Category Archives: Mpumalanga Province

Our experiences in the reserves of Mpumalanga, South Africa

You just can’t tire of seeing Lions

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

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

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 (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

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…

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!

Baboon antics in the Kruger National Park

12 Replies

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

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!

Skukuza’s frog community

11 Replies

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!

Seeing a Leopard is always thrilling!

13 Replies

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 (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!

Dung Beetle hard at work in the Kruger National Park

18 Replies

Here’s a fun video Joubert took during our latest visit to the Kruger National Park of a dung beetle hard at work. Watch the female catching a lift!

Spending time with Skukuza’s Hyenas

20 Replies

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 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)

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 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)

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

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!

Hunting with African Wild Dogs

12 Replies

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!

Our 2023 in pictures

10 Replies

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

Camping at Nyl River Bush Camp, December 2023

Getting REALLY up close with Leopards in Manyeleti

28 Replies

One of our very first sightings in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve – shortly after settling in at Ndzhaka Camp – was of two young Leopards. Their mother had caught an antelope for each of them and hoisted these into different trees so that the two cubs could eat in peace. One had a bushbuck, the other an impala. It was amazing being so close to the feeding leopards. They truly are beautiful animals.

Young leopard in Manyeleti Nature Reserve

The next afternoon while enjoying our drive from Buffelshoek Camp we eventually found ourselves back at the Leopard sighting just after sunset. Both the cubs were still there – in separate trees – and their mother joined them, snacking on the leftovers of the bushbuck. Below two Spotted Hyenas were waiting for scraps falling from the tree above.

Leopard Cub in Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Female Leopard feeding on a bushbuck carcass in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Spotted Hyena, Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Getting up close to feeding leopards in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Female Leopard feeding on a bushbuck carcass in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

In the fading light I eventually had to switch to video. The female would stop feeding every now and then, growling ferociously at something unseen in the dense undergrowth. Minutes later the source of her irritation revealed itself as a male Leopard, in all likelihood the father of the cubs. He climbed into the other tree to feed on the remains of the Impala carcass. In 45 years of frequent visits to our wild places I have never seen four leopards in the same spot. An incredible experience, and I hope this video gives you a sense of that!

Heading back to Buffelshoek Camp in the dark we encountered more Spotted Hyenas in the road.

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Manyeleti along with DeWetsWild and Hannes Rossouw Photography!

Caught between Painted Wolves and Cheetahs

18 Replies

Shortly after leaving Ndzhaka Camp on our first guided morning drive in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve earlier this month, we found a pack of Painted Wolves, better known as African Wild Dogs, in the road. There was great excitement among the younger Dogs in the pack as the adults had just returned to them with meat from a fresh kill, and all of them were in a very playful mood. We got some wonderful photographs and video of the Dogs playing around the vehicles at the sighting.

Wild Dog in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Playful Wild Dog pups in Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Wild Dog in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

After a while we noticed two Cheetahs walking along the road in our direction, very aware of the Wild Dogs but apparently not fazed enough by them to immediately head for cover.

Two cheetahs walking along the road in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

It didn’t take long for the Wild Dogs to also notice the Cheetahs though, and they immediately set off in their direction.

Wild Dogs running along the road in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Now this is the point where I can kick myself! I thought I was videoing the whole sequence, but in the excitement I never pressed the recording button… Next time I will do better, I promise… As the Wild Dogs trotted ever closer one of the Cheetahs broke cover and charged at them, seemingly thinking that offense is the best defense. The Cheetah was however immediately surrounded by the adult Wild Dogs, hit with its front paws on the ground, hissing and spitting, and then ran through a gap in the Dogs and up a dead tree, where we pick up the action with a photograph or two.

Cheetah after being chased up a tree by Wild Dogs in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Cheetah jumping out of the tree

With the Dogs satisfied that they’ve given the Cheetahs a run for their money and setting of on another hunt, we followed the now reunited Cheetahs for a while until they moved into dense cover where we lost sight of them. By then, the Wild Dogs had also ventured further into the bush and out of sight.

Cheetahs in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

Cheetah in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve

African Wild Dogs can cover enormous distances, and we found the pack again that afternoon, this time on a drive from Buffelshoek Camp. In the heat of the afternoon they were a lot less energetic and more content lazing in the shade at the side of the road than hunting.