Our rains normally start throughout October and November, however this yr we didn’t have a lot in October in any respect, and we thought that we may 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 nearly consistently for eight days, offering some much-needed water to leap begin the rising season! Sadly, for many who have 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 displaying rapidly! As that is the time of lots, many of the breeding occurs in early summer time, 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 don’t seem to be the one ones. Wildebeest and zebra have additionally began dropping their younger, and the clearings are filling up with calves and foals working with the herds.
Elephants
The breeding herds of elephant have been transferring about fairly a bit throughout November, presumably because of the rain, and having a lot of choices accessible. Through the second half of November, elephant sightings have been few and much between, however after they have been seen, they nearly all the time had one or two very younger calves with them. These are all the time a agency favorite with guides and visitors 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 because of the rain is the insect world typically, and when circumstances are proper, we expertise large 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 following era which, after the nuptial flight, lose their wings, pair up with the alternative intercourse, and burrow down into the earth to start out a brand new colony. These are, nevertheless, one among nature’s finest types of protein, and all the things 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 unimaginable sport viewing we’ve turn out to be accustomed to. The Mhangene delight have been common guests to the south and are a pleasure to look at. 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 delight resting on a termite mound, they all of a sudden observed a lone wildebeest bull approaching and rapidly went into stalk mode. They really managed to remain targeted, even with two massive elephant bulls in the way in which, 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 effectively and are a continuing supply of leisure. The youthful one lately discovered a big leopard tortoise which, whereas the adults have been being fairly lazy, supplied some nice amusement. I’m certain that the tortoise didn’t discover this as amusing, however luckily it was massive sufficient to keep away from being crushed by their jaws, and after an extended sport, they lastly left it in peace.
The Ottawa delight have additionally performed very effectively. 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 power to burn! Play has turn out to be a vital a part of their improvement they usually consistently chase each other in mock searching and combating.
The one lioness from the break-away group as soon as once more made a go to within the West, and we have been hopeful that she would be a 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 fascinating to see the place she results in the long run.
Now we have additionally seen the 2 Tsalala females fairly a bit this month. They’ve been primarily sticking to the river, not transferring an excessive amount of and making an attempt to maintain a low profile. Sadly, they didn’t maintain 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 couple of events. The younger remaining feminine has moved a good distance east and we’ve not seen her since.
The Thumbela males are going to should defend their territory effectively to make sure that these two males don’t encroach on their house and threaten their prides. We’d like them to guard the six younger Ottawa cubs and be certain that the delight has some new younger females to maintain the delight going. Up to now, nevertheless, they’re doing very effectively! The bigger of the 2 males is wanting in improbable situation and is rising in confidence day by day. His brother shouldn’t be recovering as rapidly however is however beginning to look good. The limp that he has had since they arrived remains 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 effectively along with her two cubs. She has been having some phenomenal success with making kills of late, however not a lot at preserving them! We lately had a fantastic 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 supply effectively and her two cubs are rising effectively. She has one male and one feminine, that are actually 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 maintain 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 lately and he or she truly managed to catch a scrub hare whereas we have been following her. She turned instantly, and walked rapidly in the wrong way, initially making us assume that she was not proud of our presence. We managed to maintain up along with her, nevertheless, and to our shock, she led us again to the 2 cubs who have been hidden in a drainage line close by. The cubs have been a bit nervous, however relaxed considerably at evening, and we had some nice viewing of the three of them collectively. Sadly, we’ve learnt that one cub was later killed by hyena.
We talked about final month that Tisela had been in a scrap along with her brother, Hlambela, and that her leg was badly injured, however on the mend. This therapeutic course of has continued, and we’re joyful to say that her limp is a lot 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 trend 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 probably 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 nearly 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. Now we have talked about that he has contenders on all sides, ready for a possibility to problem, however they should wait.
Thamba appears to be content material with what he has for the time being and isn’t placing any apparent stress on Ravenscourt in the meanwhile. 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 remains to be in his prime.
Wild Canine
The opposite predators have had some improbable displaying 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 number of the tightest bonds between the people, and these bonds are strengthened by enjoying. Wild canine play greater than some other species and we have been spoilt with an exceptional sighting of one of many packs chasing one another round and thru a small pond for over 20 minutes! Now we have 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, hear and scent for any likelihood 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 tip 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 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 simple 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, this can be a nice time of the yr, as many migrants return to feed on the large abundance of meals that’s accessible throughout summer time. It’s the time for breeding and displaying, by making use of vibrant colors, fantastic shows and many singing from outstanding perches.
Rhino
We don’t typically point out rhino, as there may be such large stress on their populations which might be crashing quickly because of the huge poaching downside dealing with all reserves in Africa for the time being. However as we method Christmas and the Festive Season, we want to pause to consider, and thank, these unsung heroes who can be spending their time defending and combating for the survival of our rhino.
With heat needs
Neil, Natasha and The Savanna Staff
