Late afternoon on the third day of our 2024 Manyeleti Magic photo-safari we were driving through a most beautiful spot of towering trees lining a stream and waterhole, with the most glorious golden light illuminating the scene. It was a little slice of paradise filled with various animals and birds and it is hard to describe just how blessed we felt to be there in the moment.
Giraffes congregating at the water to drink
Giraffe checking out the water before drinking
Nile Crocodile basking on a sandbank
Hippo eyeing us from the waterhole
Hippopotamus cow and calf
Hippopotamus calf
Our guide Beckson was the first to notice an enormous Southern African Rock Python slithering across the two-track road we were on. It was a magnificent specimen and must’ve only very recently shed its old skin as it was now resplendent with shiny new scales amplified by the golden light of the afternoon sun. With pythons, especially this size, being a rare sighting we all got off the vehicle and our guests had a chance to photograph the enormous snake from all angles before it moved underneath an old leadwood stump and disappeared from view. A most memorable encounter; the kind of which we’ve learned is pretty much par for the course in the magical place that is Manyeleti!
Shiny new scales on a Southern African Rock Python encountered on our Manyeleti Magic Photographic Safari
The head of a Southern African Rock Python encountered on our Manyeleti Magic Photographic Safari
The head of a Southern African Rock Python encountered on our Manyeleti Magic Photographic Safari
The head of a Southern African Rock Python encountered on our Manyeleti Magic Photographic Safari
The head of a Southern African Rock Python encountered on our Manyeleti Magic Photographic Safari
Just look at the size of this Southern African Rock Python encountered on our Manyeleti Magic Photographic Safari!
We’re already taking bookings for our 2025 Manyeleti Magic Photographic Safari and Workshop, to be conducted out of Buffelshoek Camp again in June of next year in conjunction with Hannes Rossouw Photography. Contact us if you’d like to join this one, or if you and a group of family and friends are keen to do something similar on other dates we’d be very glad to accommodate you!
Last month, while travelling between Elephant Sands Lodge and the Sua Pan in Botswana during Gospel on Safari, a life-long dream of mine was realised when I finally had the chance to see a Pangolin in the wild!
Ground Pangolin
Ground Pangolin
Ground Pangolin
Ground Pangolin scales
Ground Pangolin rolling into a protective ball
Smutsia temminckii – The Ground Pangolin
Sadly, the Ground Pangolin is being threatened with extinction and is currently listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Like other kinds of pangolin their populations are being driven downward by illegal trade for mainly superstitious medicinal uses and as a high-end delicacy. Farming practices, electric fences and road deaths are further threats to these enigmatic animals. In South Africa today they’re found mainly in the Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and northern KZN, with populations in the Eastern Cape and Free State now feared extinct, while their natural distribution stretches beyond our borders as far north as Chad and Sudan.
Fully grown Ground Pangolins measure between 70 and 110cm in length, stand about 30cm high on all fours and weigh between 5 and 18kg, with males being considerably bigger than females. They feed on ants and termites, breaking open their nests with the powerful claws on their front feet and lapping the insects up with a tongue that is longer than the Pangolin’s body! They inhabit any habitat that has an ample supply of their favoured food items, being found from semi-deserts to the edge of forests. They do not need to drink.
As their name suggests, Ground Pangolins are strictly earthbound. They rest in tunnels that they dig themselves or take over from other animals. They plug the entrance to the tunnel from inside when using it. If caught outside they will roll up into a tight ball, their hard, sharp scales serving as excellent protection. Pangolins have wonderful senses of hearing and smell, but poor eyesight, and are solitary animals except when mating or when a mother is with her offspring. Females give birth to a single baby at a time, which she carries around with her on her tail for much of the first months of its life. They live to about 12 years of age in the wild.
While camping near Domtshetshu Pan in Botswana recently, as part of Gospel on Safari, I took a stroll towards a muddy part of the waterhole, where I found two Black Mambas – one of the deadliest species of snake on the planet – wallowing in the mud, drinking from little pools and being very coy with each other. The snakes paid me no notice at all, making me think that they probably have never seen a human before – what an amazing thought! Later, one of my fellow campers joined me at the sighting and still the snakes acted as if we weren’t even there.
No matter how often you visit our national parks and game reserves or how many encounters you have with these regal cats, you just don’t get blasé about seeing Lions in the wild. Our most recent visit to the southern Kruger National Park earlier this month delivered some very exciting and some not so exciting, but still very memorable, sightings of Lions.
Our first Lion sighting of the trip came at the bridge over the Nwatimhiri River, where a small pride of lionesses and youngsters were lying in the long grass and trying their best to blend in with their surroundings.
Lioness in the Nwatimhiri River (photo by Joubert)
Lionesses in the Nwatimhiri River (photo by Joubert)
Lionesses in the Nwatimhiri River (photo by Joubert)
Lionesses in the Nwatimhiri River
Not much further we found the Lubyelubye pride walking along the road with a cavalcade of vehicles following them. As they walked past our vehicle they were close enough to touch, not that we’re foolish enough to ever attempt that – watch how carefully Joubert videos the passing procession from inside the car! 😉
The Lubyelubye lions walking along the road, just north of Lower Sabie Rest Camp
The Lubyelubye lions walking along the road, just north of Lower Sabie Rest Camp
The Lubyelubye lions walking along the road, just north of Lower Sabie Rest Camp
The Lubyelubye lions walking along the road, just north of Lower Sabie Rest Camp
The Lubyelubye lions walking along the road, just north of Lower Sabie Rest Camp
The Lubyelubye lions walking along the road, just north of Lower Sabie Rest Camp
The Lubyelubye lions walking along the road, just north of Lower Sabie Rest Camp
Early the next morning we were on our way from Skukuza to Tshokwane when we came across three lionesses stalking a zebra in dense growth. The zebra did not notice the lions until it almost step on the closest one, but it still got away! Thrilling to watch for us but I thought I saw a rather miffed expression on the faces of the lions…
Lions failing at their zebra hunting attempt
Lions failing at their zebra hunting attempt
Lions failing at their zebra hunting attempt
Lions failing at their zebra hunting attempt
Lions failing at their zebra hunting attempt (photo by Joubert)
Sometimes you have to work really hard for even a glimpse of a lion, as this one relaxing in the shade in the heat of the day proves.
Being out of the camp gates as soon as they open improves your chances of finding the lions up and active. On our final morning in the Kruger National Park we found this group of 4 lionesses walking over the Sand River Causeway.
Lioness in the dark of early morning
Lioness in the dark of early morning
We were still wondering where the males associated with the group of female’s we’d just seen could be, when we found these two lazing on the Marula Loop road only about 2km further.
Very tired male lion wondering why he decided to sleep on the road… (photo by Joubert)
Very tired male lion wondering why he decided to sleep on the road…
Very tired male lion wondering why he decided to sleep on the road…
Very tired male lion wondering why he decided to sleep on the road…
Very tired male lion wondering why he decided to sleep on the road…
And then getting up to find a quiter spot for his early morning lie-in (photo by Joubert)
If seeing lions in the wild is on your wish list 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!
Chacma Baboons are great entertainers and most visitors to the Kruger National Park enjoy seeing these animals. I suppose that’s because their obvious intelligence, playful nature, endearing family interactions and the occasional aggressive altercation is like a mirror held up to our faces.
Baboon reaching for a grass stem full of seeds
Baboons are omnivores (photo by Joubert)
Baboon reaching for a grass stem full of seeds
Baby Baboons ride their mom like a jockey when they’re a bit older
Baby Baboons ride their mom like a jockey when they’re a bit older
Baby Baboons ride their mom like a jockey when they’re a bit older
Baby Baboons ride their mom like a jockey when they’re a bit older
Playful Baboon toddlers
Male Baboon looking very unimpressed
Is it just a Baboon yawn, or a sign of aggression?
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!
Outside of the reception office at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park is a beautiful pond, which by night is transformed into a stage for dozens of frogs of various kinds. For us it has become a tradition to visit the pond every night we spend in Skukuza to admire the sights and sounds of animals that are becoming ever more rare in the modern world.
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!
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!
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