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Giraffe stand-off
Hyena in the grass On an early morning game drive out of River Lodge, Lot Makhubele spotted the clear tracks of a male leopard imprinted in the sand road. He slowly climbed down from his high seat at...
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The glossy mob
Edited by Keri Harvey Snakes are always a hot topic of discussion among guests and visitors to Kapama. They mostly want to know what types of snakes inhabit southern Africa, which are venomous, and...
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Walking the Big Five
Edited by Keri Harvey As rangers, we encounter Africa’s most feared animals – known as the Big Five – on a daily basis. Game drives are all about experiencing wildlife from a vehicle. The excitement,...
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Patience for lions
Lions are a favourite request from guests visiting Kapama – and yes, we do have really excellent sightings on the reserve. As we left for a morning game drive recently, guests were excited about what...
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Leopard and lion wage silent battle
With the Murphy family as my guests on the game drive vehicle, we were making our way to an area south of Southern Camp. I knew there were three lions in the area, but I clearly told the Murphys that...
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Curious creatures
…that make the trees weep. Written by: Joe Van Rensburg – Buffalo Camp Spittle bug (Ptyelus grossus) Chances are, if you’ve spent any time under certain trees on safari, you’ve felt a fine drizzle on...
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Right time, right place
Just when you think it couldn’t get any better! Written by: Liesa Becker “So, Richard and I might have a little surprise for you”, I told my guests as Richard, my tracker, and I shared a hopeful smile....
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The leopard that wasn’t
But lions don’t climb trees! “Fresh lioness tracks” said Colly, my tracker, pointing at the perfect print in the dirt. Our guests leaned in, listening intently, as he explained how he could tell. “See...
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Rut season
The roars that shouldn’t scare you The impala is the most abundant species of antelope seen in the Lowveld, and many things that aren’t rare or unusual, even first-time visitors barely notice them...
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The Dusty Dance
A giraffe affair Giraffes “necking” We often spend our guests’ final drives checking off any animals on their lists we haven’t yet found. One of my favourite animals to watch and photograph is giraffe,...
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Big cat fight
Some cats just don’t like to share In Kapama, we’re lucky to have a couple of relaxed resident leopards that carry on about their business as if we’re not there. One such leopard, a female, was...
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Winter Sun Worshippers
Even mongooses love sunbathing When you think of an African safari you can’t help but think of the heat. Out here in the South African Lowveld, however, winter mornings and evenings can be bitterly...
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Drongo sidekicks
A bit of bushveld comedy A number of days ago while out on safari, my guests and I spent a few moments enjoying a sighting of a spectacular giraffe bull picking away the tiny tasty leaves from a very...
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No need for fighting
A nyala dominance display As a field guide, spending time with wild animals and observing their behaviour is always special, no matter their species or size. One animal that has always fascinated me is...
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A spectacle on our doorstep
Lazy lions and a little luck (not for the buffalo…) Kapama Private Game Reserve is vast and its lodges are generously spaced across the property, so wild animals from the reserve frequently come into...
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Python and prey
Watching a python devour a nyala in camp The earth shook as Reazert (my tracker) banged on my bedroom door. “Hang on, I’m coming.” I said, getting off my bed slowly. “You know the African rock...
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Cleaning up the carcass
Watching scavengers consume the remains of a rhino Not long ago, one of our mature rhino bulls injured a young female rhino to such an extent that she died of her injuries the next day. It was a very...
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Uninvited guests at Kapama River Lodge
Up close and personal with lions It was the 22nd of August 2015 and I can vividly recall how beautiful the hot and cloudless spring afternoon had been. I was manager and host for the evening at Kapama...
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Hippo attacks buffalo to protect its own
Wildlife’s natural instinct prevails If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you should always expect the unexpected, especially if you are working in the wild. Every typical day at the office...
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Whooo’s there?
Breakfast on my doorstep I’m a new ranger at Kapama and have been guiding here for about 3 weeks. One morning, I was woken early by the loud, unhappy screeching of a guinea fowl, but it was only when...
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