Category Archives: Ranger’s Report

Quality cats, festive zoomies and stormy days: December at Umzolozolo

Season’s Greetings! We hope that your festive season was a time of laughter, blessings and special moments. This is your final ranger report for 2025!

Guests have traveled from far and wide with one request this month. Yes, you guessed it, the cheetah cubs. It was as if the spotted beauties knew the plan because they gave us some of the most epic sightings in December.

The youngest mother has moved her two cubs, that are now almost a year old, down into the southern region of the reserve while expertly avoiding contact with other predators and providing regular meals for her growing offspring. I remember responding to a sighting where she had killed a young kudu and then a day later she took down a juvenile ostrich. At this stage, her cubs are observing her hunts and will soon be expected to show off their skills.

The older mother of the five younger cheetah cubs is also doing very well. They are becoming more athletic in their play routine and can be seen practising the ankle tap and pinning down skills. On a few occasions this month, they were unnervingly close to the lionesses but the mother remained steadfast and alert to avoid exposing their location and risking any conflict.

A highlight from this month has to be that the southern lionesses and the dominant male lion killed a warthog close to our lodge access road. The big cats remained in the area for a few days and kept all of our guests and staff on their toes while moving around the lodge grounds. It was wild!

The two new male lions have been providing brief cameos during the course of the month. Sightings have been brief and visuals have been somewhat disappointing, however, the frequency of sightings is improving and we are confident that they are relaxing around the cruisers more and more. These two males are from Zululand and they have been introduced for genetic variation. It is our hope that once they have settled and bulked up that they will begin to interact more with the lionesses. They will need to be wary of our dominant male for a while longer as he is still in excellent health and ready to defend his territory!

Our new generation of animals have also provided us with wonderful moments. The blue wildebeest calves spend a lot of time bouncing around the plains working out their long legs and enjoying all of the space. The black-backed jackal pups are also out exploring their environment by playing on the termite mounds and pouncing on sticks in the grass. We have spotted a few blue crane chicks strolling behind their devoted parents as they learn how to forage and navigate the flooded plains. The bounty is evident all around us and we are thoroughly enjoying the opportunities it brings our way. Summer birding is always rewarding on Nambiti. Wahberg’s Eagles have been more abundant in the sky, and we have logged some interesting species including White Storks, Lesser Moorhen, Cuckoo-finch, European Roller, Booted Eagle, and Bronze-winged Courser.

Remember to pack waterproof clothing and to bring your bottles with you to help us reduce plastic and paper waste! We are looking forward to sharing memorable moments with you in the new year.

See you out there! Stay wild! 

Head Guide Noleen Turner

Epic battles, baby booms and predator prowess: November at Umzolozolo

No game drive is ever the same. Every time we head out onto Nambiti, there is something new to experience. The month of November proved this many times over!

I begin with an account of the most epic battle! On a morning safari, I drove out of the lodge and turned down Porcupine Ridge towards the Ndaka River. The air was still and we were scanning the thickets for activity. To my left, I saw two grey bodies barreling down the hill towards the river. On closer inspection I realised it was two black rhino bulls involved in a territorial battle. The two were exchanging blow for blow and it was evident that things were serious.

The battle moved down into the river bed where slippery shale provided a perilous arena. At this stage, Field Guide Promise joined me as we watched on with awe and disbelief. The two bulls rammed, jabbed and shoved each other, frequently drawing blood and clearly leaving bruises. The water and mud splashed around their feet as the combatants relentlessly pounded and pushed. They were physically exhausted, but with so much at stake the battle raged on for at least 75 minutes. It was truly epic and certainly unforgettable!

Towards the middle of the month, our baby boom began. We have seen chicks, lambs, calves and piglets at every turn. The newborns are exploring their new home and scooting around the plains and thickets without a care in the world.

A feature for the month has been the frequency and quality of sightings when it came to the northern lionesses, black rhino, white rhino, cheetah and eland. Not only have we had fantastic moments, but also interesting behaviours and interactions.

I remember parking Hoopoe 1 on Tatu, Field Guide Mark was in the same loc, and experiencing a brave and intense stalk and hunt. The northern lionesses tried to take down a buffalo. They failed in the end. The experience was still very exciting!

The oldest cheetah female on Nambiti has been spending loads of time in and around the lodge. Her favourite time of the year is here! She has stalked and ambushed at least four impala lambs on our access road or down at Hoopoe Dam. While nobody likes to see a newborn animal lose its life, we have to appreciate that predators have to eat and populations have to be kept in check. She isn’t the only spotted hunter who has been targeting the bounty. Our brave mother of five cubs is putting veal on the dinner table every couple of days to keep them growing bigger and stronger! Sightings of her are infrequent, but equally as rewarding when the stars align!

We have had some exciting new additions to the predator population on the reserve with the release of two young male lions. The pair hail from Zululand and have been quite elusive up to now. Nobody has spotted them on game drive yet! Meanwhile, there are three new African Wild Dogs that are getting used to their new surroundings in a boma on the reserve. They are being monitored closely and we will keep you posted on their release date!

With the passing of his brother, our dominant male lion is adjusting to the role of lone king. Moments with the handsome cat are fewer and certainly cherished. He was enjoying some quality time with the Ntombi pride before joining the Tswalu pride in the south where he could be seen from Umzolozolo.

Just a few more quick updates on some of the characters you know and love. Our youngest cheetah mom has been seen teaching her two cubs how to stalk and hunt prey. They have been dodging the lions and buffaloes up in the north for most of November. The elephant herd has been darting from south to north and east to west. Highlights with the grey giants have been when they swim in the dams in the south and also when the entire herd strides through the open plains. The cheetah boys, as always, provide us with epic moments and special photographic opportunities. They know the catwalk and we love them for it!

From the lodge side, we have almost completed phase two of our solar installation and will soon be completely off the grid! We hosted a beautiful wedding, and celebrated with birthdays and anniversaries! 

Summer storms have started, and the weather is unpredictable out here! Remember to pack waterproof clothing and to bring your bottles with you to help us reduce plastic and paper waste! We are looking forward to sharing memorable moments with you during your next visit.

See you out there! Stay wild! 

Head Guide Noleen Turner

Big moments, new beginnings and family feasts: October at Umzolozolo

“Rhythms of the Wild”

The bush hums with quiet triumphs —
new tracks pressed into red earth,
first breaths taken beneath golden skies.
Around each bend, stories unfold —
a pride united,
a zebra foal finding its footing,
the dance of the cranes setting the scene.
The wild is feasting,
and with every sunrise,
we begin again.

October has been epic! So epic, in fact, that I honestly don’t know where to begin. I have accessed my photos from the month and this is what I will use to create the timeline for this month’s report.

Our Blue Cranes are in the midst of choosing partners, selecting nesting sights and preparing the nests for eggs. I spent almost an hour with a group of seven cranes one morning. The males were displaying very interesting and entertaining postures that were combined with leaps and bows. It was captivating to watch! The cranes are not the only ones preparing for the arrival of eggs. Our weaver birds are diligently gathering material to weave into their hanging nests and the coots are stockpiling reeds to construct their floating nests. We have observed a few more birds on the reserve this month like Common Buzzards, Jacobin Cuckoos, Greater Honeyguide and an African Jacana.

While I realise that cheetahs featured in my September report, I have to make mention of how much they have dominated our guest experiences this month, too. The cheetah brothers have been in top form; they took down a blue wildebeest one morning and we almost got to see the entire hunt from start to finish. The transition from uninterested to full speed was incredible to watch! They have also been interacting more with the older cheetah cubs and providing us with some intense moments. One morning in particular comes to mind. The youngest cheetah mom was feasting on a common reedbuck ram with her two cubs. They were being harassed by a pair of black-backed jackals but when the two cheetah brothers arrived on the scene, the jackals were the least of their worries. The cubs bolted away from the kill and the mother followed. Somehow, in the pursuit, the one cub became isolated and we were relieved that they were reunited. The mother of our five cheetah cubs, as we had hoped, is becoming more relaxed around the vehicles. She has been spotted a few times on game drive and even took down an impala ram quite close to the road where we could observe the cubs feeding and the family allo-grooming.

Our elephant herd has been back in the south and they have paid us a visit up at the lodge a few times this month. On a number of occasions, the heat has inspired them to spend some time swimming and playing in the dams. Watching elephants approach water and then fully submerge themselves is an experience that never disappoints! Their genuine delight and excitement is tangible and it almost always seems to be the younger bulls that linger that extra bit longer.

The Tswalu lionesses popped down south and took down an eland cow this month. It presented a wonderful opportunity to get some footage on the thermal camera. We headed out on a night drive and came across the one lioness in the road. We spent time filming her and then she gave us an almighty roar and sent us on our way in style. The Ntombi pride made a few cameo appearances this month as well. The block burn up in the northern plains has provided excellent opportunities to spot the big cats out in the open. Towards the end of October, we happened upon them stalking a buffalo cow. The moments before the young lioness took her shot were tense and very exciting. She got so close but the buffalo got away.

There were a couple of unexpected surprises for me and my guests this month. We were called in to join the sighting of a zebra mare that had just given birth to her foal. It was an intimate moment that evolved into quite an intriguing sighting. We watched as the mother appeared to treat the foal in a rough manner while simultaneously protecting it from other zebras around them. She knocked it down a couple of times and the foal would struggle back to its feet. As it gained stability, its body warmed up and became flexible enough to bend down and take its first suckle. Amazing! We also experienced the complete process of finding, darting and safely translocating black rhino. The morning was long, but the experience was unforgettable. Nambiti is part of the black rhino expansion project and it was time to move two females to a new home to continue the project’s aim. We were all sad to see them go, but we recognise the plight and the privilege.

The rainy season is upon us! Remember to pack waterproof clothing and to bring your bottles with you to help us reduce plastic and paper waste! We are looking forward to sharing memorable moments with you during your next visit.

See you out there! Stay wild! 

Head Guide Noleen Turner

Patches, spots and babes: September at Umzolozolo

Welcome to Spring! The rain has arrived, but the cold temperatures have lingered. Morning game drives are chilly, skies are cloudy and roads are muddy. Wild flowers like Purple Verbena, Star Lilies and Evening Primrose are popping up in the areas that the reserve recently burned. The fresh green grasses resembled astroturf fields, and the grazers are making good use of the tasty veg and open views. While the big cats are finding it tricky to hunt in the open, the cheetahs are cashing in on the vast spaces and plentiful prey.

September has been a wonderful month for cheetah sightings. I shared a few images and videos on social media of the oldest female spending time around Hoopoe Dam and our lodge this month. She was also seen with the two males on the odd occasion. Our youngest female continues to impress us with her parenting prowess. She is moving her two cubs around to avoid encounters with the lions, and they are looking healthy and full of youthful exuberance! We received confirmation from reserve management that our middle female cheetah has a new litter of cubs. She is keeping a low profile for now but we hope to catch a glimpse of the cubs soon!

A species that has featured in many entertaining moments this month is the giraffe! Large aggregations of them have been seen in the southern and central regions. I have caught them on camera exhibiting a number of interesting behaviours; from osteophagia to sparring. These graceful creatures are curious and often reveal hidden predators from their superior vantage point. Guests have appreciated their silhouetted beauty at dusk and dawn, and they seem to know exactly how to pose for the quintessential picture!

We celebrated World Rhino Day this month and the frequency and quality of sightings could almost suggest that they knew it was their time to shine! Nambiti provides a safe haven for both Hook-lipped (Black) and Square-lipped (White) rhinos. Our anti-poaching unit has been boosted by the introduction of a k9 unit and they have leveled up with advanced training routines. We are seeing many mother and calf combinations while out on game drive and baby rhinos are a firm favourite! As the populations continue to grow, we acknowledge the role that our reserve management plays in acquiring partners who support the dehorning procedures and monitor their movements within the reserve boundaries.

Some exciting news for avid birders, I recorded my first African Cuckoo this month! I am adding it to the reserve bird list as an uncommon summer migrant! Our Blue Cranes are selecting nesting sites, the Lanner Falcon chicks have hatched and at least one clutch of Ostrich chicks are exploring the reserve. One of the field guides on the reserve called in a very rare sighting of five Southern Ground Hornbills this month. As luck would have it, I didn’t go out on game drive that day and missed the sneaky visitors.

Up at the lodge, we have had many reasons to celebrate in September! Heritage Day was a colourful affair, the Springbok victory over Argentina was a highlight and the soaking rains are much needed after a long winter period.

The last quarter of 2025 is upon us and the festive season is approaching fast! If you are planning to spend some quality time with us over the next few months, check the weather predictions for your dates and be prepared! Bring your bottles with you to help us reduce plastic and paper waste! We are looking forward to sharing memorable moments with you out on safari.

See you out there! Stay wild!

Head Guide Noleen Turner

Mega Munchies, Classic Carnivores and Hefty Hussles: August at Umzolozolo

The windy month of August usually threatens to blow us away, but it hasn’t been all that gusty this year. Our mornings have often been misty, but mostly clear and still and beautiful. Towards the middle of the day and into the afternoons, the winds have picked up and left us feeling a tad tumultuous. I will say that the sightings this month have been phenomenal and really have blown us away!

Let’s kick things off with the mega munchies! The elephant herd has taken a particular liking to our Jade plants up at the main lodge. Considering that we are waiting for the first Spring rains to transform the vegetation on the reserve, these herbivorous giants are sniffing out any treats that may be on offer. 

As a field guide at Umzolozolo, one of our hosting duties is to escort guests to their chalets after dinner. With elephants in camp, this can be an eventful task. Our other senses are heightened when darkness falls with smell and hearing gathering the best intel to navigate guests to the safety of their chalets. One evening, having ensured the safety of our guests, I found myself trapped up at the lodge with the elephants blocking both routes to my room. For the next 90 minutes I sat at the window and became accepted into their space as they explored the vegetarian options around the offices. They knew that I was there, it was an unforgettable experience!

It could be said that with the thinning of the bush towards the end of winter, we become more likely to observe hunting activities. In August, we have witnessed more successful hunts than usual and even a few entertaining misses. Field Guide, Siya had the two cheetah brothers take down a warthog soon after he left the lodge for morning game drive. I had one of the southern lionesses ambush an eland behind my cruiser on the same morning! Siya and I also watched the two lionesses tracking a domestic cow calf alongside the fenceline to close out an afternoon safari, and I observed the cheetah coalition show interest in a newborn giraffe baby. Some classic carnivore moments and a couple of rare ones to share with our Umzolozolo guests!

Our youngest cheetah female has recently changed her hunting grounds. Her two cubs are five months old and they are learning survival and resilience lessons every day. It has been difficult to catch up with them as regularly as we used to (now that the drive to where they are is further), but it just makes the moments we get with them even more special. Field Guide Mark and I cashed in on some quality time with them this month and it was great to see how tall the cubs are getting.

With the elephant herd spending much of the month in the south, we have enjoyed their shenanigans and we have enjoyed tracking them. We were having a bush breakfast one morning down at Hoopoe Dam and the entire herd mobilized down the hill towards us. They move so quickly, especially when a helicopter is buzzing nearby. The matriarch led them past our breakfast spot and moved them further west into the denser thickets. One of the bull elephants, that we introduced from Tembe Elephant Park, is in musth at the moment. His elevated levels of testosterone have placed him in a more sassy state this month and he has been pushing his weight around and testing the boundaries.

Sightings of both square-lipped and hook-lipped rhinos have been more frequent and quite rewarding. Larger crashes of our grazing population are out and about, and we have a handful of youngsters exploring the reserve alongside their protective mothers.

I watched some interesting behaviour being exhibited by a hook-lipped cow while out on a sunrise safari. She crossed the road in front of my cruiser and proceeded to dustbathe in a bare patch of mudstone soil a few metres off the road. She used her front toenails to scuff the ground to loosen more soil and then rolled around in it. The loose clay soil would have provided her skin with protection from the sun and parasites. It was a unique and special sighting!

Up at the lodge, we have had some fun and games. Our maintenance team and Amos (our landscaper) have been busy mending and replanting things in the wake of the elephants’ visits. The weather in the evenings has been conducive to hosting dinners in the boma where guests can enjoy the crackling fire and a starry sky. Our guests have chosen to celebrate many big life events at Umzolozolo this month, from milestone birthdays to anniversaries and proposals. In between these festivities, we have gathered together to watch some massive sporting events featuring our national teams and our favourite league teams in action!

With winter behind us and spring months ahead, game drive times have changed. Morning temperatures are still fresh, but it is certainly heating up as the sun climbs higher  in the sky. Thunderstorms are more likely to happen, so don’t forget to pack accordingly and while we are on the topic of packing…a friendly reminder to bring our own bottle along when you visit.

See you out there! Stay wild!

Head Guide Noleen Turner

Rare Moments, Carnivore Craziness & Courageous Cubs: July at Umzolozolo

Anyone who has spent time at Nambiti Game Reserve knows that leopard sightings are a rare and sought after experience. During the first fortnight of July, guests at Umzolozolo were treated to one of the more exceptional leopard encounters ever to have been recorded. Field Guides Promise and Siya were driving a group together and had called for standby for a lion sighting. While waiting to view the southern pride, they happened upon a leopard. As the morning unfolded, it seemed that the lions had also spotted the secret hunter and being the more dominant cat, they started to put pressure on it. Not wanting to go down without a fight, the leopard moved closer to the guides waiting on standby and further from the lions. In a moment of clarity, the leopard identified an escape route and disappeared into the thicket. It just goes to show that you should always expect the unexpected and keep scanning around while on standby for a sighting!

With many of the blocks on the north western side of the reserve being burnt this month, the activity in the area has been increasing. Southern Bald Ibis, Jackal Buzzard and Blue Cranes have been seen foraging in the ashes. A few unique species have also been seen, namely Temminck’s Courser and Senegal Lapwing. Herds of selective grazers like blue wildebeest, blesbok and red hartebeest have moved into the burnt sections as well and this entices the apex predators to put their hunting skills to the test. With the carcasses left out in the open, we have recorded an increase in White-backed Vultures in the area.

We have hosted some bush breakfasts down at Hoopoe Dam this month. Sitting in the mild winter sunshine after a chilly morning drive has been wonderful. It has also been a season of proposals at Umzolozolo recently. We are very delighted to be part of our guests’ big moments and congratulate all of the happy couples on their engagements!

To be fair, it hasn’t been the coldest month this year. There was some frost around on a couple of mornings, and thick mist has been more common. I would still encourage guests to bring their winter woolies along. When the sun is down or sitting low, temperatures are freezing and then we have to also consider the wind chill factor of August!

See you out there! Stay warm!

Head Guide Noleen Turner

Bouncing Babies, Big Bull Battles and Brotherly Bonds: June at Umzolozolo

As I write the first official report for winter, the brrrrrrrrr-effect is front and centre. Many mornings have started below zero and frost covers the grasses and the dung! To counteract the colder conditions, we have a few warm treats up our sleeves. Despite the frosty atmosphere, game viewing has been fantastic!

Considering the season we are in, there certainly are many more young baby beasts bouncing around the reserve than one would expect. We have a few rhino calves with their wrinkly armour, a hippo calf that playfully interacts with other youngsters or its mum, two fluffy cheetah cubs that are exploring with energy and keeping mom on her toes, buffalo calves marching along in the herds with their big boots on and even a giraffe calf was born recently!

Field Guide Mark and I visited a sighting of the elephant herd this month where we observed a few of the younger bulls pushing and shoving one another to hone their skills. We have all viewed the tussles between giraffe bulls as they improve their swings. I had the unique privilege of watching two black rhino bulls locked in a face-off that was likely over a female. Neither wanted to relinquish their position and we eventually left them to sort it out without an audience. Fights between younger bulls are preparation for the main event when they become dominant, or look to establish dominance. The practice bouts are a vital aspect of their future success.

We have had some interesting experiences this month. Promise, Siya and I spent some time in the field with student vets from the US. It was an excellent opportunity to see a different aspect of game reserve management. We participated at times and observed at other times. I am quite sure that we gained invaluable experience while working alongside reserve management, the anti-poaching team, a helicopter pilot, wildlife vets and student vets. I am also pleased to announce that I successfully completed my practical assessment to obtain the NQF 4 Nature Site Guide qualification. Thank you to everyone for their support and encouragement!

Around the reserve we are seeing an increase in the burning of fire breaks. The charred sections are already attracting birds and mammals alike. We have observed Pied Crows, Temminck’s Courser and Lanner Falcon foraging in the areas alongside zebra, square-lipped rhinos and warthogs. Within the next few weeks, our block burns will begin as we prepare for the fire season.

If you are visiting us during the month of July, I encourage warm clothing with an emphasis on protection for your face, hands and feet. It is freezing in the mornings!

Hope to see you soon! Stay warm!

Head Guide Noleen Turner

High-speed Hunts and Killer Cats: May at Umzolozolo

Forgive me for waxing lyrical in this introduction to May, but it really is a special month in the bush. We have experienced a few mornings where temperatures have clearly dipped below zero and left frosty evidence on the grasses and piles of rhino dung. Guests have bundled up with thick jackets, beanies, scarves and gloves to fend off the icy conditions, and the coffee stops have stretched a little longer into the morning as we enjoy the mild sun and the warm beverages.

Our big cats have featured brightly this month, and given us much to photograph and video. Blue wildebeest and zebra seem to have been the main target prey items for both the lions and the cheetah brothers. The southern lions (including the two dominant males) started in the second week of May with a wildebeest kill in the south. They followed this up with a zebra foal and a few days later another wildebeest kill that must have happened just before or during the first few minutes of game drive because there was still steam rising off the carcass when we arrived on scene. In the last week of the month, the southern lions moved closer to Umzolozolo. Field Guide Mark and his guests witnessed them taking down another blue wildebeest for breakfast, and on that same afternoon, Field Guides Promise and Nols witnessed them stalk and kill an eland.

The spotted cats showed off their skills with a bit more flair. A few of us were responding to the cheetah sighting towards the end of our morning safari. The two brothers had positioned themselves to the south of a large confusion of blue wildebeest. From stalk to chase, these two speedsters displayed their experience and collaborative skills as they isolated and brought down a calf. It was an epic!

In between the big cat moments, we have also enjoyed excellent sightings of hippos, square-lipped rhinos, kudus, giraffes and buffalo. The hippos are beginning to lie on the banks of the dams during the day, and the autumn shades of yellow have made it a little easier to spot the darker coats of buffaloes from afar. May has also been a good month for leopard sightings. The sightings have, for the most part, been brief, but at least four separate moments have been called in on the radio.

One of the best things about this time of the year is the opportunity for bush breakfasts and boma dinners! The morning temperatures are milder for longer and it is quite pleasant to be seated out in the open with Hoopoe Dam sparkling in the sunlight. In the evenings, with more stable weather conditions, fires burning brightly and the red wine flowing, outdoor dinners are more enjoyable too!

With the last official autumn month complete, we move into winter at Nambiti Game Reserve. Mornings are particularly freezing. We leave for the game drive at 06:30 and extra layers are imperative. Between game drives, it is gloriously mild and the sun is a treat. The afternoon safari starts off warm, but as dusk arrives it gets progressively colder and blankets are absolutely necessary.

Hope to see you soon! Stay wild!

Head Guide Noleen Turner

Reptiles and Solar Power take centre stage: April at Umzolozolo

In what feels like the blink of an eye, one quarter of 2025 lies firmly in the rear view mirror! April has been very busy at Umzolozolo. From a guiding perspective, it has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride. The start of the month was consistent and intriguing, while the end proved frustrating and intense.

It’s true and fair to say that most people consider any interaction with snakes to be terrifying or avoidable. There are a small percentage who rather enjoy a brief interaction at a safe distance, and then there are the bravest who take interactions to a level most of us steer clear of. The best news for Umzolozolo this month is that the Boomslangs have returned! We have one female residing in the tree above the Curio Shop and a male that spends time around one of the chalets. I shared a super sighting of a Puff Adder on drive with guests and we viewed a deceased Southern African Python near Bass Dam. It seems it ingested a porcupine which inflicted deadly punctures from the inside of the constrictor. Encounters with Water Monitor Lizards have also been on the rise this month.

Nambiti is uncharacteristically muddy for this time of the year, and the roads have been fun to navigate. On a morning drive towards the end of the month, I opted to take a risk and follow up on the cheetah mom and cub. The drive down to where they were last seen was, shall we say, festive! Patience and instinct paid off when the two emerged on the road ahead of us and we spent some quality time following the pair.

Bucket lists are still a big topic and witnessing a kill is often right up on the top of ‘safarians’ lists. I was really fortunate to be in the right place a couple of times this month to capture live kills. Two of the northern male lions took down a blesbok a few metres from the road and dragged it off into the long grass. On another occasion, one of the southern lionesses burst from the long grasses right in front of us to take down a warthog. We were the only vehicle to see it all go down and she was lost in the long grass just moments later.

Fantastic news! This month marks our official transition to solar power, a significant step in realising our vision of becoming an eco-lodge. Our investment in over 150 solar panels is now actively harnessing sunlight to power the entire lodge and charge our battery systems, bringing us closer to complete off-grid sustainability.

In tandem with these efforts, our guiding department is reaching out to our valued guests with a small but impactful request: we encourage you to bring your own double-walled beverage bottle when you visit. This thoughtful gesture will greatly assist us in minimising the use of disposable coffee cups and plastic water bottles during our game drives, further contributing to our sustainability goals.

Game drive times have changed as we move into the colder months. Remember to pack warm attire to keep the chill at bay. See you soon!

Head Guide Noleen Turner

Golden webs and Big 5 visits: March at Umzolozolo

Nambiti Game Reserve is looking fantastic! Our dams are full to the brim, the rivers are flowing, and the vegetation is lush. There is an abundance of everything, from butterflies to wild flowers to wildebeest, and the predators are thriving.

The month has been a tale of two halves when it comes to elephant sightings. They were featured in most of our game drives in the first half of March as they explored the southern dams and valleys. The entire herd popped into the lodge as well. A few bulls sauntered up to the main lodge while the herd stayed around the access road and in the thickets. It made for an interesting evening when guests had to be escorted to their chalets after dinner! The elephant calves are growing bigger and braver by the day. They are full of sass and keep us thoroughly entertained when we find them on the road with the bigger cows around for backup.

Sadly, the herd journeyed into the far north for most of the last fortnight which made sightings fewer and further between.

Golden and Garden Orb spiders have been busy constructing their massive webs amongst the acacia trees. Threads of gold catch the sunlight at dusk while the morning dew reveals the multitudes. The webs are an architectural wonder. It is the large, colourful females who stand in the centre of the sticky traps waiting to wrap up their insect victims. As you can imagine, it is all screams and ninja moves when we accidentally drive into one of the webs!

There has been an interesting shift in the northern pride this month. Two of the young males have split from the pride, and have been moving along the eastern valleys from north to south and back again. They are looking strong and are clearly capable of fending for themselves. On a morning drive, our guests were treated to these two handsome cats strolling right up into camp! We followed them up to the drop-off steps and tracked them down to Hoopoe Loop. It is equal parts exciting and terrifying to know that these apex predators walk along our pathways! Field Guide Nols shared a rare encounter between these two males and a white rhino bull with her guests on an afternoon safari. Taking on a mammal that size is something that only young boys would dare to consider.

Field Guide Mark and his guests had an epic sighting this month when they watched one of the southern lionesses stalk a zebra at twilight. The big cat caught the zebra by surprise in the low light, but the evasive skills and strength of the zebra were not to be underestimated. Both animals ended up airborne at one point as the lioness attempted to bring down the 300kg stallion. It all happened in a few seconds, but it took a while for heart rates to stabilise. The zebra survived, but the wounds it sustained are evidence of its brush with death.

March has been a fabulous month for black rhino sightings. Not only have the moments been more frequent, but they have also been more authentic. Black rhinos have a reputation for being weary and secretive. They are fierce protectors and have mastered the art of a good stare down.

Up at the lodge we have seen good progress on the solar upgrades. The framework is complete and panels have started arriving on site. We hosted a bush boma braai (with Zulu dancers) and a few bush breakfasts this month down at Hoopoe Dam. It was festive and fabulous to enjoy the outdoor space with guests. Speaking of guests, we welcomed back many returning guests this month and it was truly wonderful to make more memories with visitors who have become family!

March has been phenomenal in so many ways. Let’s see what April has in store for us 😉

Head Guide Noleen Turner