Our rains often start throughout October and November, however this 12 months we didn’t have a lot in October in any respect, and we thought that we is likely to be in for a dry season. The primary few weeks of November additionally didn’t look very promising, however a chilly entrance got here by way of within the third week and it rained virtually always for eight days, offering some much-needed water to leap begin the rising season! Sadly, for many who had been right here on the time, it meant that the scarcest sighting for the week was the solar!
However what rain brings is life, and the outcomes are exhibiting shortly! As that is the time of lots, a lot of the breeding occurs in early summer season, when meals and water is available. Impala ‘flood the market’ with their lambs, coinciding their births so that almost all of lambs are born inside a month.
And they aren’t the one ones. Wildebeest and zebra have additionally began dropping their younger, and the clearings are filling up with calves and foals operating with the herds.
Elephants
The breeding herds of elephant have been shifting about fairly a bit throughout November, probably on account of the rain, and having plenty of choices out there. In the course of the second half of November, elephant sightings had been few and much between, however after they had been seen, they virtually all the time had one or two very younger calves with them. These are all the time a agency favorite with guides and company alike and we’re blessed to have such relaxed elephant herds that permit us to get improbable viewing of them.
Simply A Little Totally different
One other explosion on account of the rain is the insect world normally, and when situations are proper, we expertise enormous termite emergences! Typically termite colonies synchronise their emergences, leading to thousands and thousands of winged aletes chickening out. These are the kings and queens of the subsequent technology which, after the nuptial flight, lose their wings, pair up with the other intercourse, and burrow down into the earth to start out a brand new colony. These are, nevertheless, one among nature’s greatest types of protein, and the whole lot from mammals and birds to frogs and different bugs have a feeding frenzy when these emergences are found.
Lions
And whereas nature is bursting with abundance, the common performers proceed to contribute to the unbelievable sport viewing we now have turn out to be accustomed to. The Mhangene pleasure have been common guests to the south and are a pleasure to watch. Being near the lodge very often, it permits us loads of alternative to view them on the transfer, earlier than they discover shade as the warmth of the day approaches.
On one among these events, having discovered the pleasure resting on a termite mound, they abruptly observed a lone wildebeest bull approaching and shortly went into stalk mode. They really managed to remain centered, even with two giant elephant bulls in the best way, laid the ambush and efficiently hunted the bull! To see a video of this motion, click on right here.
The 2 younger cubs are each doing very nicely and are a continuing supply of leisure. The youthful one just lately discovered a big leopard tortoise which, whereas the adults had been being fairly lazy, offered some nice amusement. I’m positive that the tortoise didn’t discover this as amusing, however luckily it was giant sufficient to keep away from being crushed by their jaws, and after a protracted sport, they lastly left it in peace.
The Ottawa pleasure have additionally accomplished very nicely. All six cubs are thriving and are rising by the day. They’re now seven and 9 months previous and we’re very hopeful that they may pull by way of. They’re now on the ages that make for lots of enjoyment out on drives, and with the moms offering them with common kills, they’ve some further vitality to burn! Play has turn out to be a vital a part of their growth and so they always chase each other in mock looking and combating.
The one lioness from the break-away group as soon as once more made a go to within the West, and we had been hopeful that she would be part of up with the adults, as at one level she was very near them, however sadly she didn’t. She is in good well being, although, and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see the place she leads to the longer term.
We’ve additionally seen the 2 Tsalala females fairly a bit this month. They’ve been primarily sticking to the river, not shifting an excessive amount of and attempting to maintain a low profile. Sadly, they didn’t preserve a low sufficient profile, and the older feminine was killed within the Sand River on the twentieth of November. From the tracks within the space, we assume it was the Plains Camp males, who’ve been pushing additional west and getting near our concession on a number of events. The younger remaining feminine has moved a great distance east and we now have not seen her since.
The Thumbela males are going to must defend their territory nicely to make sure that these two males don’t encroach on their area and threaten their prides. We’d like them to guard the six younger Ottawa cubs and be certain that the pleasure has some new younger females to maintain the pleasure going. Thus far, nevertheless, they’re doing very nicely! The bigger of the 2 males is wanting in improbable situation and is rising in confidence every day. His brother will not be recovering as shortly however is however beginning to look good. The limp that he has had since they arrived continues to be there and is maybe hindering his progress. We’re assured, nevertheless, that they may proceed to guard their territory and cubs.
Leopards
On the leopard entrance, Tlangisa has been doing exceptionally nicely together with her two cubs. She has been having some phenomenal success with making kills of late, however not a lot at retaining them! We just lately had an important view of her dragging a recent impala kill to a secluded spot, however earlier than she might return with the cubs, a hyena had stolen it.
She has, nevertheless, managed to offer nicely and her two cubs are rising nicely. She has one male and one feminine, that at the moment are 7 months previous. They’re extraordinarily relaxed and are discovered frequently across the Sand River. Though Tlangisa has misplaced many kills of late, she nonetheless manages to search out sufficient to feed the cubs and preserve them rising!
Boulders additionally appears to be pregnant once more, and we wait in anticipation for information of her cubs. She is notoriously good at hiding her den websites, so hopefully we can discover it quickly after the start, so we will observe the progress of the cubs from early on.
Ntoma, whom we talked about final month for showing to be extra relaxed, has been seen on a variety of events once more this month. She allowed us to observe her just lately and he or she really managed to catch a scrub hare whereas we had been following her. She turned instantly, and walked shortly in the other way, initially making us assume that she was not proud of our presence. We managed to maintain up together with her, nevertheless, and to our shock, she led us again to the 2 cubs who had been hidden in a drainage line close by. The cubs had been a bit of nervous, however relaxed considerably at evening, and we had some nice viewing of the three of them collectively. Sadly, we now have learnt that one cub was later killed by hyena.
We talked about final month that Tisela had been in a scrap together with her brother, Hlambela, and that her leg was badly injured, however on the mend. This therapeutic course of has continued, and we’re blissful to say that her limp is significantly better, and he or she is in good situation!
Her brother has grown up in a short time and, like his father Ravenscourt, is beginning to act in a dominant style at a really early age! At three years and 5 months, he was seen mating with the Kelly Dam feminine for a interval of 5 days! It isn’t unusual for a feminine to mate briefly with a younger nomadic male in her territory, with a view to persuade him that her cubs (if she had any) might doubtlessly be his. It’s, nevertheless, very uncommon for it to final so lengthy! To make it much more stunning, Ravenscourt met up with the pair, and as a substitute of chasing his son away, he simply joined in and we had them making turns mating with Kelly Dam, with virtually no aggression between the 2 males. Ravenscourt then moved on, with Hlambela staying with Kelly Dam! For a improbable video of this, take a look right here.
Ravenscourt nonetheless dominates the West, as he did final month. We’ve talked about that he has contenders on all sides, ready for a possibility to problem, however they must wait.
Thamba appears to be content material with what he has in the intervening time and isn’t placing any apparent stress on Ravenscourt in the interim. He appears to have settled along with his territory for now and has made the south his personal.
Euphorbia can also be settling down within the north. Each he and Thamba appear extra intent on placing stress on Nyelethi additional east, as Ravenscourt continues to be in his prime.
Wild Canine
The opposite predators have had some improbable exhibiting this month. At one level, we had two packs of untamed canine on the concession, giving us unbelievable viewing of this endangered species. These animals have a few of the tightest bonds between the people, and these bonds are strengthened by enjoying. Wild canine play greater than another species and we had been spoilt with an outstanding sighting of one of many packs chasing one another round and thru a small pond for over 20 minutes! We’ve a brief clip of that sighting right here.
Hyena
Our wonderful hyena viewing has continued, with the den nonetheless being lively and offering some improbable sightings of the younger cubs. We additionally frequently see adults scattered across the concession, as they give the impression of being, pay attention and scent for any probability of a meal that could be discovered.
African Wild Cats
We had some extra good viewing of the African Wild cat and her kitten originally of the month, however they appeared to vanish towards the top of November. Because the cub will get older, she is going to transfer extra readily with the mom and be much less constrained to the den.
Cheetah
Our male cheetah has been a bit of scarce this month, with not too many sightings being recorded. This may very well be a results of all of the impala lambs which might be about, that are very straightforward pickings for him, and so he doesn’t have to maneuver too far earlier than discovering and efficiently catching prey.
Birds
For these of you who’re eager birders, it is a nice time of the 12 months, as many migrants return to feed on the massive abundance of meals that’s out there throughout summer season. It’s the time for breeding and displaying, by making use of brilliant colors, fantastic shows and plenty of singing from outstanding perches.
Rhino
We don’t typically point out rhino, as there may be such enormous stress on their populations which might be crashing quickly on account of the large poaching drawback dealing with all reserves in Africa in the intervening time. However as we strategy Christmas and the Festive Season, we wish to pause to consider, and thank, these unsung heroes who will likely be spending their time defending and combating for the survival of our rhino.
With heat needs
Neil, Natasha and The Savanna Crew
