Amakhosi Safari Lodge

Heaven on Earth

2011-09-20T03:29:00.000-07:00

Heaven on Earth

It is that time of the year again…temperature is rising and with it comes the rain, which will, in a couple weeks, transform a harsh, dry landscape into a canvas of colours!

A few days ago, we had the first and the most amazing thunderstorm.

For 3 hours, the heavens were alight with beams of lightning clawing the earth followed by the deafening roar of thunder, so loud and intense it felt like standing amidst a thousand Zulus at their War Dance.

Everyone at Amakhosi was silent and in awe by this beautiful display of the majestic power of nature.

Today, after a mere 17 mm of rain, new life is bursting from the soil and slowly but surely our beautiful Zulu-land will be once again ‘heaven on earth’…

Hungry lions

2011-07-01T02:13:00.001-07:00

Winter Appetite

All of us know the effects of winter... even here in Zulu-land we have to reach for the blankets and heaters as soon as the sun goes down! With the cold, there is also the ‘craving’ for more food... We need to eat more to provide our bodies with more fuel as well as that extra insulation against the cold...

Well, the same goes to the animals! Especially the lions here at Amakhosi... Since they don’t hibernate, they have to fuel up in order to survive the winter. And that’s exactly what they’ve been doing these last few days!

One of our prides consists of 11 lions - 5 males, 2 old ladies, a pregnant lady and a mom with 2 cubs.

Since lions need an average of 5 -7kg of meat daily for normal activities and functioning (but can gorge up to 50kg at a single sitting), they need to hunt often in order to survive.

In less than 2 weeks, these amazing cats have killed a giraffe, nyala, kudu, wildebeest and a buffalo!

They have a very expensive appetite…

Lions are expert stalkers, especially the females who can use very little cover to creep unnoticed up to an unsuspecting animal. They move very carefully and freeze as soon as their prey moves.

Another useful skill is their coordination and teamwork. With large prey such as giraffe and buffalo, the females will do most of the hunting while the males only help-out with the finale kill. Males are efficient hunters, but with age come the black mane that makes concealment quite difficult! Thus, a male’s main priority is defending his pride and their territory…

Lions are most of the time inactive and spend up to 20 hours resting, but with an increased appetite, come more opportunities for our guests to witness Africa’s largest predator in action.

2011-05-20T23:21:00.000-07:00

Misty mornings

After a very cold & wet game drive the previous night, none of the guests were too keen on getting up before the break of dawn for yet another cold drive….

I was waiting by the coffee station when I saw in the feint early morning light the guys dragging themselves towards the lodge, everyone covered from head to toe! A very unusual sight here in Zulu-land….

Well, we had our coffee & decided to head out North. It was still fairly dark when we left the lodge & the cold winter air cuts like a knife, even through all the various layers of clothing & blankets!

The sun came out, but we still couldn’t see more than a few meters ahead of us, the mist was too thick. We drove up onto the hill & were rewarded with a breath-taking sunrise! We were staring out over the valley of sleeping buffaloes, caught in the moment when suddenly a lion called just ahead of us!

Naturally we decided to investigate, who wouldn’t??? Well, we heard one call in front of us, then another called from behind us, & then, right next to the Cruiser, one of the Bafana Boys came out of the mist! He gave us a long, intense stare with those magnificent amber eyes before turning around & started marking his territory.

We followed him, & every few paces he would sniff, turn around & spray. This went on for a long time when suddenly his body language changed & he crouched down…

We waited in anticipation….

Then, from behind a bush came another lion! The first one jumped up & greeted his brother with a huge cat-hug! The 2 of them played for a few minutes, & then went back to business… marking their territory. Unfortunately for them, they both wanted to scent-mark in the same tree at the same time…

Jip, that’s right, both fell out!

They can be very lucky that it wasn’t a big tree & that they fell less than 1meter!

Well, needless to say, we had an awesome morning & we were all very glad that we withstood the temptation of sleeping in!

This is the bush, so one can always expect the unexpected!

Photos and Text by Mandie Pool - Amakhosi Ranger

Weird & Wonderful Creatures of the Night !

2011-03-15T05:45:00.000-07:00

After a hot day under the African sun, we relax on a beautiful viewpoint & watch the horizon turn from hazy-blue to African orange. The stars appear one after another & slowly the land transforms into a different world. Most of the animals we have seen on drive have dissappeared form sight. As the moon & stars come out, so do the weird & wonderful creatures of the night…

The rangers at Amakhosi were given a new toy for Christmas, one which would be able to capture these elusive creatures in their most natural state. This type of camera is used worldwide to gather & analyze information of nocturnal animals not seen regularly.

One of these is the Leopard. The fiercest cat in Africa - built for power and adapted to a solitary lifestyle.

Big male leopard caught on camera across the river from our Isigodlo Villa. Male leopards can weigh up to 90kg, with a head/body length of 190cm & shoulder height of 78cm.

The territory of a male may overlap several female ranges, but these cats are not very social & meet only to mate. Females raise their cubs alone which reach sexual maturity at 3 years of age.

Leopards are IUCN Endangered & CITES 1. Their numbers are declining due to unnecessary persecution by farmers, habitat loss & hunting.

The Hyena with its crazy giggling and howling is an integral part of the African night. Hard to imagine sitting by a camp-fire without the whooping of hyenas in the distance! These beautiful predators are misunderstood by many people and falsely branded with a bad reputation. Hyenas are the refuse collectors of nature & without them the veld would be littered with carcasses & bones. At Amakhosi we have 2 types of hyenas – the well-known Spotted Hyena and its cousin the Brown Hyena. On camera we have caught the lesser known Brown Hyena on several occasions. This has of course aroused much excitement amongst the rangers.

The sloping back which gives the hyena its cowardly appearance is actually an adaptation to their energy-efficient gait when they forage. The forequarters are massive compared to the rest of the body. This is to accommodate a large head & neck, well-equipped with powerful temperalis and masseter muscles. Hyenas are very successful since they are great hunters, have lots of stamina and don’t mind left-overs.

Another shy & interesting creature caught on camera is the Antbear (Ardvark). With its long ears, flat snout & exceptional diggers, this creature is unique & unmistakable.

Anbears are endemic to Africa & there is only 1 species in the world.

The night is alive with fascinating animals! Each has their own unique characteristics & behaviors, but all equally important in the African bush and found right here at Amakhosi.

To close for comfort…

2011-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

On a rainy morning this past week, after much debate whether we would actually even be heading out at all for the morning, we went in search of Africa’s bovine beasts, the Cape Buffalo…

Should you be one of the lucky ones to know…we headed out to the Uitschot area, in the south eastern region of the reserve.

As we arrived, descending over the crest, there they were; a 100 strong herd of prime specimen! We could immediately sense that something was potting and agitation was in the air. Approaching slowly we spotted the cause of the unrest….

The 6 Bafanas (our male lions) tracking the herd…Hoping that they might have a lucky day with a calf straggling behind or something like that…But the tables got turned in an instant!

Some of the Buffalo bulls had had enough of the pestering young boys and started charging at them to try and deter their keen interest. As clever as Buffalo are, they honed in on one particular lion and just as they were about to teach him a valuable lesson, an awkwardly small Marula tree played a life saving part in this episode.
The lion swiftly clambered up the tree to safety, and was it just! There was probably only about 50cm to spare between the Buffalo’s deadly horns and the lions dangling foot as he perched himself on a branch.

What a sight to see! Africa’s top predator, trapped like a vulnerable about to be prey! The Buffalo milled around the tree for about half an hour before loosing interest and moving on… hopefully leaving the irritants behind!

As soon as the coast was clear the lion dismounted the tree with grace and rejoined his 5 brothers that were still hanging around in the thickets. And before long…they were back on the track of the Buffalo herd, continuing in their hunt for their eternal foe.

It’s thrilling to be a part and be able to witness these breathtaking moments at Amakhosi. Needless to say, all of us were delighted that we had taken our ranger’s advice and headed out for the morning…

Because on days like these it is not even an option to consider staying in, when the bush is alive with amazing surprises such as this!

Somewhere over the rainbow…

2011-01-14T07:54:00.000-08:00

If only there truly was a pot f gold at the end of each rainbow, we would be lavishly living it up here at Amakhosi! Especially at this time of year when afternoon thunderstorms become the norm…

This picture perfect scene played out one afternoon on game drive this past week…with our tracker admiring and probably also wondering…what if there is really a pot of gold…

The trackers at Amakhosi have loved each moment and relishing in their own achievements in the past weeks, with leopard sightings and amazing lion encounters. They have this unique ability of finding the ever illusive inhabitants of the African bush.

To give some insight; the ranger and tracker teams at Amakhosi all have trusting relationships and a ranger sticks with a tracker for the duration of their stay at Amakhosi, so close relationships grow over the years of those that stick around.

The trackers are the guys who are proud Zulu’s from Zululand, and extremely passionate about their ‘home’, Zululand being their ‘home’. They take immense pride in sharing the beauty around them and showing off whom and what they are in this bigger picture they live in.

With sharp eyes and ingrained ‘bush sense’ there is nothing that a Zulu tracker would miss out there! They are the guys that when mentioned by a guest; I hope to see elephant, will without you even knowing track them, and take you to your hearts desire.

They all are born in our own ‘Bush School’ and there is no better place to learn about the bush than in the bush…with no books, just keen senses that are tuned in with the environment around them and a die-hard sense to observe all that goes on around!

These guys who sit right out front on the tracker seat of the vehicle will blow your mind by their ability to read the ever present signs that animals leave behind…

When visiting Amakhosi you can’t believe that in some of Africa’s deepest and darkest parts live the people whose passion for this continent in its natural state, overwhelms anything that is not of the bush.

A hooting start to 2011 at Amakhosi…

2011-01-08T04:02:00.000-08:00

A number of different owls have been seen on game drives and on some walks in the past week here at Amakhosi.

These mostly nocturnal creatures can be quite difficult to find so luck was on our Amakhosi’s ranger's side when we were able to spot close to 7 of the owls found on the reserve!

When finding them people are always interested at looking at them with intent and listen to the interesting facts about them. There is so much folklore and many superstitions surrounding these unusual feathered friends.

It is a bird that in fact does a lot more good than bad in the bigger picture.

They feed mostly on rodents so by having them around is a great natural way to deal with unwanted vermin.

The pick of the sightings was probably the one on a walk close to the lodge.

We stumbled upon a Giant Eagle Owl in a Tamboti Forest not to far…and there he was, in full glory, in bright daylight!

A large powerful owl capable of catching small mammals!

To find one at night when it is most active is usually a treat of note for any “twitcher” or keen wannabe…

But to have the opportunity to marvel at one of these magnificent creatures in broad daylight was a big highlight for the guests on walk and probably more for the ranger…a “twitcher” himself!

Unfortunately we were unable to get any photographs of this sighting but it is definitely a story worth repeating, even with no photos!

The photo above is one of a White Faced Scops Owl which is also one of the night birds that we got to see.

As always, venturing out into the bush at Amakhosi is filled with surprises and thrilling experiences waiting to be had!

Fancy a swim your highness...

2010-12-10T01:42:00.000-08:00

With summer rains having replenished the earth and restored the Mkuze River to it's normal glory, it has also brought with it the many challenges that a strong flowing river can...

It becomes a massive obstacle for some of the roaming inhabitants of the bush that frequent on both sides of the river...including the king of the beasts!

On a recent afternoon game drive we encountered some members of the Northern pride of lions close to the lodge...stuck on the opposite side of the river...

Once again, right place, right time = perfect shot!

Our ranger anticipated that they would cross so he positioned the vehicle where he thought they would have a go at the chocolaty torrent of the Mkuze river; so to give all present keen photographers that sought after shot of, lion in water!

We watched and waited...

They looked keen to cross, but also very hesitant. Seemingly sussing out the water levels...is it to deep...will I have to swim...really?

Serious contemplating was evident as they walked to and fro on the river bank.

Then, it only took one to make the ultimate move....carefully testing the water with one paw first, and then gently stepping into what seemed like, a very unpleasant experience for any feline!

What a sighting!

Who needs to go to Bots when the top cat of Amakhosi gives us such spectacular opportunities to watch and photograph them, in water!

They all took their time to cross the river, with two males lagging behind, really not wanting to get wet in such a horrifying way! Finally they all took the plunge and swam across the river, snarling and looking desperate to get to the end of it!

What an amazing experience for all who revel in the beauty of the African continent, it's wilderness and the inhabitants that dwell within!

Double whammy…

2010-12-03T00:20:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the year folks and the bushveld baby-boom has arrived!

Being a special occasion on its own is not enough for the bush and what it has to offer...in turn this booming time of the year offers the predators of the African bush an all you can eat buffet...and it comes in bite sizes at that!

On an afternoon game drive this past week we specifically headed out looking for our endangered big cat, the cheetah. So there is no better place to start looking for them than our wetlands area.

With some luck on our side we found the 4 boys!

Finding the four boys is always a treat, they are completely relaxed around the vehicle and they always keep us enthralled with suspense when we do find them...

The cats looked like they were doing what they do best, relaxing and grooming one another when suddenly one of the boys sat up straight and looked keenly ahead...

Being the fastest land mammal of all, it always happens very quickly, the hunt!

The boy that was sitting up suddenly took off at lighting speed with his 3 brothers hot on his tail!

The hunt is on!

Not even 100 meters away, right in front of our vehicle, they snatched up a new born Impala that lay concealed in the long green grass, probably hoping not to be discovered by a hungry big cat!

In the few minutes that it took us to reposition the vehicle in a favourable position for our keen photographers, they had nearly finished off what was obviously just a snack for the 4 of them!

We eagerly sat and watched in awe how these frail looking beasts can be so efficient at providing a hearty meal for themselves.

As they lay there licking themselves clean, looking very smug in their success, a different herd of Impala started snorting ahead. This is an alarm call when there is danger in the near vicinity...

It can't be...is what we thought...

Moments later the four boys were off again and managed to take down another bite size Impala!

In the space of about 30 minutes we got to see the awesomeness of the life cycle in the African bush at its fullest glory!

Beauty and cruelty all rolled into one! The African bush always seems to amaze here at Amakhosi!

How the big boys do it…

2010-11-18T01:45:00.000-08:00

Africa’s largest land mammal must be one of the most awesome sights to see up close.

It brings you into perspective and is definitely a very humbling experience to have.

These gentle giants gracefully walk through the open spaces and very dense thickets that the African bushveld offers and can very easily disappear... just as fast as they can appear around that blind corner or seemingly vacant bush.

In the past week on a morning game drive we were spoilt by one of the big boys on the reserve, who quietly emerged from the thickets to take a short break from his continual foraging regime.

(We have had some lovely rain in the past weeks with the dams filling up nicely and of course all the mud wallows, the ones you find right in the road, these are nice and muddy again! Not only do these wallows offer tons of fun for ellies, rhinos and warthogs it also offers great opportunities for the keen photographers to get that perfect close up shot in a puddle of fun.)

We happened to be in the right place at the right time…just the way the bush likes to dish it up…
This gigantic bull elephant pulled in at the wallow for a quick mud treatment! He casually dipped his trunk into the muddy water, filled it up....and...

One trunkfull muddy water coming up!

We sat quietly watching this big boy systematically cover his whole body with a layer of mud, trunk by trunk.

They do this to protect their skins from the hot sun, keeping them just that little bit cooler and of course it helps to get rid of parasites that are cruising along for the free ride.

Around each corner lies a surprise here at Amakhosi!

It’s that time of the year when you can most definitely expect the unexpected when heading out into the African bush!

And we can't wait to share it with you here at Amakhosi!

Brotherly love…

2010-11-12T04:21:00.000-08:00

This is the way Africa shows its love…have a look at the video clip above.

It was a perfect morning for game drive and we were the first vehicle out after the night’s rain, which meant fresh tracks! Any track you come across will be fresh, and it’s like being allowed to dip your hand in the cookie jar first! What a treat!

Our tracker Mandla was on fire! Not long after we had departed from the lodge he was on lion spoor! With no surprise, we had located the culprits who left their tracks behind. It was the 6 lion boys or bafanas as we call them here!

With all the surroundings, fresh and renewed, and all the shades of green seeming greener than ever the lions just stuck out like moving targets! They were more noticeable due to the fact that they were actually up and about, moving around and not sleeping as one would usually find this kingly beast!

They were clearly heading somewhere but then decided to rest and play for a while, right where we had positioned the vehicle. There are no words to express the feeling that you get when nature presents you with such a treat…

An affectionate display of the brotherly bond these 6 beasts share, and who will stick together for a long long time.

It is only lion and cheetah that form such coalitions and the bond between brothers in the African bushveld is something that more often than not lasts a lifetime.

From being the King and top of the food chain to this cuddly loveable beast, that shows affection in such a gentle way…

Again my mind is flabbergasted by the way this piece of the greater puzzle works in all aspects, with no human interference.

And to see affectionate displays on the backdrop of the African bushveld here at Amakhosi, you can only sit and absorb the beauty that lies within the deepest and darkest parts of Africa.

It will resonate with all who pass through it…

Tiny gigantic pink feet…

2010-11-04T20:57:00.000-07:00

We all know that this is probably the most exciting time of the year to visit Amakhosi!

If you have been following us on Facebook you would know that in the past few weeks we have had incredible sightings!

Not to mention the tons of fun we’ve been having when we head out after the rains!

In amongst all the excitement of the rains arriving, and the bush springing back to life, there had been a special event that took place and would not go unnoticed by the keen followers here at Amakhosi!...

The Matriarch of the largest breeding herd of elephants has given birth again!

So we have a brand new addition to our family in the bush! Have a look at the video clip above…

It is always a thrilling experience to see such a baby giant, stumbling along, tripping over its own feet, and sticking very close to mom’s even bigger feet!

All bushveld babies are to cute for words, but baby elephants have something very special about them, that words just fail to express.

It is unbelievable to think that this cute little thing grew in its mom’s belly for 22 months before meeting the outside world.

This tiny little giant will grow to be as big and wise as the rest of the herd and with the matriarch as its example and protector, life can only be amazing as an African elephant!

Especially here at Amakhosi!

It was on a morning game drive that we had the pleasure of meeting the new addition to the herd…

The aaaahhhh’s that came from the back of the vehicle when the Matriarch walked past with her new baby close on her heels, was priceless!

Just too precious for words!

Welcome to Africa little one!

And so the rains came…

2010-10-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

Summer has officially arrived! In the past week we have had close to a 100mm of rain! It’s the start of summer here at Amakhosi and the Mkuze River has been revived! The above clip was taken the morning after we had a much needed 48mm that came pelting down the night before.

The bush is slowly turning greener each day with a brilliant display of any shade of green you could possibly imagine, with flowers popping up around each corner, dotting a colourful display on the green green grass of the African plains.

What a splendid time to visit the African bushveld.

It is that time of the year, where we all sit with baited breath, for the bushveld’s very own; baby boom! The impala ewe’s are all looking like they are soon ready to drop their young, and we can’t wait for the first babies of the new season, the new start!

With the river being the source of life, and now flowing in its full glory, we anxiously wait… for life to follow.

And heading out on game drive after the heavy rains is always an exhilarating event not to be missed!

To all the 4X4 fanatics out there, now is the time to visit us here at Amakhosi!

Each game drive is a new adventure and the muddy parts have proven to be the best fun this time of year! Our rangers are keen to share the fun with you!

So as we sit and watch each day how the bush erupts with new growth, new life and new beginnings, it can seem all unreal!

But this slice of paradise does exist, and we love to share it with; you out there!

It’s mine, all mine!

2010-10-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

It must be grand to be the king of the beasts in the African bush, especially if you find yourself on this special reserve, where the females of the northern pride, so efficiently provide.

It was on a morning game drive this past week, which now departs at 05h30 in the mornings, to ensure the best possible chance to catch a glimpse of the bush awakening. We did not expect to be spoilt by a spectacular display of power by Africa’s top cat. During our morning coffee stop, we heard the chilling sound of the lion’s roar. So of course after coffee we had to set out to find whoever was calling.

There’s nothing like it…the roar of a lion…

After 10 minutes of diligent tracking our ranger and tracker proudly presented us with this sighting! Not what we expected…

There in an open clearing, a fully grown Kudu bull, that had fallen prey to the perfectly conducted hunt! The next moment the dominant male of the northern pride erupted from the thickets!

Obviously fearing that his meal could be at risk being so exposed, he leapt forward and latched onto, what could easily be a 350kg carcass of dead weight! He dragged it backwards, toward the thicket, with almost no effort whatsoever.

Pure, brut strength displayed by one fine specimen. Very composed and in control, he placed the carcass in longer grass and some bushes, and that’s when it was revealed…

The two dominant female lionesses from the northern pride were lying in the cover of the bush…this just makes the kill so much more impressive, for these two lionesses to take down a fully grown Kudu bull, it must have been a sight to see!

We sat with the beasts for about an hour as they devoured their prize kill. Giving the keen photographers a spectacular opportunity to photograph the usually sleeping lions, in action!

What a life….here at Amakhosi!

A mass gathering…

2010-10-14T03:14:00.000-07:00

It’s always a massive occasion when Buffalo come to drink! And here at Amakhosi it is bound to be a spectacular sight for any eye.

The herd will stick close together and descend on the waters as one mass of muscle and deadly horns! The safety in numbers theory is even applicable for one of Africa’s most dangerous inhabitants…

We were searching for buffalo for a couple of days, as they too can become very illusive when they feel like it, and a whole herd of approximately 100 beasts can just vanish for days on end!

It was on a morning game drive that our luck finally changed…

At this time of the year, especially when the rains have stayed away, as it has this season so far, there are only a few places on the reserve where herds will find water, which most animals are dependant on and will have to visit at least once a day. So we knew that at one point or another we will have to bump into them or find some sign in order to track them down.

We headed out that morning, on a mission to find the buffalo, with our ranger and tracker determined to locate these animals…and so they did!

We found the whole herd at Dongagile Dam, which is located in the southern parts of the reserve. We arrived just in time to see them descend on the cool waters and relief that lay in wait!

Our ranger parked the vehicle in a good position in order for us to see all the action, so we sat back and watched these African icons enjoy some respite by the waters edge.

After spending some time with them, they settled in for a siesta, we opted to leave them to it and headed back to the lodge for a mouth-watering breakfast, and our own little siesta…

Ah, what a day in the life of the African bush!

Close encounters at Amakhosi…

2010-10-06T07:34:00.000-07:00

When you think of Africa, where does the thought take you?

The only place I go is to the African bushveld, and there is no better place than Amakhosi, for a taste…

The reserve is a special place with special experiences in store each time you visit. It’s not just the absolute royal treatment you receive at the luxurious 5 star lodge, but the game drives and wildlife encounters that truly do make it a spectacular experience!

In the past week on a morning game drive, we were on the southern side of the reserve, to see what we could see with the breathtaking 360 degree scenic backdrop of the reserve.

Mind numbing visual overload comes to mind…

And there they were Africa’s great giants!

In a distance we could see them; it was a breeding herd of elephants! We were at the top of a ridge looking down into the valley, so we had a sort of birds-eye view, if you will.

Now if you have never seen elephants in their natural habitat, you would assume that these gigantic animals would have no where to hide and that they are easily seen. When in fact, it is the total opposite…it’s really amazing. One second you see them and the next you don’t! They blend in with their surroundings so perfectly!

So we headed off to a road that the herd would most probably cross, in the hope of getting a better look! Our ranger and tracker found just that right spot and we waited.

Not to long after we had arrived, there he was, a sub-adult bull elephant (probably counting the days to when he gets kicked out of the herd). As he emerged from the thicket onto the road, he spotted us, and he too wanted to have a better look…at us!

As you can see in the video clip above, this was exactly what he did.

This to me is Africa’s wildlife at its best, a breathtaking experience that is fit for a king!

New inhabitant at the lodge…

2010-09-29T07:22:00.000-07:00

As unpredictable as the African bushveld can be, there always seems to be a surprise waiting, when you least expect it, but yet you do. It’s a case of waking up each morning with one thought, and one thought only…what will I get to see today?! With no other cares in the world!

So in the past week, on one such morning, the bush awoke with its usual morning commotion of birds chirping the day to life, literally! We met for our pre-morning game drive coffee at the lodge, preparing and anticipating the unknown that lay in wait…and there it was…

The first surprise for the day!

Right there, in front of the deck at the lodge, grazing on the banks of the Mkuze River, a larger than life hippopotamus!

After having a good look, it was obvious that he had been in some serious altercations with another of its kind. Another bull! Badly scared all over, and in a place where we usually DON’T see hippo, especially this time of year, it was clear that this chap was seeking refuge in a small pool right in front of the lodge! How thrilling!

Hippos could easily be one of the most interesting creatures of the bush.

Spending 80% of their time submerged in the cool waters, which offers them the much needed protection that they require from the harsh African sun, these aquatic giants lead extremely interesting lives; underwater and on land.

The time spent on land, generally occurs during the dark hours of the continent, and this is the time that they make haste and travel, as far as required, for palatable grazing.

Hippos being extremely territorial, with bulls having to prove themselves time and time again, to keep their territory, will fight each other to the death, if that be the case, to keep his pod and place in the pool. This is probably how our poor hippo in front of the lodge came to look the way he does.

But, by far, the most interesting fact about hippo’s, is that they are related to dolphins and whales.

Research has shown that hippos too have a complex language in which they will communicate with each other under the water and have some sorts of intelligence as the dolphin and whale.

It leaves me in awe…deepest darkest Africa.

A slithering end…

2010-09-22T12:28:00.001-07:00

One afternoon this past week, we had a very unusual sighting, while enjoying the decadent high tea that gets spread out like a feast, fit for a king. While indulging in all the treats, little were we aware of the fact that an amazing event was occurring…

Probably near to one of those once in a lifetime sightings, this massive African Rock Python (Python sebae), entangled with its meal, and what a meal it was!

This Nyala female had fallen prey to this ambush hunter near the water right in front of the lodge, which did not count in her favour.

African Rock Pythons are highly dependent on water sources, and estivate (summer sleep opposed to hibernate which is winter sleep) during the hottest and driest parts of the year, remaining deep in burrows made by other animals.

They are opportunistic predators, and will consume almost any animal they come across which they can overpower by constriction.

Young pythons eat primarily small rodents, which make them popular with local farmers for reducing the populations of species harmful to crops, like the cane rat, but adults are capable of taking very large prey, including crocodiles, goats and gazelles.

The African Rock Python is noted for its bad temperament, and readiness to bite if harassed.

So this poor, unexpecting Nyala walked right into the deadly grip of this python, probably not expecting to meet its end.

As we watched this gigantic, silent killer, squeeze the life out of its prey, you can’t help but think about what you are looking at…

It lasted for about an hour, and the python managed to slither off into the water with its prey to sit down for dinner.

All I could utter was….AMAZING!

Roadblocks @ Amakhosi…

2010-09-15T03:27:00.000-07:00

It’s a special place, the bush here at Amakhosi. Always offering the best there is when it comes to seeing the inhabitants of the deepest darkest African bush.

Unlike the much hated traffic jams in the concrete jungles that most humans find themselves dwelling in… We tend to enjoy our road hazards very much…

The above series of photos is just a sneak peak at what it entails when you get stuck in a traffic jam, in the bushveld.

What is most amazing about it all is that you usually have such encounters when you least expect it, coming around a corner or over a blind rise. It’s thrilling…and…

It’s our personal lucky packet that we get to dip ourselves into, to see what there is to see. And without fail, the bush here at Amakhosi will provide a breathtaking experience!

So getting stuck on the road for a few hours because an elephant is enjoying the open space of the road, or be it one of the big cats that bask and pose diligently when having a lie down on the sandy tracks, roadblocks in the African bush is an awesome treat!

Needless to say that this kind of opportunity is not to be missed by fellow keen photographers…you have the chance of getting a dozen of those ‘perfect’ shots!

And all you have to do is get out here, to our piece of paradise, to witness first hand, the pleasures that the bush so freely has to offer!

Our fabulous feathered friends…

2010-09-08T03:49:00.000-07:00

It has already been a year of blogging for Amakhosi!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our loyal followers that diligently read our campfire stories! I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing these amazing experiences with all of you for the past year and look forward to doing so for the coming year!

But for now, its spring time here at Amakhosi!

The above photo is of a Lilac Breasted Roller. This is one of the five different roller species that occur in Southern Africa, and also one of the resident rollers that stay for our winters!

It’s arguably one of the most colourful birds that adorn our skyline and that catches the eye of all that spot it! You see these beauties throughout the year, unlike its other colourful cousin, the European Roller, that leaves for our winter period and returns, well, more or less this time of the year!

So we are looking forward to spotting our first European Rollers for this season, as they should be hot on the tails of their friends, the Yellow billed Kites and some of the Swallows that have already returned for the South African summer!

This is truly a special time of the year, especially for all the twitchers out there!

We eagerly await the arrival of the Wahlberg Eagles, Cuckoo’s, Step Buzzards and Bee-eaters just to name but a few! And are looking forward to the aerial acrobatics with it being the start of spring time…so needless to say nests will be built and breathtaking courting displays will be the order of the day!

It’s an awesome display of colour and striking plumage during this time of the year as most males of most species will be showing off their worthiness, and this in itself is an absolute treat to witness!

Woza summer…woza!

Sunsets at Amakhosi…

2010-08-31T12:26:00.000-07:00

As the sun sets over Sangweni Dam, another season starts drawing to an end. The end of August is here, and we wait with bated breath to embrace spring and all the beauty it brings!

This photo was taken on the last day of August, signifying the end of the day, the month, and the yet another winter season at Amakhosi. And it brings the promise of new beginnings!

There have been sightings of some of our migratory birds returning for the spectacular African summer…

Yellow Billed Kites have been spotted, and their familiar call is something that you miss when it is not around. So to have some of the swallows returned to move back into their same nest from last season and start a family for spring!

The trees are also showing tell tale signs that spring is near, like the Knob Thorn Trees (Acacia Nigrescens), which are one of the few trees that have started budding. This has been a guaranteed excuse for giraffes to gather around these trees and have a good taste of something they have missed for a whole season! What a treat it must be!

So we now get to look forward to our first rains for the season, which will bring new life to the bush in each and every crack, corner and crevasse erupting back to life, after a long winter that has left the bush looking dry but beautiful and full of surprises in its own way.

It is spring time in the African bush, and there is no better place to be than right here at Amakhosi! Just so that you too can experience new life all around you!

We can’t wait!

A strange encounter…

2010-08-22T12:13:00.000-07:00

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.

It’s been spectacular…

2010-08-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

Being a game ranger must be some spectacular treat!

This is when you have the opportunity to witness first hand, Africa, in its natural form. For a moment you can escape into bygone eras where animals roamed freely across our continent; as a ranger, you get to share in some amazing experiences that the bush has to offer…

This series of photos was taken on yet another perfect winter afternoon game drive. We departed from the lodge and headed towards the wetlands area in search of any illusive creatures, to see what we can see…

As we approached the airstrip, who do we find out in the open? Non other than our four boys! Amakhosi’s pride and privilege (refer to: Amakhosi’s Pride & Privilege posted 20 July 2010)

They were out and about cruising along the airstrip, with Blue Wildebeest watching their every move. Clearly not interested in hunting, they were rather on patrol, marking their precious territory. This is a ritual with any big cat that has his patch, amongst other species. But what a treat to watch these four boys do their thing!

Now; scent marking the perimeters of their territory is extremely important, as they leave a lot of information behind in whatever they choose to leave behind. Whether it be rubbing their faces and necks up against tree stumps, leaving scent and fur behind so that whoever passes after the scent has been left, will know exactly who was there, how many of them, male or female and the information overload just goes on! It is truly amazing if you think about it. We humans are at a serious disadvantage if you think about it in this way.

It was intriguing to watch them locate this tree to scent mark, they generally mark in the same areas every time, the same rock, the same dead stump or tree.

Two of the boys opted to leave their scent in the form of urine, up against the stump of the tree. High enough so that it is head height for all, of his kind, and of course the other big cats! Another wandered off and the fourth one thought it well to climb the tree and do his business up in the tree, as if to say, this whole tree is ours! With great accuracy he left his present on the branch and dismounted with grace, and they slinked off into the African sunset! Breathtaking!

Don’t you just love Africa and all the special surprises the bush has to offer for those who choose to dwell in it!

You can’t deny wanting to share these experiences with the rest of the world! It’s all waiting here for you at Amakhosi!

A stunner for any eye...

2010-08-08T01:10:00.000-07:00

You can’t, not be impressed by something like this. If you don’t know what it is, it can be pretty hard to explain what exactly it is that you are looking at… is it even a tree?

In Afrikaans, it is referred to as a “Naboom” which literally translated means “Nearly a tree”.

Scientific name: Euphorbia Ingens.

This fine specimen is located on Amakhosi’s Mint Plains, which is a nice open clearing not to far from the main lodge.

The Euphorbia Ingens is distributed throughout KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Limpopo Province, Gauteng, North-West Province, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and further into tropical Africa.

It is an upright, succulent tree with a dark green crown which is well rounded and often shaped like a hot-air balloon. It grows up to 12 m and the branches are segmented with spines running along the ridges of the segments. It produces small, greenish yellow flowers on the ridges of the topmost segment of every branch from autumn to winter. The fruit, a round 3-lobed capsule, turns red to purple when ripening.

Being completely unique in appearance this tree does not only look interesting but has some interesting facts and uses…

The latex of this tree is extremely toxic and can cause severe skin irritations, blindness and severe illness to humans and animals if swallowed.

It is said that cattle driven through these plants can be so severely affected that they have to be put down.

But if correctly applied, it can be medicinally used as a purgative or for the treatment of ulcers.

It is also said to be used by the Venda and Sotho people as a cure for cancer.

The branches are used as a fish poison in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

And the wood from the main trunk is light and tough so is used to make doors, planks and boats.

Before the tree is cut down, a fire should be made around it, to set the sap.

So carrying the name of “nearly a tree”, it seems to be quite an amazing o one!

Reference: http://www.plantzafrica.com/

On the prowl…

2010-07-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

It’s a fine art, the survival game, and lions forming part of the top of the food chain have mastered the ability to survive. Always on the prowl when they are up and about.

The above video clip is of one of our lioness “cubs”. She is all grown up and is approximately 2 ½ years old. It’s quite something to have seen her grow up into the beautiful lioness she is today.

She now leaves the pride from time to time to roam the plains of Africa on her own. Her two brothers are busy with their own antics that come with being an adolescent male lion. So she seems to have taken a liking to spending time on her own in what is known to her as her kingdom.

It was an afternoon game drive this past week that we found her, all alone, on the wetlands area. Stalking a suspecting herd of zebra that were grazing about 700 meters from where she was hiding, or trying at least.

We sat with her for a couple of hours, just having the privilege to observe her tactics. As I mentioned the zebra’s were aware of her presence, but she stayed with the herd as they moved across the wetlands.

With the sun dipping it’s head behind the mountains the chill of winter, still present, settles in. We head back to the lodge. The road that we take runs along the airstrip that links up to the road that takes us back to the warmth and comfort of five star luxuries.

As we approached the end of the airstrip, we came across none other than Amakhosi’s four boys. (Refer to post: Amakhosi’s pride and privilege posted 20 July 2010)

Lying stretched out with full bellies; the four cheetah boys surprised us once again!

What more could one ask for than the perfect afternoon in the African bushveld, spent with some of Africa’s big cats.

Amakhosi’s pride & privilege…

2010-07-20T04:24:00.000-07:00

It is not every day that you get to have the opportunity to see one of Africa's endangered species up close and personal. Amakhosi's pride and privilege lies with these four cheetah boys; they have been spoiling us rotten with sightings like in the video clip above.

It was on a morning game drive this past week that we headed out with one goal, to find some rhino. As we putt-putted through the reserve with the smell of diesel hanging, that can only smell inviting in the African bush, we had luck with an anticipated rhino sighting.

A mom and a very very young little calf! It was a classic case of coming around a corner, with no wild expectations, and bam, some prehistoric creature, in the road! The cow and the calf bolted through the thickets ahead and disappeared in the cloud of dust they had kicked up!

So we carried on in the hope of picking the rhino up again further down the road. Not even 600 meters on, down the same road, I noticed a rock lying in the middle of the road, that could pass as a dinosaur egg for those who have an over active imagination!

With great intrigue, my eyes fixed on the rock that we were slowly approaching, I hardly even noticed the spotted cat that was leisurely stretched out right next to the rock...

And the penny drops...it's cheetah!

It's always thrilling when you spot these very delicate felines in the wild, in their prime, and four of them together!

Yes, we had located the coalition of four males (or boys as I like to call them)! They lay stretched out behind a fallen tree stump, in an open clearing. Just waiting to be the stars of the morning! Any keen wildlife photographer would have been enthralled by this opportunity.

We spent the rest of the morning with Amakhosi's four boys, and relished the moment that had been presented to us!

Life in the African bush and here at Amakhosi, never ceases to amaze!

Color Oddities...

2010-07-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

In February 2010, we spotted a Leucistic Red Backed Shrike (refer to: A lifer for any Twitcher posted 26 February 2010)

Here is yet another noggin scratching bird, which will make some of you grab your Roberts Bird book frantically, yet again, but no need, the above photo is of a Melanistic Gabar Goshawk. Approximately 25% of the Gabar Goshawk population have this genetic condition, referred to as Melanism.

This plumage colouration is excessive pigmentation, when the bird’s body synthesizes too much of a certain pigment in the skin and growing feathers.

Melanism is due to an excess of the eumelanins resulting in an abnormally dark plumaged bird. In Southern Africa the Gabar Goshawk Melierax gabar is often seen in his all black ‘batman suit’. Melanism has also been recorded in Cattle Egret.

Other interesting facts is that the Gabar Goshawk is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life.

They forage for food on the ground and hunt for small reptiles such as lizards, geckos and bush snakes. The Gabar Goshawk strikes poisonous snakes on the head with one fatal blow which kills the snake instantly. There have been cases were this bird has been killed by a snake while hunting. Some birds have been blinded by Cobra venom.

The guests that shared this sighting where keen birders and our ranger was adamant to show them a new bird, but definitely did not expect this special treat…

They left with having ticked off two new birds on their lifer lists; this melanistic Gabar Goshawk and the Eastern Nicator.

Opportunities with sightings of this kind offer us a unique perspective on the life of our feathered friends here at Amakhosi!

Reference: www.birdinfo.co.za

Kinako…

2010-07-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

A word we have become accustomed to during the month long spectacular of the World Cup Soccer. A word that came to mind when, we came across this almost “once in a lifetime” sighting. Kinako meaning: ‘It is time”.

It was a miserable day in the bush, with rain persisting on and off all day long. Our game ranger informed us that despite the fowl weather you never know what you are going to see, and what lies in wait in the cracks of our continent. So with ponchos on we departed on our afternoon game drive; an adventure waiting to be experienced!

Hoping to be lucky and just see some plains game weathering the forces of nature, our ranger headed for the wetlands area.

Before we even got to see any plains game, not even an impala, our tracker stopped our ranger and pointed into the nearby vicinity, not really being able to tell where he was pointing exactly, the guests asked whether he was commenting on the black clouds in the distance; are we going to get wet? The tracker proceeded to jump of his seat and hop onto the back of the vehicle. Our ranger then put the vehicle into gear and we putted forward, slowly.

As we approached the dam, Mvubu Dam, there in the wide open space near the water, a pair of lions mating. Glorious nature! It is right then that the word, Kinako, came to mind…

When mating, the pair will leave the pride for approximately 5-7 days and mate consistently during this period, every 20-30 minutes. As in the picture, the female will always initiate copulation by presenting herself to the male. It’s a rowdy affair and often turns into a squabble with growling and seemingly aggressive behaviour!

It’s all about being at the right place at the right time once again. It might be winter but the bush is alive with activity and full of awesome photographic opportunities around each corner…especially on the wet miserable days. Amakhosi is home to "once in a lifetime experiences"!

A killer morning at Amakhosi…

2010-06-30T23:41:00.000-07:00

It’s when weeks like the past week happens here at Amakhosi that one can’t help but think this must be one of the most amazing places on earth! The bush has dried out and the Tamboti trees have adorned the bushveld with crimson hues. Winter has settled in and our sightings have been amazing!

One morning this past week we headed out looking for the buffalo herd when a call came through the crackling radio… its lion… the northern pride… in the Goedvertroud area. Our ranger swung around in his seat and said “they are on the opposite side of the reserve, are you keen?” Without hesitation all agreed on it and off we went to the other side of the reserve! Much to our surprise as we arrived at the location, we found not just the northern pride, but the northern pride on a kill! It was worth the trek to get there!

Thinking that this was it, what an amazing morning; we head back to the lodge for a sumptuous breakfast and a hot cup of coffee. Being nearly there, on the access road, yet another thrilling surprise…

The coalition of four male cheetahs, on a Nyala kill! Two kills in one drive, this is a very high bar to set, but we so enjoy to dip into our lucky packet (the bush) here at Amakhosi!

Its game drives like these from which campfire stories are born! We sat and watched as they devoured the Nyala in no time. What a spectacular treat to be spoilt like this!

The start of winter here at Amakhosi has definitely given us a taste of what lies ahead for the next few months and we can’t wait to share it with you!

A perfect morning...

2010-06-24T05:53:00.000-07:00

As we headed out for a morning game drive this past week, the grass was laden with icicles; the frost has made it's appearance! Temperatures have dropped significantly across South Africa and so too here at Amakhosi, in the heart of Zululand.

The sun took forever to stick it's head out from behind the mountains as we departed on our adventure filled morning that lay in wait; not knowing what will be in store for us...

Just as we crossed the Mkuze River at Mziki Bridge crossing, the crossing closest to the lodge, we found a young Nyala bull, dead, just off the road. Partially eaten from behind and under the front leg, where the soft spots are, with fur scattered all over as the predator cleared a patch to sink his teeth in. Both ranger and tracker hopped off the vehicle to inspect the carcass, speculating which predator had caused the premature demise of this unsuspecting antelope. It was later confirmed, about a 100 meters down the road, that it was indeed a leopard! We found clear tracks in some soft sandy spots on the road and this got our blood flowing, because if luck is on our side, this magnificent cat might just show itself later! Full of excitement we continued on to the Rondebosch area in search of a breeding herd of elephants.

After diligent tracking by our ranger and tracker it wasn't long before we had located one of the breeding herds. Deep inside the bush; so off the road we went in pursuit of a better visual. With success, we landed in the middle of the breeding herd that were very occupied by what they do best, and that is to eat. After sitting amongst them for a while the ranger said that they are probably making their way down to Ndlovu Dam, one of the dams that retains its water during the winter months.

We made our way back up the two track print that we had left behind in the dry grass when coming down, and it lead the way out safely. We arrived at the dam on the eastern side with time to have a hot cup of fresh coffee, to try and thaw a bit from the inside out, and just as the ranger predicted, approximately 20 minutes later...the whole breeding herd started arriving at the dam in single file through an opening at the end of the elephant highway that leads to Ndlovu Dam.

With a steaming cup of Amarula coffee in hand, there is surely no better way to sip and stare at the start of another day here at Amakhosi. You feel like saying: "aaah, perfect".

We finished our coffee and stayed at the dam watching, intently at the ellie-cassion, as each gathering at a watering hole seems to be an occasion for them!

It's all about being at the right place, at exactly that right time. This morning's coffee stop at Ndlovu Dam was perfect timing in every sense! What more would you want if you can start your day like this at Amakhosi!

World Cup Fever hits Amakhosi…

2010-06-16T23:45:00.000-07:00

If you are visiting our beautiful country for the World Cup 2010…Welcome to the Vuvuzela capital of the world! If you aren’t, you are missing out on one of the most vibrant moments Africa has ever seen!

The tournament kicked-off over the past week and South Africa has been taken by storm with the spirit of the moment! We here at Amakhosi are joining in the celebrations of this once in a lifetime event!

We have setup a big screen for our guests in our conference centre, so not to miss a moment of the action during their stay with us. What better way than enjoying the bushveld and it’s inhabitants in the mornings and the afternoons and then catching the highlights of the afternoon games and getting to watch the last game of the day!

We are looking forward to adding some precious memories to those who are visiting us during this epic event that has brought South Africa under the spotlight and can’t wait to share more secrets of Africa with those who are visiting for the first time!

So even with winter settling in nicely and days being as short as they get here in Zululand, the World Cup has made the whole country come alive! Winter can wait as we celebrate our country and our continent!

“Woza Mzansi woza!”

A day of Lions…

2010-06-08T23:32:00.000-07:00

It’s astonishing how the African bushveld never ceases to amaze, even the lucky few that get to live in it every single day. We have had the most amazing start to our winter season here at Amakhosi!

Garth and Joy from the USA joined us for their deepest darkest Africa experience in the past week, visiting our beautiful country for the first time. On the afternoon of their arrival they approached their ranger with a special request. With it being Joy’s first ever visit to Africa, she really wanted to see the king of the beasts; and never did we imagine what would be in-store for them during their stay with us.

The first sighting we had of the northern pride of lions was on their first drive that same afternoon. It was only a long distance visual and we spotted the whole pride on the banks of the Mkuze River, near the Mziki bridge crossing which is the one nearest to the lodge. Unfortunately we weren’t able to get to close to them as the area they had picked to lie in was impossible to reach by vehicle.

The next morning both ranger and guests were very excited to head out, as they had heard the lions calling most of the night... So a quick coffee at the lodge and they were off…

It wasn’t a far way to go, when we found the whole pride except the two dominant males, lying in a clearing close to the road, waiting for the rays of the sun to grace their golden coats. Joy was ecstatic; being a keen photographer she finally had the opportunity to photograph one of the most iconic creatures of Africa, up close and personal.

We spent our whole morning drive, watching the lions soaking up the winter sun. What a thrilling treat…and it wasn’t over…

After a fantastic morning, we could not ask for more, but had no idea what was lying in wait for us that afternoon…

At high tea, Joy, still thrilled with the morning’s events told their ranger that she was certain she heard lions roaring just before they came up for high tea. The ranger thought it a bit odd for lions to be roaring at that time of day, but it was definitely worth checking out. We left the lodge and 5 minutes later we had reached the spot that we had left them at in the morning; there was no sign of them. We turned the vehicle off to listen and that’s when we heard them…they were on a kill! Off-roading towards the sound we located most of the youngsters squabbling over the remains of a very large warthog. This is what she must have heard! Exhilarated we sat with the lions the whole afternoon again and watched as they fed. The sun started setting bringing this amazing day to an end.

What a day it’s been; a day of lions at Amakhosi!

Misty winter mornings…

2010-05-26T01:52:00.000-07:00

As winter settles its cold misty blanket in the mornings, it is apparent that the season has changed from autumn. Days ever shorter and nights ever colder, we embrace one of the most spectacular seasons of the African bush!

With sunrise now only making itself known at around 06h30 in the mornings, life in the bush slows down significantly during this time of the year! It’s a slow cold start in the mornings and a very short day before you head out on your afternoon drive at latest 15h00, in order not to miss out on the breathtaking sunsets that winter brings along with it!

The game sightings are also starting to have that typical winter feel especially in the mornings when you watch all living creatures of the bushveld sun themselves in the first rays of the morning that aren’t as potent as what they were just a few weeks ago! With the grass thinning out and the dust settling on everything around it, pack your beanies and scarves, cause this is the time to come and visit us at Amakhosi!

The Mkuze river has cleared up and settled down after the thrilling events that occurred in the middle of the summer season, and with a clean river bed and a fresh start, the Mkuze river now, a display of emerald green, turquoise and every other hue of green and blue that you can imagine, makes you stare at it like it was painted with purpose! The best view of the winter waters of the Mkuze is at our hide, where we occasionally treat our guests to a bush breakfast. The kaleidoscope is hypnotic!

And so we enter the final stretch of the first half of this year, filled with excitement to share another winter at Amakhosi, and dying with anticipation for the new season and what it may bring…

Not forgetting;

We wish our national soccer side, Bafana Bafana the best of luck for the 2010 Soccer World Cup!

Amakhosi’s pride…

2010-05-20T07:43:00.000-07:00

So this is, truly our pride here at Amakhosi. How can it not be when we have an endangered species, the cheetah, flourishing on our reserve! Of course we are busting with pride! The clip above was put together from a series of photos that one of our rangers took on a morning game drive in the past week.

We have been spoilt with sightings of this coalition of four male cheetahs, right on our doorstep; offering us spectacular photographic opportunities and an insight to their behavior in such a coalition. It is not often that 4 brothers survive to roam the plains of Africa together! And there is even less opportunity to film or photograph such a rare occasion as this, but here at Amakhosi anything seems possible!

They have taken over the Wetlands territory, which was previously claimed by an older solitary male that needless to say has not been spotted in the area for a while now, and yes, this is the same territory that the Northern pride of lions have also claimed, but these boys are showing us just exactly how to avoid D-Day in the bush! If they aren’t scouring the Wetlands area they move to the Uitschot area that offers just as much space and openness on the hilly plains as on the flat Wetlands. So they have cleverly scouted their territories to make life simpler for the four of them!

Words really fail to describe what it is that your eyes see some days here at Amakhosi and this must be one of those moments were words will elude the essence of the experience. All you can really do is sit and absorb each moment that you lay your eyes on these breathtaking cats, sleek, slim and seemingly fragile in its surroundings, but a survivor none the less! They have a certain magic that surrounds them, and maybe it is because we underestimate their rank as a big cat of Africa…they are the weaker species, but this does not take away their majestic presence!

And there are only a few sightings here at Amakhosi that will in comparison make you dream of Africa the way it used to be! These boys will take you back to days of abundance and awe!

Only at Amakhosi!

The Bateleur’s have landed….

2010-05-12T05:38:00.000-07:00

In the past week on game drive we have noticed a different sight, one we know, but not a common one here at Amakhosi…

The most famous of the snake eagles in form of a pair of Bateleur eagles have landed in one of the most beautiful places on earth! We know, but do they know?

This is very exciting for us, as we have not seen a breeding pair on our reserve in the past and in this past week we were enthralled to see them in the same spot. They have chosen a knob thorn tree close to the Mkuze River on the southern side of the reserve. This is where I start twitching…

Bateleur eagles pair for life and stay in the same nest for several years, this is good news for us! Having regular sightings of this magnificent bird will only be a treat for the next, well, several years!

Bateleur is French for "tightrope-walker". This name was probably chosen because of its distinctive aerial acrobatics and the tipping of its wings in flight which seems like it is trying to keep its balance. Its pitch black feathers with white under the wings, bright red face and legs and black beak are characteristic markings that cannot be confused with any other eagle.

Unlike most creatures, female Bateleur eagles are larger than males and they spend up to 9 hours a day in the air, searching for food that can be anything from carrion, mice, birds, snakes and even antelope!

It’s magnificent and right here at Amakhosi!

Milkweeds, butterflies and caterpillars…

2010-05-05T03:30:00.000-07:00

It never seems to amaze me when the small things of the bush make itself known, like this caterpillar sitting on this very strange looking seed of a milkweed plant.

Asclepias physocarpa (also known as Gomphocarpus physocarpus, commonly balloonplant, and balloon cotton-bush or swan plant) is a species of milkweed. The plant is native to southeast Africa, but it has been widely naturalized. It is often used as an ornamental plant. The name "Balloon plant" is an allusion to the swelling bladder-like fruit.

Besides being the life source for the Danaus butterflies this plant offers a few interesting points of enlightenment. The dried leaves can be finely ground and used as a snuff: for headaches, also to treat tuberculosis, and as an emetic to strengthen the body and some apply the milky juice to warts.

If you ever need a pillow, these balloon-like seeds can be used as the stuffing and the branches can be used to repel moles in your garden, by wedging the branches down the mole holes.

The caterpillar that you can see in the photo above is one of the African Monarch butterfly as it is commonly known. The Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) or outside Asia, African Monarch, is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa. It belongs to the Danainae ("Milkweed butterflies") subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae.

A female monarch lays its eggs on a sprouted milkweed plant. The eggs hatch in four to five days producing tiny yellow, black and white banded larvae (caterpillars). These caterpillars will feed solely on milkweed and eat enormous quantities because they are growing fast.

After the caterpillar hatches, its first meal is the eggshell itself. It lives its entire larval life on the lower side of the leaves. During the first few days it has a very interesting manner of feeding: It will take up a spot on the underside of the leaf and nip a complete circle around itself in the lower cuticle of the leaf. By doing this it stops the poisonous sap of its host plant from flowing into the area inside the circle. It then proceeds to eat the lower surface of this area, leaving the upper cuticle intact.

As it grows, it eats both the lower and upper cuticle of the circle thus leaving smallish circular holes in the leaves of its host plant. When its mandibles are large enough it eats the complete leaf by gnawing at the edges.

They will grow up to 2,700 times their original size in only two weeks, molting five times in the process. At three weeks old the caterpillar will enter the pupa stage and gradually change into an emerald green case ringed with golden dots called a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar rebuilds into an adult butterfly which, at five weeks old, climbs out of the chrysalis head first.

Its bright orange and black wings signal to predators, "Beware!" Why you may ask?

Monarchs are what they eat! The milkweed's "milk" or white latex is both acidic and somewhat poisonous to many animals. Since a monarch caterpillar feeds solely on milkweed, it absorbs these substances into its body and stores them throughout its life. Therefore, the monarch tastes awful to many of its predators.

Now how can that not be one of the most amazing facts you have ever heard of the micro life in the African bushveld here at Amakhosi!

The end of the first quarter…

2010-04-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

The first quarter of 2010 has come and gone and it seems like the bush is taking its time with the change of season this year. There are only a few tell tale signs that winter is fast approaching along with the much anticipated 2010 Soccer World Cup that South Africa is so proudly hosting this year!

Our days are once again getting shorter and shorter with the sun only making its appearance closer to 06h00 in the mornings and then leaving us in the dark from about 17h30 in the afternoons. Morning game drives now depart at 06h00 and the crisp chill in the air that makes the tip of your nose seem frozen is a definite sign that winter is nearly here! As every season in the African bushveld, autumn and winter also offer an inexplicable excitement for all that reside within the boundaries of the bush!

The game viewing most definitely becomes more prolific due to the vegetation thinning out from the change in season and the watering holes become great gathering places and offer spectacular photographic opportunities for all, from beginner photographers, to professionals and then of course the fanatical bunch too!

So we embrace the change that is upon us, and we eagerly await the surprises that are in store for us this coming winter season! It is always a magical experience to visit Amakhosi, but with the misty cold mornings, the steaming coffee cups, the shorter days and breathtaking sunsets, the magic brings with it a mystical feeling of the days of the great explorers! We are in the thick of it, so join us and we will transport you to times gone by and share a glimpse of true Africa with you, here at Amakhosi!

The Mkuze River as we know it…

2010-04-20T07:44:00.000-07:00

It has now been 3 months since we woke up to the Mkuze River in its full glory…

This is what you could generally expect to see when the water levels are ‘normal’…

Both these pictures were taken from the Amakhosi Hide, which is a few hundred meters upriver from the lodge. You can still very clearly see the destructive power that water has when it comes at you in full force, leaving its distinct footprint behind, on the surface and surely below. Since the flood the river has sprung to life with the landscape around it now clearly different and busting by the seams with new life! Once again the river is teaming with fish and in turn attracting an array of water birds, like this Hammerkop…

This Hammerkop was very relaxed and not to phased with our presence and the camera flashes going off! He calmly jumped from rock to rock, fishing. They generally feed on frogs, tadpoles, small fish and aquatic insects.

This guy had chosen just the right spot to snatch up everything edible that passed his way and seemed like he was having a feast!

And so each creature in this amazing creation has his day of abundance, what we humans I guess will see as; getting a break in life. So even though in some aspects “natural disasters” create destruction, it also offers opportunity for new life and “a break” here and there, for some, and then maybe not for others. But in Africa, the big wheel turns and the cycles of nature keep the bush one of the most interesting places to reside, or at least visit.

There is no better place to experience Africa, than at Amakhosi!

When nature calls…

2010-04-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

It is imperative to adhere to all calls of nature when in the deepest darkest parts of Africa. Whether it be tracking the animals or human nature calling. And when these two calls occur at the same moment in time, there is bound to be a comical or disastrous event that will follow…

On one of the afternoon drives this past week, just such a coincidence occurred as we headed out in search of the king of the beasts. With both tracker and ranger working very hard to locate the northern pride of lions in the south eastern part of the reserve where the whole pride have been hanging out for the past few months. Our ranger opted for sundowners at Ngwacha Dam in the hope of having the pride make their appearance for an afternoon drink, but this failed to happen. So after drinks we all mounted the vehicle and continued in our search for the biggest pride on the reserve.

Within half an hour of diligent tracking the ranger and his tracker managed to locate the whole pride hiding behind a thicket just off the road. As we stopped to have a good look at these magnificent creatures, they started filing through the thicket one by one, I guess to come and inspect the noisy smelly green thing that keeps finding them. Nightfall had settled in on the landscape around us and the spotlight came on. It was not 5 minutes into the sighting when the ranger got a tap on his shoulder from behind. It was an urgent request from the dad in the group that his one son had an urgent call from nature and needed a bush to squat behind, urgently. A slight problem, seeing that we were sitting with a pride of 13 lions after nightfall!

The ranger very quickly understood the urgency of the situation and knew that now was the time to respond to the human calls of nature… He informed the whole family, thank goodness everyone on the vehicle was related, that they are leaving the sighting to find a safe spot for the son to duck behind some bushes. As we drove off, about 500m down the road, another urgent tap on the shoulder, this time the dad sounding even more desperate “We have to stop now! He can’t hold it any longer!”

So the ranger carried on for a few more meters and then came to a halt, scanned the area 360 degrees with the spot light, took out his rifle and cocked it just in case, then diligently pointed with the spotlight to some bushes in front of the vehicle where the boy would be safe and have some sorts of privacy. With big eyes looking mainly at the rifle, the young boy said: “What! I’m not going in those bushes; I’ll go just here, behind the car!” The ranger looking a bit perplexed then said “If you feel comfortable go for it, I’ll keep watch”.

With much relief the young boy was off the vehicle in a flash and ducked behind and almost underneath the back of the game viewer! Now not being able to control any sounds or smells that might be coming he let rip as quickly as he could with the rest of the family chuckling in their sleeves; trying very hard not to worsen this already embarrassing situation.

As quick as he leaped off the vehicle he was back on and in his seat, that’s when everyone packed up with laughter! We headed straight back to the lodge needless to say with each family member taking their turn at having a good laugh with the victim of natures untimely calls, but with all agreeing that they too would have chosen the spot under the vehicle knowing that the lions where just 600m away in the darkness of the African wilderness!

So thankfully this coincidence in calls of nature ended up as a comical event that will create many more laughs for this family and is definitely an experience the ranger and his tracker will remember for many more years to come!

Bushveld war dances…

2010-04-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

The African bushveld is filled with the most amazing surprises and experiences; it’s like dipping your hand into a lucky packet, never knowing what you might get but excited and thrilled at the prospect of it anyway. This is what each day holds at Amakhosi.

Sometimes taken for granted and very easily overlooked here on the reserves of the Zulu Kingdom, the Nyala must be one of the most abundant rarities in KwaZulu Natal. Fact is, this is one of the few places in South Africa where Nyala are a common site while on game drive, and as most things in life, you get used to their presence and accepting it as a normality. The interesting thing is…

It is the only antelope on our reserve where the male and female look completely different as adults. In most of the antelope species that occur it is usually only the horns that separate the males from the females. When first born both the male and female Nyala’s look identical to their mother, being a burnt orangey color. The adult male Nyala on the other hand is a dark brown-grayish color and has a crest of white hair running all the way down its back to its bushy white tail, this change occurs as the male matures and out grows his baby suite into his adult suite.

Another interesting fact about these antelope is that the males have a “war dance”. Most other male antelope will sort out their hierarchy by locking horns and waiting for the weaker one to give in. The Nyala however will avoid contact by performing a ritual dance, where two males will measure up against each other by raising their crests, fluffing their tails and walking in a very slow motion action, scoping out the competition. More often than not the smaller of the two males will voluntarily back out of the dance, when he realizes that he is in fact the smaller counterpart, and that taking on his competition may not be the best idea.

You can spend years in the wilderness of Africa and never have the opportunity to be witness to a male Nyala horn-locking match. They opt for the less confrontational approach and can gracefully admit defeat without even getting out of breath! How amazing is that…

The King of Amakhosi is calling…

2010-03-25T22:25:00.000-07:00

It’s an amazing feeling that travels through your veins when the roar of a male lion in search of his pride, echoes through the dark night skies of Africa. Watch the video clips below with sound and maybe I could transport you to the wilds of the African bush, here at Amakhosi, for just a moment…

It all started on a late afternoon drive which turned into a sort of a night drive, we came across 4 of the male lion cubs, lazing around in the late afternoon sun, as only lions can do. As we sat watching them, with the sun setting in the background behind the majestic mountains, they were playing with each other, biting ears and tails, and being just as big a nuisance as the one next to the other. That these seemingly cuddly cats can change into one of the most fearsome predators on our continent is mind boggling! As it got cooler, they got more active and all got up one by one, stretching their limbs and giving great big yawns of what seems like complete satisfaction. With bellies bulging, they clearly weren’t coming to life with the thought of hunting, but rather to the blissfulness of being at the top of the food chain and not having to look over their shoulders.

Darkness set in quite quickly and before we knew it, the spot light was on and we were scanning for the reflection of eyes. When suddenly all 4 cubs darted in to the same direction… it’s their mother calling.

We desperately tried to keep up but lost their trail when the bush got impenetrable. We however knew which block they were in and kept driving around to keep up with them and to see whether they had crossed over the road into the next block. We opted to turn the vehicle off at a junction and just listen for a moment, all lights off and in the dead quite just be…so we sat for about 5 minutes, absorbing every sound and smell. That’s when this happened…

There is no other sound in the universe that would send such a vibration through every cell in your body. It’s chilling yet thrilling and exhilarating to hear the king of the beasts roar with all his might. He was searching for the rest of his pride, and they say that the sound of a lion’s roar can be heard up to 8km away! Needless to say the spotlight came back on, and there he was, in all his glory, the dominant male on the reserve, and just like us, looking for the rest of the pride. We watched him intently while he was rubbing his face in what must have been a scent mark one of the others had left behind. He walked from one distinct point to another sniffing and rubbing himself in the scent and then letting loose a tremendous roar that can never be mistaken for anything else in life!

We stuck close by and all the waiting finally paid off, as we found the rest of the pride, with the male leading us all the way there. Upon his arrival, there was a celebration that they had yet again found each other.

What a magnificent occasion, not to be missed by any die-hard bush fanatic! It’s all to be had here at Amakhosi.

The magic of Amakhosi...

2010-03-19T04:06:00.000-07:00

As the season starts changing slowly, as days get even shorter, there is a kind of magic in the air here at Amakhosi. With every change comes a sort of anticipation that looms, something that words can’t seem to describe. This photograph above has captured a sense of that something…but to truly understand, you have to visit the wilderness of Africa, at least once!

On a late afternoon drive this past week we headed out the Uitschot, which is located on the south eastern boundaries of the reserve. Since all the rains that we have had in the past few months, most of the animals, plains game with predators hot on their trail, have moved into this area. With it being hilly and a bit sparser, this has become the safety haven for most and has offered some spectacular photographic opportunities for those who prefer to shoot with a lens!

Our northern pride of lions has taken full advantage of the abundance of game in this area and has been seen in the same triangular range between 3 dams for nearly 6 weeks now! It has been an absolute treat to see them all together this often as the older cubs are now wandering around in smaller coalitions and have even started hunting by themselves! So great family gatherings have now become an extra special sighting…

Autumn is clearly in the air in the southern parts of Africa; on the drive back to the lodge, as the sun sets on the breathtaking landscape that surrounds us, the chill of the coming winter makes itself known, making one appreciate the last bits of the long summer nights even more, but every season offers it’s own special treats that keep us enthralled with the wildlife of this great continent.

This is definitely a time not to be missed in the African wilderness. As the bush prepares itself for the winter months to come and this season’s offspring heading for their first winter experience. The bush is once again bustling with activity.

There is a certain magic in the air this time of the year and you need to inhale the essence of the bush to experience the magic that lingers. If you close your eyes and absorb your surroundings with all your senses, you become aware, completely aware of this creation we live in.

It’s the magic of Amakhosi!

Chameleon spotting...

2010-03-10T22:17:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been chameleon spotting? It’s fun, thrilling and so exciting when you spot one! On the drive back to the lodge one evening here at magical Amakhosi, we headed back along the banks of the Mkuze river, as the darkness started setting in on the African bushveld.

When you get close to the river you should keep your eyes peeled for these amazing “little lions” as this is what the word chameleon means translated. It’s the weirdest thing, when you first know what to look for, you notice them everywhere. The headlights of the vehicle are sufficient to light up these little treasures. They reflect in the light as seemingly white, but a sort of luminous white, this for the trained eye makes them easy to spot. From baby flap neck chameleons as in the photograph above to fully grown adults that have a display of colors with which they express themselves.

There are many interesting facts about chameleons but the most obvious is the ability to change color. This is not unique to chameleons however; as many other animals like fish, frogs and other lizards also have this nifty trick up their sleeves.

They have several kinds of pigment located with different cells in their skin. The pigment that is most responsible for most color changes is Melanin. This is a dark substance contained in cells known as Melanophores. When melanin particles are concentrated in one place inside the melanophores, the bright yellow and blue pigments in other skin cells can be seen. Then, a chameleon's skin usually looks green. When the dark melanin spreads out within the melanophores, it covers up some of the other pigment cells. This causes the skin to appear black. Other movements can create stripes and spots of color!

Chameleons react to heat and cold by changing color too. Unless they can increase their body temperature by absorbing heat from the sun, they stay the same temperature as the air around them. Without warmth, they cannot hunt, move, or digest their food. In the morning they squeeze their sides together and puff out their chins, flattening their bodies to create more surface area. Dark colors absorb heat better, so the side of the chameleon facing the sun becomes almost black, while the other remains it usual color! Changing color is also a way of communicating between other chameleons. If they are fearful or territorial, their emotions will evoke a particular color/pattern.

Most chameleons are "Arboreal" creatures, meaning they dwell mainly in the "trees" and are rarely seen walking on the ground unless preparing to lay eggs or hunting. There are some rare species that live most of their entire lives on the ground, under leaves! They are not social animals; they are extremely territorial and will display territorial behavior if they even see their own reflection in a mirror! Lucky for their nerves there are no mirrors in the bushveld!

The smaller things about the bush always offer a fascinating insight into what goes on beyond the dominating Big 5 and we can have a sneak peak into this world by just being observant. So when you next find yourself driving through the African bushveld, keep an eye out for one the most interesting creatures, hidden in the branches all around!

Ellie-antics...

2010-03-02T01:53:00.000-08:00

At Amakhosi each day offers a unique perspective into the natural life occurring all around us, whether we notice it or not, but on occasion nature makes us look! The past week on a late afternoon game drive, just such an opportunity presented itself.

We headed out in search of a breeding herd of elephants, as a special request from our group. As we all know, life in the bush is pretty unpredictable and one can never be certain of what you will find and what you will see when you head out to explore the beauty of the bush. The rangers and trackers at Amakhosi are highly experienced and can read the “bush signs” very well, and it wasn’t long before we started tracking a breeding herd of elephants. After driving around for some time, our ranger decided to stop for sundowners, just to give the breeding herd a chance to make themselves known as he and his tracker had more or less isolated the block in which these giants were hiding.

We enjoyed our sundowners on an embankment of a watering hole, not knowing that the ranger was hoping for the ellies to make their appearance in the vicinity, or even better, for the whole herd to come and have a drink on the opposite side of the watering hole. And so it happened…

As we were still sipping away on the G&T’s a grey silent giant emerged through the thicket and the whole herd started filing through heading straight for the cool waters. Ellies always seem to celebrate when they take a time out from munching away most of the day, and what better place to have a celebration than at a watering hole! We all watched these prehistoric creatures show us how wild African elephants have a ball. We were then instructed by our ranger to head for the vehicle as the elephants were starting to make their way to our side of the hole. What a spectacular view; to see 35 elephants having fun by the waters edge! This is definitely a moment that will take your breath away and make you contemplate the situation.

The whole breeding herd slowly started moving around the watering hole, and we were soon surrounded by elephants! This was a sighting that could only be possible at a watering hole. With ellies all around and our guests totally enthralled by the moment, the matriarch of the herd came closer to investigate the smelly green machine, as the elephants often do here at Amakhosi. She approached the front of the vehicle and then decided to hug the tracker seat with her trunk, making me think; has she missed us? Apparent from the photo above, she was having a taste of it as well as she wrapped her trunk around the seat and then what seemed like suckling the seat flipping the safety belt like a piece of spaghetti when she came to the end of it!

Once again the elephants of Amakhosi have boggled our usual thoughts on elephants with their inexplicable behavior, where they turn the tables and we become the objects of their interest!

It’s a humbling, yet thrilling experience and words fail to capture the essence of such an awesome moment in time. You will have to come and join us, so that you to, can feel the rhythm of the African bush!

A lifer for any twitcher…

2010-02-26T06:42:00.000-08:00

We have done it again here at Amakhosi! Offering spectacular opportunities for all of you who are passionate about the African bush and the inhabitants that dwell within! The above picture was taken by one of our rangers in 2009. This little bird, for those of you who are scratching your noggin and frantically paging through the Roberts Bird Book, whatever you do, don’t panic! You probably have seen this one before…but not exactly like this.

This photo is of a Red-Backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), and a very special one at that. The color oddity is due to a genetic condition referred to as “leucism” which is a reduction in the intensity of pigments in the feathers, and is fairly common believe it or not.

In a nutshell, leucism is a genetic mutation in which the bird may have anywhere from one white feather to all white feathers, but coloured eyes or legs or beak. The dangers of leucism are numerous although it is often recorded that the bird appears to lead a ‘normal’ life.

The bird is obviously more conspicuous, thus at greater risk to predation. It is also generally accepted that leucistic birds have a shorter lifespan. The loss in pigments leads to a weakened feather structure over time with resultant increased wear. The retina of the eye is also often affected resulting in increased light sensitivity and even blindness from the sun. The success at mate attraction, based on visual feather cues could also be compromised, although leucistic birds often breed and rear young. Flock living species will often not accept a leucistic bird.

One would assume that this is an Albino bird but, Albinism is the complete absence of pigmentation due to inability to produce melanin. All the feathers are snow white and the soft parts are pinkish. The eye colour is also pink as a result of blood vessels showing through in the absence of darker colours. Albinism is normally caused by a genetic mutation that can be inherited if both parents have the albino gene. These birds generally do not survive more than a few days and are rarely seen.

After being blown away by this special Red-Backed Shrike in 2009, we did not think that we would ever see it again, as all avid birders would know; we would call a sighting like this, a lifer. So it was a thrilling surprise when we headed off on game drive in the past week, to the wetlands area in the northern parts of the reserve, just to be delighted by the presence of the same little guy, still looking as white as last year; which in turn has inspired some research into this topic!

Red Backed Shrikes are migratory birds and head off in the southern winter months to the warmer flyways of the north to breed. They have been recorded in Eurasia over the years and to this day there seems to be some confusion on where exactly the birds from South Africa head off to for their breeding. All we know is that we are thrilled to have this annual visitor grace our skyline once again this year. Offering a unique perspective on the life of our feathered friends here at Amakhosi! So why don’t you come and join us at one on the most beautiful places on earth!

Reference: www.birdinfo.co.za

Another dull day in Africa...

2010-02-15T04:30:00.000-08:00

It never seizes to amaze me, how life in the wilderness of Africa, as it is here at Amakhosi, has so many surprises in store for the keen eye. On one early morning drive this week, lying in wait, an astonishing encounter that left us in awe of animal behaviour once again! The above video clip just confirms how unpredictable life in the bush really is!

As we spotted this rhino grazing in the early morning sun out in one of the remote sections of the reserve, little did we know that two of the older female lion cubs were skulking around, just waiting for an opportunity to test their skills that they have so carefully learnt from mom.

It is amazing to think that not even 2 years ago these two female lions were tiny little cubs, playing in the morning sun, pestering mom and dad, living the very care free life of one that is at the top of the food chain in the African bush! Now all grown up and almost ready to have their own cubs, they show us just exactly how much they have grown!

As the first female lion approaches the enormous white rhino you will see that the second is not far behind, calculating some sort of maneuver to out smart the rhino. Now rhino’s have terrible eyesight and pretty much rely on their other senses to make up for the lack of seeing any danger approaching.

As the rhino gets uneasy, the one female goes slinking off behind this prehistoric animal and very cleverly spooks it in the direction of her sister, who eagerly waits to test the possibilities off taking down such a massive animal. Of course it is highly unusual for lion to take down rhinos but not unheard of.

This is the African wilderness that we are talking about and anything is possible!

The rhino nervously backs up, probably filling it’s nostrils with the scent of lions, you can notice that a slight panic overwhelms the animal and it spins around to make sure what it is up against. This in turn makes the two female lions stop and reassess the situation…

Smartly putting two and two together, they now know that this is not an animal that should be high on their list of preferred things to eat! They carried on walking into the sunlight on the horizon, probably filled with anticipation of what’s for breakfast! Oh, a day in the life of a lion.

Whenever the opportunity is there to witness any sort of activity by these amazing creatures, you don’t want to miss a moment! They are generally underestimated as predators with successful hunts, but with encounters like this one, it makes you wonder, how clever are they really?

Another dull day in Africa filled with thrilling experiences! We look forward to sharing the Amakhosi way of life with you, when you have a moment to join us in the day to day life of the African bush!

The Mkuze River in flood…

2010-01-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

On the 27^th of January 2010 we woke up to a much different sound here at Amamkhosi. The night before we had, in the excess of 100mm of rain and when morning came this is what we woke up to…

Standing on the deck at the lodge, a torrent of brown water came flowing past at an alarming rate, washing away along with it whole trees, stumps and pretty much everything in its path. The river now, nearly 5 times its usual width, makes you stop and think for a moment, just doing the math… It’s astounding; the force of nature!

In front of the lodge, where the dry riverbed was just a few days ago, stood a large Quinine tree that often lured elephants to come snack for a while in front of the lodge. Offering us a thrilling moment to see these giant creatures right from our deck! This morning, that tree, is gone…!

So needless to say, all the river crossings from Mziki bridge, Slembe bridge, Bhejane crossing and Rock Loop are all impassible for now and we already eagerly wait for the water levels to ease out again to be able to asses the damages that the chocolate torrent has left in it’s wake. As I always say, there is never a dull moment in deepest darkest Africa!

‘Tis the rainy season after all.

We headed out on Wednesday morning bright and early to the Mkuze Falls in the northern parts of the reserve, and what a mind blowing site! This is the Mkuze Falls in full flood, like no one here has ever quite seen it before!...

We had our own bit of mythical “mist that thunders” right on our doorstep! It leaves you gasping in awe at the masses of water just pushing over and into the earth, churning up the river bed, replenishing the soil and washing away all things old and dead in the process. It’s almost like nature is starting the river all over again.

Water is the life source of our planet, and has astonishing power when channeled in such large quantities as this, and leaves a very distinct footprint behind. It is such a soul satisfying site to see, to be witness to such an amazing natural event occurring right in front of your eyes… yet another truly amazing experience here at Amakhosi!

A new life at Amakhosi...

2010-01-21T08:18:00.000-08:00

Everyday at Amakhosi is like waking up to what I think of; as a lucky packet the African bush way. Never knowing what lies and waits every time you go out on safari here at Amakhosi.

This week presented a once in a lifetime experience and I mean once in a lifetime, even for rangers that go out there each and every day, having more than enough opportunity to witness the astonishing circle of life in Africa’s wilderness.

It was on an early morning drive that we headed out to the wetlands area and we came across a small herd of wildebeest milling around, doing their thing. We pulled over and this is when our ranger noticed one of the female wildebeest looking quite uncomfortable, and after having a good look he noticed…

The legs of a baby wildebeest dangling from the female’s rear end. Spectacular does not even describe this event! We were looking at the first stages of a live birth! We watched her intently for a few minutes, when our ranger made the call that our presence might distress her to a certain extent. So we headed off for a coffee stop at the beautiful Sangwene dam, which is one of the larger dams on the reserve and boasts numerous water birds and hippos to. This gave the wildebeest some time to give birth in peace.

We returned after approximately an hour, and as we slowly approached the area where we had last seen the wildebeest, the presence of two very sneaky looking black backed jackals that were scouring the area for the after birth which must have been alluring to these scavengers, pointed the way!

Our ranger then spotted the herd of wildebeest, and there it was, a brand new; barely one hour old little wildebeest, very wobbly on the little feet, but up and about, jumping awkwardly and trying to keep up with mom. With big bulging eyes still adjusting to all these unfamiliar surroundings and all the new smells, he was starting to fit right in, even the warthogs where there to share in the moment! Instantly this little life is started in fast forward to increase his chances of survival. It is mind boggling if you really think about it.

You will hardly ever have the opportunity to be a witness of such an amazing event in the wilderness of Africa. Having spent hours and hours on game drive in my life, have I never had such an amazing opportunity to be present at the birth of a wild African beast! Have a peek at the clip above…

Once again the African bush has not left us disappointed in offering us some insight in to this amazing creation that we live in. Amakhosi beats to the pulse of Africa, and we are able to indulge in this way of life, just to the rhythm of the bush itself. It leaves us in absolute awe and excited each time we get on a game viewer to go out looking for that next mind blowing experience! We look forward to sharing it all with you, on your next visit!

Amakhosi's African Cat Week....

2010-01-17T00:34:00.000-08:00

It’s been a thrilling week at Amakhosi and we have truly been spoilt rotten with Amakhosi’s treasured cats this week! Within 3 days on game drive, we were able to treat all our lucky guests with some amazing African cat sightings, and not just the Big Cats!

It all started one the morning when we witnessed the Buffalo-Lion stand off (refer to Amakhosi’s Ultimate Enemies blog post). After which we had a quick sighting of a caracal, on our way back to the lodge for a scrumptious Amakhosi breakfast. He was standing in a clearing behind some bushes just off the road, and let us have a full view of him for a moment in time before shooting off into the African wilderness. This was highly unexpected and an exhilarating treat for the morning!

The following morning we headed for the wetlands area, in search of the abundant general game that have been favoring this area in the past few weeks. This is when yet another breathtaking sighting completely blew us away! Have a look at the video clip above! As we headed down the airstrip we came across a coalition of 4 male cheetahs, on a kill! We watched as they eagerly scoffed the poor little impala in less than 5 minutes flat! After which they stretched out on the airstrip, looking completely satisfied. Offering us the most spectacular photographic opportunities that any professional would die for! But the thrills did not stop here…

On a late afternoon drive the next day, heading out to the northern parts of the reserve, we stopped for our sundowner at one of the most beautiful view points on the reserve. After sundowners we started making our way down the Mahlangase Mountain. Once we had reached the base of the mountain, only around the next corner did we spot, a something spotted on a big rock at the base of the mountain. Our ranger, Shane, could barely contain his excitement, as spotting the illusive Zululand leopard is a momentous occasion each time it happens! Breathlessly pointing out the very large male leopard! Sitting up straight, and proudly surveying his territory from his vantage point, this is when he spotted the funky smelling green machine and instantly became one with the rock! Instantly flattening himself on the rock, as if to say, “Did they see me, I don’t think so…” He graced us with his mysterious presence for a few minutes before slinking off into the thickets. Sadly for us die hard photographers, the lighting was not what one would want it to be, but it is at sightings like these that you can sit back and soak up your surroundings through your naked eye and not the glass! It leaves a lingering soul satisfied feeling all around!

What an exhilarating start to 2010 here at Amakhosi! And we look forward to treating you like royalty, when you next come to share in our slice of African paradise!

Amakhosi's Ultimate Enemies...

2010-01-08T06:41:00.000-08:00

When you hear the phrase, ultimate enemies, mostly everyone and anyone who loves the African bush knows that you are referring to the two most dangerous nemesis of darkest Africa; lion and buffalo, which we have plenty of here at Amakhosi.

On an early morning drive this past week, we headed out to the northern side of the reserve hoping to find a herd of buffalo that were reported to be seen in the area the night before. Now, tracking buffalo is no rocket science and it is very similar to following the paths that cows leave behind as they move along. There are plenty of hoof prints all heading in generally the same direction and very clearly pointing the way. At one point when we stopped to check the direction of the tracks again, did we notice, which got all on board excited like kids at Christmas time; fresh lion tracks over the buffalo tracks! This can only mean one thing and that is that lions were tracking this herd long before we had arrived! There is nothing quite like that feeling; being a witness of an ambush or stand-off between these two African icons of the bush…

We slowly headed up the mountain following the twisty road, when around the next corner, about 30 buffalo, grazing and milling around. There seemed to be an uneasy atmosphere amongst these beasts and I noticed that one of the more mature bulls, or “daga boy” lifting his heavy boss and filling his nostrils with all the scents that filled the air around him; the scent of lions, lingering not to far away. And of course a game viewer vehicle filled with all sorts of foreign smells.

As we sat and watched the buffalo herd we noticed a new born calf sticking close to mom’s hind quarters. It was in fact so new born that a piece of the umbilical cord was still noticeable, dangling from its little underbelly. Our ranger reckoned after much debate with his tracker, that this calf could not be more than a few hours old. This must have made the pursuit, for the lions ever more tempting, with the smell of birth present in the herd.

But this day, was the day of the buffalo, moments later we saw 2 golden furry heads bopping behind an outcrop of rocks further up the slope of the mountain. It is at this moment that we knew the buffalo had won the survival game today. It was 2 of the older adolescent cubs joined by 2 of their younger siblings. Due to the lack of experience and not having mom to lead the way, these young predators cover was blown the moment the ‘daga boy’ took a whiff of the air with his head high earlier.

When the lions came out of hiding the buffalo herd had already moved a significant distance down the slope and where clearly heading for safety, at their own pace, as if they knew that there was danger, but no life threatening surprises waiting. As the young lions watched them intently, their opportunity had dissipated right in front of their eyes!

It sometimes seems like a bit of a cliché when you read the phrase, ultimate enemies, but there are truly no words that could encapsulate the feeling that looms when these two great African beasts meet. The anticipation is over and above the most thrilling experience to have in the African bush.

What are the odds...

2010-01-01T01:49:00.000-08:00

It’s against the odds here at Amakhosi… have a look at the clip above which is a series of photographs that one of our rangers, Shane, was lucky enough to capture on a sizzling summer’s morning. Being the middle of summer the earlier you get out there the better!

We found our Northern pride of lions lazing around at Njombozane dam in the southern sector of the reserve, parked the vehicle in a good position to sit with the king of the beasts for a while just watching them doing what they do best, laze around, especially in the daytime! The next minute on the opposite side of the dam a bewildered impala fawn came bolting out the bushes heading straight for the water. What seemed like a moment of inexplicable events, Shane explained that the impala might have been spooked by a black backed jackal that we had heard not moments before, close by. This instinctive little survivor headed for the waters safety. Hitting the water with a splash, this little impala started swimming for his life, making a beeline straight towards the vehicle and unknowingly into an unplanned ambush.

Lions are opportunistic by nature and if something edible happens to pass their way they would 9 out of 10 times have a go at the free meal that is treading to closely.

Quietly lying on our side of the dam, is the whole pride, some awake and some with eyes closed. Don’t ever think that a lion is sleeping, because the transition from sleeping to being fully alert and in hunting mode can happen faster than the blink of your eye. The inquisitive young lions eagerly watch this moment starting to play in their favour. As the impala reached our side of the dam he was out of the water for less than a second! As he headed for the bank one of the older male cubs had already stalked the impala and pounced as the little impala was on dry land. With one big leap, the impala was back in the water, leaving the lions stunned for a moment, when the same older male cub went against his nature and went in after the impala, who is desperately trying to swim away. A big splash and the next we could see was the cub clutching the little impala with his deadly jaws, the cub ran as fast as he could to get away from his siblings to claim and lavish his prize.

Needless to say, the little impala just wasn’t fast enough and disappeared dangling from the jaws of the young kingly offspring. They have really grown up to follow in the footsteps of their majestic parents and are offering us the most spectacular viewing and photographic opportunities. If you are a fellow keen photographer, this is where you would have wanted to be, that morning!

So don’t miss out on the mind blowing experiences that we offer here at Amakhosi; 2010 holds as many surprises each day as there are stars in our beautiful skies. We hope to grace you with our planet’s beauty when you next visit one of the most beautiful places on earth!

Wishing all our friends and guests a prosperous 2010!

Another year gone by...

2009-12-21T21:36:00.000-08:00

Its Christmas time this week and there is no better way to spend it than in the wilderness of Africa, here at Amakhosi. Summer is in full swing and we are now anticipating the uncomfortable heat that is ahead in the next couple of months. We head out for morning game drive anytime from 04h30 to escape the heat of the day but still be in the thick of things when the bush awakes. The afternoon drives that are adorned with palettes of reds, oranges and gold up in the sky, have a hypnotic effect on those who pay close attention. If you let it, the African sun will seep into your soul, leaving you with a hunger like no other.

We have been spoilt with amazing sightings in the past week, seeing most of the inhabitants that occur here in their full glory. One very special treat was a cheetah killing a few day old impala on the airstrip of the reserve. This is of course the ideal hunting field for an eager cheetah, offering us an undisturbed and open view of what is called, the circle of life. It truly leaves me lost for words, when we get to have such an insight into our planet, in such a way. The way, were time stands still, the world out there seems not to exist, and all that counts in being here at this moment to witness these events in this amazing creation that we live in, but so often forget to notice.

It is only the end of the year out there where you are, but here at Amakhosi, we are in the middle of yet another exciting season, enjoying the longer days of summer and the bustling life of the bush around us. But, we are not completely disconnected from the world out there, and…

would like to wish all our friends and guests a very happy festive season, safe travels and a prosperous New Year!

We do hope that you visit us again in 2010 at one of the most beautiful places on earth. It’s the place where the African bush will become a part of you forever.

The bushveld babies are here...

2009-12-10T22:43:00.000-08:00

In the bush life is pretty unpredictable and anything could happen at any moment. Never knowing what to expect next in your day!

Life is buzzing here at Amakhosi and there is a lively energy all around. With the copious amounts of rain that has descended on Amakhosi in the past month it has recreated the bushveld into what most people would refer to, I suppose, as a jungle! Lush green grass on our wetlands, paints the liveliest picture and the dense undergrowth in our wooded areas create safety zones for the bottom of the food chain so to speak.

Finally the new generation of “nyamazane” this is the collective Zulu word for antelope, have arrived. It seriously leaves us humans in awe of how the survival skills of these inhabitants, in this beautiful place, are the key to their existence.

The Impala fawning process is truly amazing. The female will isolate herself in cover for several hours before calving; the calving time is more commonly around midday according to “The Behavior Guide to African Mammals by R.D Estes” relating to the fawning process of Impala’s . These antelope are impeccable survivors and usually wait for the rains to come; exactly as it did in the past month. They keep an eye out for the dense undergrowth to create the much needed barrier of protection for the females and their new born fawns. One of the most nifty survival tools that Impala have are that their fawns are born scentless, and with all the rain in the air, any birth related smells that may loom are masked by the rains, and protects them from any unwanted attention of any roaming predators and scavengers. It is needless to say that the females that are calving are extremely vulnerable to predation, and so are the fawns. The fawns remain concealed reportedly for 1-2 days before following mom to join the safety or the herd once again.

Harems of Impala females have another amazing tool to their disposal… They have the ability to all drop their young in a certain time frame, especially if there is rain in the air! This creates safety in numbers for all the fawns of the new season, which in turn creates a greater chance of survival. With all the fawns rejoining the safety of the herd at more or less the same time nurseries are formed and it creates a safety net for all the big eared inquisitive little ones.

How could you not think that life in the bush is mind blowingly awesome! We witness it each day in amazement here at Amakhosi.

Just that time of the year...

2009-11-30T00:46:00.000-08:00

Here we sit with the thunder rolling through the African skies, and rain, rain, rain and some more rain. When the heavens open on the South African bushveld we always feel, what I call, a certain soul satisfaction. The earth gets replenished and every living thing feels inspired to grow. We have had downpours of note in the past week, and needless to say the 4X4 excitement has just been irresistible! As you know, here at Amakhosi we find it very hard not to seek the thrills that lie and wait in the bush.

With our northern pride of lions being very active close to the lodge lately, it was literally a 2 minute drive to see the king of the beasts. The photographic opportunities have been spectacular and the above photograph was taken on an early morning drive, and we mean early, wake up call can now be any time from 04:30am depending on how eager you are to get out there and see Amakhosi and all the treasures within. After all it is the King’s Pride. This male lion is having a whiff to determine whether the females are in estrus. This action is referred to as “phlegmon”. Every mammal has what is called a Jacob’s Organ which is a gland located in the nasal cavity area. By pulling up his top lip like he is in the photograph, it activates the glands receptors in order for him to detect any pheromones. I guess one can say; are you feeling lucky?

With all the rain, come flying ants, which in turn attracts an array of birds, just sitting on the road, waiting by a termite nest opening, picking them off one by one, what a feast this seems. With birds flying through the air, diving down, twisting and turning like natural born acrobats. It’s a celebration where the earth once again produces for its own. And with all the cloudy weather the reptiles have come out to reveal themselves, having sightings of an African Rock Python and a Puff Adder crossing the road on one drive, along with two Leopard Tortoises cruising along and Rock and Water Monitors, we have been delighted to show our guests in the past week, a few things that you definitely do not get to see every day!

So another wet start to another seemingly wet week, we can’t wait to see what the African bush has in store for us.

Anyone for a mud bath, the Amakhosi way…

2009-11-17T04:42:00.000-08:00

The above picture was taken this week after our head ranger, Shane returned from what seemed to be a very eventful morning game drive! This may even be therapeutic in a sense. If you have a close squiz you’ll see that the vehicle including Shane is dotted with mud, from back to front on the vehicle and from tip to toe. We had an amazing sighting of one of the breeding herds of elephants on Monday and had the pleasure of watching them socialize and interact at a watering hole on the reserve.

Sitting in awe, watching these gigantic mammals play in the water, and dunking themselves in the mud, shows so much personality in each of the members in the herd. With each ellie having fun and making the most of their rest stop to replenish their thirst. We got to sit with them for over an hour!

The little pink feet that are traipsing around in the herd, offered unbelievable opportunities for photography, if you are a photographer you definitely missed out on an awesome opportunity. Don’t despair, we all know that the photographic opportunities are endless here at Amakhosi!

Shane was very busy being ‘that’ photographer who had the chance to capture this moment of joy in the African bush, snapping away at this little one…

having fun in the sun, when the next moment, mom, who’s trunk is visible in the foreground, decided to include the funny smelling green machine in their playtime. Filling her trunk with muddy water, turned her head and very joyfully hosed down the green machine. Covering all in a pure African mud shower!

It definitely rates as a priceless moment in time, with wild African ellies interacting with us little people who sit and watch them from a distance! Who ever said that game drives are monotonous! Rather brace yourself for an unbelievable moment in time when you visit us here at Amakhosi! They lurk around each corner...

Frogging mad...

2009-11-10T02:32:00.000-08:00

It’s our general manager, Alwyn that I am referring to. An amphibian lover of note! I had the pleasure of joining Alwyn on one of his specialty safaris that are one of the “other” things to do at Amakhosi. This is a definite must for all who visit our beautiful reserve. If you have seen the Big 5 and would like to venture a little into the unknown of the micro life on our planet, you could not ask for a more passionate or knowledgeable guide.

As we drove to what is called a preferred frogging location, which funny enough are not the permanent water sources on the reserve, but rather the temporary puddles that are around this time of year. Alwyn explains the rushed life of frogs, or what we as humans know, the rat race, and I think in this case then, the frog race. The rush begins only when there is rain in the air, as they only have the rainy season each year to do what they need to do for their species. Talk about a limited lifestyle. Most amphibians are dependant on the moisture to be able to move and live, so they patiently wait for the rains to fall and then spring in to a frenzy of action moving from one place to the next, looking for mates and a chance to procreate. This is the challenge in frogging, having to be in the right place at the right time. If you do find yourself in just that right frog-spot you are bound to be enthralled with excitement, walking around head to the ground looking for these very interesting little creatures. You can’t help but get intrigued by all the interesting facts of each one that gets zapped up and placed in a jar to have a good look at. The residue from your skin can be harmful to amphibious creatures; they absorb everything around them through their skin, so it is better to touch them as little as possible.

The above picture is of a painted reed frog that we found, hiding on his reed in a furrow next to the river at the river crossing closest to the lodge. This particular one is not fully mature yet, and the colors of this beautiful painted frog are still to change. They truly do look like they have been hand painted.

So come and join Alwyn the next time you visit, to take a look at the earth from an eye opening perspective and enjoy a thrilling adventure like non other! It’s a frogging safari, in Big 5 country!

Rainbirds of Africa

2009-11-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

This bird, also known as the Burchell’s Coucal (Centropus burchellii) was named after William John Burchell from Fulham, London. He was a British explorer and naturalist in the 1800’s who found himself exploring Southern Africa between 1810 and1815. During his exploration that took him across 7000km of mostly unexplored territory he collected a phenomenal 50,000 specimens which he shipped back to Britain on his return. His collection of plants, skins, skeletons, insects, seeds, bulbs and fish is considered to be the most extensive ever made in Africa, before and since. He is remembered in numerous bird, animal and plant names to this day.

The Zulu’s call this the Rainbird, that makes itself known with a series of rapid mellow hooting notes that sound something like du-du-du-du-du-du-du….du-du-du heard just before a rain shower. With it being our rainy season the sound of perfect harmony that these birds have in their calls echoes through the air, and is unmistakably the sound of the season! The Zulu people believe firmly that when these birds call, the rain is sure to follow, so we keep our ears pitched before game drive, just to know if we should prepare for some fun in the mud!

The call of a Burchell’s Coucal must be classified as one of the sounds of Africa. This is a sound, which will echo through your soul, and always remind you of the African wilderness.

With the beat of the bush inspiring us all to pick up the pace, we are in full swing with preparations for the festive season. You haven’t had a better Christmas holiday than in the African bush. And for those who are joining us this coming silly season, we can’t wait to make your African safari experience, one of the most festive and memorable ever. With the call of the Rainbirds and life erupting all around, there is no better place to be, than at Amakhosi!

Mud, guts and glory...

2009-10-30T00:17:00.000-07:00

This must be the most thrill-seeking time of the year with the change in season, and is undeniably the most thrilling time you can find yourself in. The bush explodes to life, and you can feel the excitement in the air.

With all the rains over the last couple of weeks, the bush has become lush green and dense. This makes it more challenging to find the inhabitants of the African bush, but thrilling when you do find them! Our northern pride of lions have graced us with spectacular sightings and offering opportunities for us to witness first hand, the lessons that are learnt by the cubs that are now fast turning into sub-adults. Joining in the hunts and learning a new lesson each day. It is quite amusing to witness these young ones honing in their ability to be the fearless hunters that they were born to be.

Finding ourselves on the wetlands this week, we had just such an opportunity to be amused. With the whole pride, all 13 of them, fanned out with their eyes fixed on a herd of blue wildebeest, one of the young males got a bit too eager and started flanking off to the one side. With mom in front, leading the way, the wildebeest heading straight to her and with the wind in her favor, it should have all panned out. But there was a valuable lesson looming, the blue wildebeest spotted the young male and took flight. To everyone’s disappointment, including the pride with one over eager brother who let their supper slip away. None the less a valuable lesson had been learnt. And we had some good entertainment seeing these usually sleeping beasts do their business.

4X4 driving at this time of the year, in this terrain must rank as one of the top 100 things you should try before you die. Driving on water saturated soil in a game reserve is every bit as much fun as what they say it is! This is the way it should feel to be driving in the wilds of Africa. Getting stuck in the mud and having to dig your way out, using logs and rocks, finding yourself with eager guests, especially the guys, jumping out to give a hand, having fun and getting dirty! It’s the most fun some people can have on safari…

With the rhythm of the bush here at Amakhosi picking up, it leaves all that dwells within it, inspired and feeling alive. This is the most thrilling time of the year to come and visit the most beautiful place in the world. As we anxiously wait for the seasons babies to arrive, each day is filled with surprises and a whole lot of unpredictable fun!

Bush Popcorn...

2009-10-21T04:44:00.000-07:00

Around this time each year, the bush has tell-tale signs of anticipation for the new season. After having 50mm of rain in the past week, the bush has turned into lush greens of all hues, and has once again painted the canvas for the coming season. The river, like a torrent of chocolate milk came down in full force, washing away the signs of the dry season and filling its well defined path, so much so that it did not allow us to cross to the other side for a couple of days.

With the rays of the sun, coming down with a lot more strength than a couple of weeks ago, everything around us is heating up and inspiring growth along with all the rains. The most obvious sign that has arrived this week is the sound of popcorn all around us! An amazing fact; the bush has its own popcorn. Sitting under a tambotie tree (Spirostachys africana) also known as the “jumping bean tree” is like being in a microwave oven with a bowl of popcorn! These trees have small fruit, which are parasitized by the larvae of a small grey moth called a Knott horn moth. These larvae jack knife inside the fallen segments that causes the beans to jump. The small 3-lobed beans split in equal segments when ripe and on a warm day it sounds like the bush is making its very own popcorn! Perhaps it is also waiting in anticipation for the movie to start!

We humans are however vulnerable to this toxic tree. The tambotie tree belongs to the Euphorbia family, and gives off a latex substance that is poisonous and an extreme irritant when it makes contact with your skin. The latex is used on the tips of arrows by ethnic inhabitants to stupefy fish and makes them easier to catch, as the latex contains an ingredient that has anti-inflammatory properties. Like pricking a fish with a dose of Voltaren. And for those of you that don’t enjoy the creepy crawlies of the African bush, tambotie logs can be placed in between clothing to act as an insect repellant but may attract a porcupine which is one of the few animals that feasts on the bark of this amazing tree. Our very own African Jumping Bean!

With love still looming at Amakhosi we would like to share yet another special moment in time… Congratulations to Tim and Joanne Lombard from Umhlanga on the North Coast on their engagement and we wish them all the best for their future together! Rika and her team once again orchestrated a beautiful setting for a breathtaking and timeless moment, never to be forgotten.
And so another week begins at the most beautiful place in the world…

Just another day in the African bush

2009-10-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

When you live to the beat of the African bush, you can’t help but notice the smallest changes that happen around you on a daily basis. This past week the small things started changing and one of the first I noticed was that the dung beetles have surfaced once again to do their bit for the environment by recycling. It’s amazing to watch these small creatures doing what they do. Locating the freshest dung, which sets off an aerial attack and if you find yourself in the near vicinity you better watch out cause these little guys descend like fighter pilots! With a perfect landing they tuck in to start collecting and rolling their treasured dung balls. At this time the males compete fiercely and you will notice, if you sit and watch them for long enough, that there are even sneaky thieves among them that poach the dung balls from their rivals. Whoever can gather and roll the biggest ball of dung is pretty much assured of his legacy living on, so this is what the battle for the balls are all about! The females of course, are only impressed by the biggest balls of rolled dung. The reason for this is that they lay their eggs in these dung balls and bury them so that in the next season the hatchlings would have survived on their dung ball that they were hatched in. So roll away boys!!

As always there is never a dull moment at Amakhosi and this past week has proven no different to any other. Our northern pride of lions graced us with their presence close to the lodge this week. The air resonated with their spine chilling calls that left guests in no doubt that they were really close by. They were on the hunt and managed to take down two blue wildebeest close to the hide where we like to serve breakfast occasionally. Seems they enjoyed their own menu at the hide. It has become more common for this pride to take down more and bigger prey as the older cubs are fast heading into adulthood plus there are still 13 mouths to feed when the two dominant males are around. The older cubs are starting to join in the hunts and who better to learn from than mom who has been hunting professionally for 13 years. The two adult females have done an outstanding task of raising their cubs and training them for survival, so that they will be able to fend for themselves in the wild.

With temperatures rising and days getting longer, we can start to feel the hot summer days approaching fast. We can’t wait to see what the new week will bring!

So the rains came...

2009-10-06T05:31:00.000-07:00

The first week in October has brought much relief to the reserve. Finally, the raindrops started falling, and boy did they fall! The Mkuze River is flowing once again as we know it to be, washing away the signs of a long dry season that has come to an end. With all the rain of course comes the fun challenge of not getting stuck in the soaked earth! Every drive turns into an adventure and our guides and trackers are loving each moment! This of course offers a fantastic opportunity for the die hard 4x4 fanatics, and the eternal argument persists on the “Land Rover or Land Cruiser” battle!

This interesting photograph above was taken in the past week by our managing director, Ben. The behaviour you see here is called Osteophagia, a common practice with giraffes, and literally meaning, the eating of bones. Osteophagia is a Greek word, Osteo meaning bones and phagia meaning ingestion or eating. Other herbivores follow this practice especially at the end of the dry winter months when the nutritional value of the vegetation deteriorates. It has also been noted that female giraffes supplement their calcium and phosphorous deficiencies during pregnancy by sucking on bones. Bones and salt licks provide a much needed supplement of calcium and minerals, and it seems that they know just where to find it! The giraffe is not actually eating the horns in this picture, but is trying to get to the skull bone. The rest of the journey, of which this giraffe is one, was seen picking up pieces of the wildebeest skeleton that lay scattered. A once in a lifetime photographic opportunity was presented by our giraffe picking the skull up by the horns! Don’t you just wish you were here!

It seems with spring in the air, love has to follow…Amakhosi is one of the most romantic destinations to pop the question this month. Following our first wedding in September we were delighted to share in the romance and marriage proposal of James & Bronagh, from Ireland. We hope to see you again for the honeymoon and wish you only the best and all the happiness the world has to offer!

So now we wait in anticipation, listening to the beat of the bush and its inhabitants to present us with their surprises for this season…

It's an Ellie-casion!

2009-09-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

There is never a dull moment @ Amakhosi and the past week has proven it once again! The photograph above was taken 3 days ago at an eventful gathering of an elephant breeding herd at the Mkuze River, just a little way down river from the lodge. With ellies popping out of the thicket one after the other, all heading for the cool water of the river, only to find these two vehicles in the middle of all the excitement! Curios as they are the elephants had to come investigate, sticking their trunks in the air, and thoroughly eyeballing these green machines with all the funny smells coming from it. Every time, it makes me wonder, who is viewing who? The ellies had a drink, splashed around, had a bit to eat across the river then crossed over again and moved up river, towards the lodge for the night. They gave us ample opportunity to view them from the lodge deck. It’s moments like these that take your breath away, which will last you a lifetime!

Speaking of lifetime breathtaking moments, love is in the air! We are delighted to announce that vows were exchanged for the first time here at Amakhosi. The wedding was coordinated by our rooms division manager, Rika and her team who went out of their way to make this a life long memory for the bride and groom. Vows were exchanged on the banks of the Mkuze River at a beautiful place called Rock Loop, not to far up river from the lodge. Just as the rain drops started falling, blessing them from above, they made their way back before the rain set in. On arrival Mr & Mrs Love along with their bridal party were welcomed to their wedding feast, prepared by our head chef Lauren and her team at the lodge. The blushing bride and groom were treated like royalty by all the staff here at Amakhosi and we wish them a lifetime filled with blessings and happiness. Keep an eye open on our website for the beautiful photographs that captured this special moment.

It’s already the end of September and the cold and overcast weather has stuck its head out again here in Zululand, still carrying the promise of much anticipated rains. So we wait, patiently, because in Europe they may have the watches but in Africa, well, we have the time!

2009-09-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

Raindrops nearly falling on our heads…

Spring is in full swing and has given the flowers good reason to come out in full bloom. Filling the air with the sweet sent of Wild Jasmine, and the abundant Crossandra zuluensis that have popped up all over are creating a color pallette of reds, oranges and greens on the ground, painting the earth.

We love getting wet on game drive and no rain will stop us from searching high and low to find the inhabitants of the most beautiful place in South Africa, to share with our guests. This last week has been filled with excitement and thrills with elephants popping up around each corner and the, oh so elusive Zululand leopards have been making an appearance. The leopard activity has picked up with flair in the past week, and we have been following tracks of male and female walking side by side, which means that it is that time of the year for them where they seek one another's company!

One of our rangers Nicolai with his tracker Kiki was lucky enough to spot a leopard mom with 2 cubs on a late afternoon drive, just up river from the lodge. His guests could barely contain their excitement, and Kiki excitedly tryed to get Nicolai’s attention! Nicolai stopped to get out and show his guests a blue wildebeest skull, when it all happened and was completely unaware of the reason for the ecstatic gestures from his tracker until he heard the word: “Ingwe”. All of us here stop and hold our breath when we hear that word, it borders on a sacred experience to see these magnificent cats, so it’s worth holding your breath to listen and hone in on any white tipped tails flicking above the grass. (Sadly no photos were taken by anyone, the moment was apparently to overwhelming)

Our head ranger Shane and his tracker Mandla enjoyed the close company of the elephant breeding herd 2 days ago, with one elephant stopping in for some “game viewing” on our vehicle. Sticking his trunk in Shane’s face to sniff and assess the green machine with all these different smells on! I would also be intrigued if I were an elephant come to think of it!

With great anticipation and with the summer rains looming we can’t wait for the new life to blossom on the reserve, and this is always an exciting time for us at Amakhosi. Dying to get out there and track down all things new, from big cats to small flowers, it’s like an early Christmas in the bushveld as the “presents” make themselves known!

We also heard some wedding bells ringing this past week at Amakhosi and will tell you all about it in our next post!

All new things this spring...

2009-09-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful spring day, living it the Amakhosi way!

For those who don’t know everyday in the bush is the same as every other, Monday could be Sunday and you wouldn’t know it. The only way we know that another week has passed is when it’s time for some to take their monthly leave and this usually happens on a Tuesday, so that the ones returning from their well deserved break can clock in on Wednesday morning bright and early.

So yet another week has come to an end and right now the bush at Amakhosi is coming alive and there is a great anticipation for summer to arrive, the trees are turning into a display of colors, the birds are back, the river is flowing, the frogs are out, but the best of all is that you feel the rhythm and the beat of the African bush pulse through your veins. You feel alive and free all at the same time, knowing that this is where time does not matter.

Spring, always a fabulous time for new things!

Speaking of new, you surely have noticed, our website has recently been revamped and we are now delighted to share our news with you on our brand new blog spot!

This is dedicated to the die-hard Amakhosi patrons that just cant wait for their next visit to our little slice of African paradise, you can now read all about what is happening in and around the bush, the lodge and all the interesting bits that you miss out on when you aren’t here, sharing life with us to the beat of the bush.

If you are dying to know what is going on at the place where you find your day dreams wandering, wander no more, just visit our blog! And before you know it you will find yourself standing at our front door!

Summer has arrived

2009-09-03T03:21:00.000-07:00

Here in Sunny Kwa-Zulu Natal spring is very much on time this year, starting with temperatures in excess of 35 degrees, our summer is definitely on its way back. The bush is alive with activity from butterflies to the flowering of acacias, wild pears and sneeze woods , bringing beautiful contrasts in the bush.

Good Safari Guide Finalist

2009-08-01T02:25:00.000-07:00

Amakhosi Safari Lodge was nominated for the first time this year, in no less than five categories in "The 2009 Good Safari Guide".

Throughout the travel industry there has been a call for a fair system of recognition and reward for the unprecedented high standards of safari properties. This annual ceremony does exactly that, offering peer group recognition of outstanding achievements within the safari industry, and Amakhosi Safari Lodge is proud to announce that we were nominated
as finalists in the following categories:

Best Safari Camp in Southern Africa
Best Ecological Safari Camp
Best Community Safari Camp
Best Safari Camp Guiding Team
Best Safari Camp Cuisine

We would like to take this opportunity of saying THANK YOU to you, for voting and nominating us in this prestigious guide.

We will continue to endeavour to ensure that Amakhosi Safari Lodge offers it all wrapped up in one exciting package; an elevated level of service and opulence, stupendous cuisine, diverse and superb gaming experience, not to mention a thrilling splendour of African charm that will appeal to your clientele.

Kind regards
The Amakhosi Safari Team