Park is renowned for excellent encounters with these big cats, especially if you know where and when to look for them. During our short visit earlier in January we had three memorable Leopard sightings to share with you.
We were still readying our cameras at the Malelane Gate shortly after arriving when some kind folks told us about this Leopard lazing in a tree just a few kilometers into the Park on the way to Skukuza. We were grateful it was still in the same spot when we got there – starting your visit with a Leopard sighting is a very good omen of things to come!
Lazy Leopard in a tree near Malelane in the Kruger National Park
Lazy Leopard in a tree near Malelane in the Kruger National Park (photo by Joubert)
Lazy Leopard in a tree near Malelane in the Kruger National Park
Our next Leopard encounter was with this individual of whom we caught only a quick glimpse along the main road leading to Lower Sabie from Skukuza before it melted away in the lush summer vegetation.
In January the Park’s Rest Camps open their gates at 04h30 in the morning, with there then being still quite a while before first light. Skukuza’s gates had just been swung open and we joined the first few cars heading out when this brute of a Leopard male stepped out onto the road at the 4-way crossing not even a kilometer further. In our wild places an early start to the day is often handsomely rewarded!
Leopard just outside Skukuza in the early morning
Leopard just outside Skukuza in the early morning
Leopard just outside Skukuza in the early morning (photo by Joubert)
Leopard just outside Skukuza in the early morning (photo by Joubert)
Leopard just outside Skukuza in the early morning (photo by Joubert)
We’d love for you to join DeWetsWild on a guided tour of the Kruger National Park or to help you arrange a self-guided visit. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
Even if Spotted Hyenas were not the most numerous large predator around Skukuza Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park – and I think they are – they’re definitely the most frequently encountered, a fact borne out yet again by the many rendezvous we had with these fascinating creatures during our visit to the Skukuza-area earlier in January.
Spotted Hyena near Leeupan, north-east of Skukuza Rest Camp
On a night drive from camp, following the course of the Sabie River, we crossed paths with several clans all searching for food.
We paid frequent visits to a Hyena den just a few kilometres south of the camp, where the many curious cubs kept us well entertained. These encounters were definitely in the “cute and cuddly” category.
Adult female Spotted Hyena at their den near Skukuza
Spotted Hyena cub at their den near Skukuza
Spotted Hyena cub at their den near Skukuza (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena cub at their den near Skukuza (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena cubs at their den near Skukuza (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena cub at their den near Skukuza (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena cub at their den near Skukuza
Spotted Hyena cubs at their den near Skukuza
Spotted Hyena cubs licking at a puddle of aircon water in the road at their den near Skukuza (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena cub at their den near Skukuza (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena cub at their den near Skukuza (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena cub at their den near Skukuza (photo by Joubert)
We were awed by their tenacity when we spent time with this group of four Hyenas who were following the hunting wild dogs we shared with you a few days ago. While they couldn’t keep up with the pace of the painted wolves they were not put off, hoping that if they stayed on the spoor of the dogs they would catch up with them and could steal their meal. As it turned out the kill was quickly consumed by the wild dogs and the hyenas were left without a morsel by the time they arrived, but I am sure this will not prevent them trying again!
Spotted Hyena following a pack of wild dogs on the hunt
Spotted Hyena following a pack of wild dogs on the hunt
Spotted Hyena following a pack of wild dogs on the hunt
Spotted Hyenas following a pack of wild dogs on the hunt (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena following a pack of wild dogs on the hunt (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena following a pack of wild dogs on the hunt (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena following a pack of wild dogs on the hunt (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena following a pack of wild dogs on the hunt (photo by Joubert)
Definitely the scariest run-in with a Spotted Hyena during this latest trip was with an individual who popped into the Tshokwane Picnic Spot while we were having breakfast. Luckily he didn’t stay long and moved off again without using those powerful jaws on any of the humans.
Spotted Hyena inspecting Tshokwane Picnic Spot in the Kruger National Park (photo by Joubert)
Spotted Hyena inspecting Tshokwane Picnic Spot in the Kruger National Park
Spotted Hyena inspecting Tshokwane Picnic Spot in the Kruger National Park
Spotted Hyena inspecting Tshokwane Picnic Spot in the Kruger National Park
We’d love for you to join DeWetsWild on a guided tour of the Kruger National Park or to help you arrange a self-guided visit. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
We’ve just returned from another wonder-filled visit to the Kruger National Park, where as always we had great luck and enjoyed the most memorable experiences. One of those was this encounter with a pack of African Wild Dogs hunting along the Sand River while we followed behind until they caught, killed and devoured a young Impala early yesterday (11 January 2024) morning. This video – not for sensitive viewers – was taken by Joubert.
We’d love for you to join DeWetsWild on a guided tour of the Kruger National Park or to help you arrange a self-guided visit. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
South Africa is home to two indigenous species of Water Lilies from the genus Nymphaea, named for the beautiful nymphs of Greek mythology. They are long-lived plants, growing from spongy rhizomes anchored in the mud by spreading roots, occurring in standing or slow-flowing water up to 90cm deep in swamps, ponds, marshes, small streams and rivers. Their flat leaves may be up to 40cm wide where they float on the pond surface. The flowers are borne throughout the warm spring and summer months, may measure up to 20cm across, are very fragrant and extremely popular with bees and other pollinators. Unfortunately an individual flower rarely lasts longer than 4 days.
The White Water Lily, also known as the Egyptian Water Lily or Egyptian Lotus, is found in the north-eastern provinces of South Africa, besides its wide occurrence throughout our neighbouring countries and into tropical Africa. The Blue, or Cape, Water Lily is distributed over a much larger part of our country and most of sub-Saharan Africa and along the Nile. The beautiful flowers of both species were highly regarded even during the reign of Egypt’s pharaohs, being cultivated for use as decorations and in ceremonies. Today they still feature in gardens the world over.
Join us for a look back at the wonderfully wild South African destinations we visited during 2023. May 2024 be a blessed year for you and your family, memorable for all the best reasons.
Jakhalsfontein Guest Farm
Our camping setup at Bontle in Marakele National Park, March 2023
Chalet #1 in Lilydale Rest Camp
Hut #107 in Pretoriuskop Rest Camp, Kruger National Park (June 2023)
Hut #46 in Lower Sabie Rest Camp, Kruger National Park (June 2023)
Tent #10 in Tamboti Tented Camp, Kruger National Park (June 2023)
Guest House, Shingwedzi Research Camp, Kruger National Park, June 2023
Buffelshoek Camp, Manyeleti Nature Reserve, September 2023
Ndzhaka Camp, Manyeleti Nature Reserve, September 2023
Twanana Research Camp, Kruger National Park, September 2023
House #32, Kudu Private Nature Reserve, October 2023
The beach at the estuary of Lake Saint Lucia
Cape Vidal at low tide
Western Shores section of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Rest Hut #3, Mantuma Rest Camp, uMkhuze Game Reserve, November 2023
At a weight of about 250g and measuring about 24cm in length, Coqui Francolins are the smallest of their family occurring in South Africa. They’re widespread in the north of our country – from northern Kwazulu-Natal through Mpumalanga and Gauteng to Limpopo and the North West – but aren’t commonly encountered anywhere due to their shy nature (relying mostly on their camouflage and remaining perfectly still and close to the ground when danger is perceived). Beyond South Africa’s borders their distribution range extends patchily as far as Senegal and the IUCN considers the species to be of least concern. They’re found in savanna and woodland vegetation types with a well developed grass layer and feed on a wide variety of plant material and invertebrates. They form small flocks of up to 12 birds when not breeding.
Coqui Francolins nest at the end of the rainy season, when grass is lush and seeds are in ample supply. The nest is little more than a shallow hollow scraped in thick vegetation and lined with soft materials in which the female incubates a clutch of up to 6 eggs.
The Whiskered Tern is a bird of natural wetlands, being equally at home at freshwater wetlands and marshes (even farm dams!) than at estuaries and river mouths along the coast. They feed in loose flocks, flying low above the water, and catching anything from aquatic invertebrates to frogs and small fish.
Whiskered Terns breed opportunistically following good rains, establishing loose colonies of up to 80 monogamous pairs. Their nests are floating structures consisting of plant material and built by both partners. Clutches of up to 3 eggs are incubated over a 3 week period. The chicks can’t fly until they’re almost a month old, but can swim soon after hatching and uses this to good effect to temporarily abandon the nest if danger threatens, while the parents dive-bomb the intruders – even cattle and humans! Adults weigh about 100g and measure around 25cm in length.
The Yellow-billed Egret was previously considered to be the locally occurring race of the Intermediate Egret but was recently (September 2023) elevated to full species status. It is found over almost all of sub-Saharan Africa and in our country is absent from the arid western and central parts of the country, reflecting its preference for regularly flooded grasslands, wetlands and the shallows of dams, lakes and seasonal pans where they feed on small fish, frogs and aquatic invertebrates. They have been recorded as flying – almost hovering – behind hippos moving through the water to catch anything the large mammal disturbs.
Adult Yellow-billed Egrets weigh around 400g and measure approximately 70cm from bill to tail. They usually hunt alone, but groups of up to 20 may congregate at abundant food sources. During spring and summer they breed in colonies with others of their kind as well as other water birds, forming monogamous pairs that work together to build their platform nest in a tree or reedbed, with the male providing the female with sticks and reeds for the purpose. Clutches of 2 or 3 eggs are incubated in turns by both parents over a 4 week period. While the chicks leave the nest at about 3 weeks old they can’t fly until the age of about 2½ months.
DeWetsWild is proud to announce that we can now assist with reservations for and guided tours of what is unquestionably one of South Africa’s diamonds – the Tembe Elephant Park!
Visitors can look forward to spending time with some of the country’s biggest tuskers, lions, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes and rare species like African wild dogs and sunis, while staying in the comfortable accommodation offered by one of the continent’s most affordable full service lodges in a “Big 5” reserve and being looked after by the most hospitable people.
If you feel like treating yourself to a bush retreat, have a read here and then chat to me about Tembe Elephant Park!
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