January 2010 : Sabi Sand Reserve, South Africa

The New Year is in full swing, the game viewing is as great as ever, the grass is high and it’s raining cats and dogs! And cats! And more cats! Leopards (Panthera pardus) have been providing us with some spectacular sightings - something that’s synonymous to safaris in the Sabi Sand. The Ravenscourt leopards, which include a female, her two nine-month-old cubs, and an older male from her previous litter, have been seen together on a number of occasions.

The wild dogs or painted hunting dogs (Lycaon pictus) have rewarded highly skilled, fast-paced tracking efforts by successfully hunting on almost every occasion that they were seen. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) viewing has also been superb as the short, newly burnt grasses in the southern sections have brought in a selection of potential prey. One male that we see regularly has spent much time in the vicinity of a large herd of buffalo, which adds to an even more impressive sight.

After some intense summer rains, lush green grass engulfs the bush - a welcome relief after the dry season. The long grass allows the predators to remain camouflaged for that much longer and they’ve been relishing the feasts that follow. It is also a great time for the cats to give birth as concealing the precious cubs is just that much simpler.

One of the Othawa lionesses (Panthera leo) has given birth to four very playful cubs and is keeping them secretly stashed in a rocky outcrop not far from Ebony lodge. The problem is that a new pride of nine lions has been very successful in hunting and spending much of their time in the surrounding area. If keeping her cubs hidden from these new lions isn’t stressful enough there is also a leopard with two very small cubs in the very same rocky outcrop only about 70 meters away! Choosing the same den areas could prove fatal to both the lion and leopard cubs because if either of the mothers was to find the others den they would instinctively kill the cubs to reduce competition at a later stage.

THE LARGE HERD OF CAPE BUFFALO JUST GOT LARGER!

The habitat requirements of the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) include a plentiful supply of grass, shade and water. The nutrient-rich grazing in the southern section has attracted multiple herds and now is also the calving season. Safety in numbers is a vital survival strategy during this vulnerable stage for young calves, and we estimate the herd we’re seeing to be 600 strong.

Last week, as we made our way past some dominant females on the edge of the herd, we noticed a cow that seemed restless in the heat of the afternoon. On closer investigation we saw that she was trying to give birth, but the calf seemed to be breached. We left her in peace and drove to a marshy area where they were all heading for a drink. After a while we noticed a cow with a very small calf coming along… It had to be the one we’d been watching!

Everyone was so pleased that she’d given birth successfully and that ‘our’ tiny calf looked healthy. The wet, wobbly black heap didn’t take more than 10 minutes to stand and follow the mother! To deter any predators from the smell of blood, the mother would stop temporarily to eat the remains of the placenta and give the calf a break, but it is the survival of the fittest as the herd didn’t pause a moment for the new member.

CAUTION! HIGH WATER RISING

Heavy rains at the start of January resulted in the Sand River rising at an alarming rate! This was one of my highlights of the month as we watched a pride of lions completely fascinated by the rising water.

The sub-adults are not much older than two years and would stand a few millimeters from the rising water mark. Each time the water touched their paws they’d jump back in fright, only to curiously go back and dare it again…

A NEW YEAR’S GIFT

History repeated itself on 01 January 2010 - exactly the same thing happened on 01 January 2009… By slipping on the smooth bedrock beneath the current and not being able to regain his footing, a large male giraffe succumbed while attempting to cross the raging Sand River. Giraffe, although graceful animals, are ungainly and vulnerable when attempting to negotiate slippery areas.

We were not the first to scout out the dead giraffe, as a pride of nine lions (not afraid to get their paws wet!) were already feasting on the New Year’s bounty. Lions always welcome a free meal and nothing goes to waste. Over four days of feeding activity they were not the only ones to benefit - five substantial crocodiles came to grab their share. It was interesting to watch as the roles of feeding changed from day to night - at night the lions would move away from the carcass, not too far, and allow the crocodiles a chance to feed.

STRIP OF CANDY

What a delight as you drive through the open plains and discover these electric pink lilies! Part of the crinum family, this is Crinum delagoense, or more commonly known as the Candy Striped Crinum. Usually found in scattered grasslands at low altitudes, the petals curl back with white stripes and the deepest magenta. Interestingly, they are used in traditional medicine to help treat urinary tract problems. One place that you are bound to see them for now is along the sides of our airstrip! “When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.” Anonymous

Nicky Silberbauer
Singita Sabi Sand
Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve
South Africa
31st January 2010