With days getting a little longer with each day that passes, we anticipate the start of spring in the bushveld. This could possibly be the best part of the bushveld winters…
So on another perfect afternoon, we departed from the lodge in search of the largest mammals that reside within our paradise, here at Amakhosi.
We tracked them down in a thick Tambotie Forest, making their way down to the river it seemed. You could hear them in the distance, but no sign of these giants. Our ranger made the call to head down to the river and wait for the breeding herd to make their appearance at the cool waters of the Mkuze River… and so we waited.
With all senses geared, ready to hear, see and smell any sign that the bush is willing to give away, the bush erupted into heart throbbing chaos! On the other side of the river, two of the sub-adult female lionesses were visible. Chasing…a warthog that was running for its life! The warthog bolted through the shallows of the river, with the lions hot on its tail, making a beeline towards our vehicle, and as luck would have it, the warthog found a vacant burrow in which it disappeared as quickly as it appeared on the river bank, not even 20 meter from where the vehicle was parked.
Shortly after, the two lionesses arrived to join the party. We sat with them for approximately half an hour, watching their every move as they were trying to get to the warthog but still keeping our ears pitched for any ellie sounds.
We then left the sighting to catch the last bit of sunlight on the horizon and enjoy some thirst quenchers after all the excitement!
We found a suitable clearing about 1.5km away from the river. Our ranger and tracker set up a table with a variety of snacks and drinks. During all the story swapping by the guests, we suddenly heard alarm calls echo through the bush…its impala…and there is definitely a predator around, and close! Our ranger and tracker made sure everyone got on the vehicle safe and sound and then as they started packing up the table with all the goodies on, there they were…the two lionesses! So the table stayed behind with all the items still on it.
Inquisitive as they are, being cats, they had to come and investigate these foreign objects that are in the vicinity of the big green smelly thing. This in turn was one of those moments where, if you think from their perspective, must have been a particularly strange encounter, with odd smells and objects, just parking off in their territory.
They kept us entertained by sniffing and testing all objects and had, what seemed like, a play session with a new toy! After a while, they lost interest and decided to move on. It can only make you want to spend all your time in the bush, just to have encounters like this one.
There is always a thrilling experience that lies in wait when you venture off into the deepest parts of the African bush.
So on another perfect afternoon, we departed from the lodge in search of the largest mammals that reside within our paradise, here at Amakhosi.
We tracked them down in a thick Tambotie Forest, making their way down to the river it seemed. You could hear them in the distance, but no sign of these giants. Our ranger made the call to head down to the river and wait for the breeding herd to make their appearance at the cool waters of the Mkuze River… and so we waited.
With all senses geared, ready to hear, see and smell any sign that the bush is willing to give away, the bush erupted into heart throbbing chaos! On the other side of the river, two of the sub-adult female lionesses were visible. Chasing…a warthog that was running for its life! The warthog bolted through the shallows of the river, with the lions hot on its tail, making a beeline towards our vehicle, and as luck would have it, the warthog found a vacant burrow in which it disappeared as quickly as it appeared on the river bank, not even 20 meter from where the vehicle was parked.
Shortly after, the two lionesses arrived to join the party. We sat with them for approximately half an hour, watching their every move as they were trying to get to the warthog but still keeping our ears pitched for any ellie sounds.
We then left the sighting to catch the last bit of sunlight on the horizon and enjoy some thirst quenchers after all the excitement!
We found a suitable clearing about 1.5km away from the river. Our ranger and tracker set up a table with a variety of snacks and drinks. During all the story swapping by the guests, we suddenly heard alarm calls echo through the bush…its impala…and there is definitely a predator around, and close! Our ranger and tracker made sure everyone got on the vehicle safe and sound and then as they started packing up the table with all the goodies on, there they were…the two lionesses! So the table stayed behind with all the items still on it.
Inquisitive as they are, being cats, they had to come and investigate these foreign objects that are in the vicinity of the big green smelly thing. This in turn was one of those moments where, if you think from their perspective, must have been a particularly strange encounter, with odd smells and objects, just parking off in their territory.
They kept us entertained by sniffing and testing all objects and had, what seemed like, a play session with a new toy! After a while, they lost interest and decided to move on. It can only make you want to spend all your time in the bush, just to have encounters like this one.
There is always a thrilling experience that lies in wait when you venture off into the deepest parts of the African bush.
