Author: LH Focus Online

Spotted Hyenas work in a matriarchal society, meaning their is a dominant female or queen that will be in charge of the clan. Within a clan’s territory they might have multiple den sites which they use when they have pups.

They are known to be very social animals and enjoy playing with each other, especially when the pups are involved. While we were at one of the Hyena dens, we were fortunate enough to enjoy one of these playful occasions between a mother, her baby and another youngster from the clan.

Enjoy the video.

Video by Hugo Breed

The bush has turned beautifully lush after some much needed rain and has burst with vibrant colours.

Kelly Dam Female was seen resting up on a fallen over tree, prefect vantage point from where she kept an eye on an approaching hyena.

Shortly after the hyena moved away, she continued to scent mark on the path she was following and disappeared into a nearby thicket.

 

 

Dayone Male Leopard vocalizing and scent marking during his afternoon patrol. Ravenscourt Male has been edging his way into the territory of Dayone, which is forcing Dayone to regularly traverse his territory to make sure there are no intruders. There has recently been some interaction between Dayone and Ravenscourt as they met up while Dayone and Xikavi were mating.

With Ravenscourt putting pressure on the territory of Dayone, there is sure to be some interaction between these two Male Leopards in the weeks to come.

 

Over the last two days Torchwood has been busy feeding on a Warthog kill. We would check up on him regularly, in the hopes to find him where he has hoisted the kill into a tree.

Yesterday afternoon we did the same, but when we got there he was still busy feeding on the ground. After a while just watching him and enjoying the amazing sight of watching a wild animal feed close by, a Hyena appeared on the scene.

The Hyena quickly picked up the scent of the kill and made its way straight towards Torchwood. Torchwood was to slow to react and tried his best to fend off the Hyena. Unfortunately for him the Hyena overpowered him and he lost his hard earned meal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Torchwood remained in the area in the hopes of regaining some of the kill, but he was unable to as the Hyena kept everything for itself.

Written by Hugo Breed

Majingilane Male Lion Coalition finishing of the remains of a Buffalo Kill.

All four Males were seen feeding together, paired with some intense growling and interaction. They were finishing of the last remains of the buffalo they had killed two days before and moved off shortly after as they were heard roaring in the distance.

Xikavi & her growing Male Cub were found on a Duiker kill, which she hoisted to safety from the waiting Hyenas.

They were seen lying some distance from the tree where the kill was hoisted. Xikavi kept an ever-watchful eye on her Cub, he then moved closer to his mother for some affection. He then claimed the kill as he played with the remains while the Hyena anxiously looked on for anything that might fall to the ground.

 

As guides we are very fortunate to call the African bushveld home. We spend many hours every single day as witnesses to mother nature’s astonishing beauty. As much as our days have some form of routine we always expect the unexpected, and no two days are ever the same. On the 26^th of May, this point was proven yet again. We had just left a sighting of two lionesses and their three cubs, we were on our way home when a surprising call came through the radio. A word I had yet to learn and had to refer to our tracker Sipho and ask what this animal was. “Ndloti?” he asked in disbelieve. After a few seconds Sipho turned around with a great big smile and said “That’s a Serval!”.

Riddled with excitement, we dropped a gear and started making our way into the area where this small cat was called in. Keeping in mind that usually Serval sightings are so quick that the opportunity for a photo slips through your fingers before you have even reached for your camera.

Well we were absolutely flabbergasted when we arrived to see that this Serval was laying down 10m from the side of the road watching us with utter content. We managed to spend about 40 minutes with her as she moved through the brush and eventually disappeared into a thicket.

 

 

 

 

 

The next evening we managed to find her again, not too far from where we found her the previous evening. We were observing her moving through an open area where the grass was nice and short. Her ears flickered, and her behaviour changed instantaneously. She dropped her body, raised her shoulder blades, and began a very brisk stalk. Within a couple of seconds we managed to witness her kill and consume a field mouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will certainly be on the lookout for her again in the hopes that she becomes more commonly seen, and awes our rangers and guests alike with her enchanting beauty.

Photos by Hugo Breed

Video by Cameron Engelbrecht

Written by Cameron Engelbrecht