Category Archives: Ranger’s Reports

The coalition of male lions made a big statement when they took down a buffalo! The southern lionesses were right there to dine alongside the males and the four big cats were in the area for a good few days. When a large animal like a buffalo is brought down in the open, vultures are able to get sight of it as they glide over the reserve. We don’t have any resident vultures on Nambiti, so when an opportunity like this arrives to watch the interaction between the scavengers, the carcass and the predators, we grab it with both hands. The lions feasted and were so full, but they would not allow the crows and vultures to get close to the carcass while there was still meat for them to eat. Eventually, they relinquished the scraps and then the frenzy began. Vultures are large birds and they are fierce. Space at the banquet was limited but there appeared to be enough to go around. Shortly after the feast, the two males ventured deep into the south for a second time in October to seek out the older male and complete a territorial patrol.

It was a brief visit, but also a necessary one.

Along with the White-backed Vultures, we have been fortunate to have a pair of Grey Crowned Cranes turn up on the reserve again this year. Last year they selected a nesting site in the southern plains and raised a pair of chicks. It is our hope that they do the same this year! These cranes are on the endangered species list and South Africa holds roughly 19% to 25% of the global Grey Crowned Crane population. This makes their presence on our reserve even more valuable!

Sightings of our two rhino species have been pretty special this month! Quite a number of the cows have recently given birth to calves and these little tanks have the lenses and binoculars pointed in their direction for good reason. They seem to be born with oodles of attitude and buckets full of energy. On a recent game drive, we came across a mother and her calf feeding in the thickets. We switched off our engines and patiently waited for the two to step out onto the road. As luck would have it, the calf appeared first and its moment in the limelight was thoroughly enjoyed. It skipped and toddled down the road ahead of the mom before turning back to face us and pose. One of the more infamous black rhino bulls gave us some wonderful encounters with him. He has been covering great distances to maintain his territorial boundaries and sneak in a few mouthfuls of the African thistle and Natal Primrose that are popping up in the recently burned patches.

Up at the lodge, things are happening! Room 9 received a bathroom upgrade with some new flooring. The same flooring was added to both the front door ramp and the side door ramp. Room 4 went under renovation as well and will soon be looking quite spiffy with all of the modifications and additions. We acquired two new vehicles in our fleet. A workhorse Toyota Hilux and a transfer bus.

A friendly reminder to pack your raincoats and wellingtons when you visit us at the moment. Please also don’t forget to bring your own bottles with you to help us reduce plastic and paper waste.

See you soon for your next safari adventure! Stay wild!

Head Guide Noleen Turner

Before the first week of Spring was allowed to rest in our memory banks, the bush telegraph was abuzz with news and views. Umzolozolo celebrated its 20th anniversary with a festive weekend of shared memories, great company and much laughter. Stories from deep within the two decades of its history filled the air as the fire crackled and the voices shared. To commemorate the occasion, our owners were treated to their very first leopard sighting on Nambiti. It wasn’t brief, and it wasn’t distant. The big tom was lying within 8m of the Umzolozolo signboard and it was as if he knew the moment was one that needed to be enjoyed.

Traditionally, I begin the report with news of the big cats or the infamous characters that we all know so well. This time around, I am going to tell you about some of the more unusual creatures we have spotted while out on game drive this month. On a morning drive, while heading back from a coffee stop through Den Valley, one of our guests stopped me and pointed out a Southern African python cruising down the rocks. The reptile was easily over 3m long! In the two weeks that followed, Promise spotted a puff adder and I saw a juvenile Southern African python swimming across Woodlands Dam. We also welcomed back a couple of Boomslang at the lodge. Snakes were not the only reptiles that came out to enjoy the warming temperatures; Water Monitor Lizard sightings have been on the increase, I got footage of a Rock Monitor Lizard crossing one of the open patches near Gideon’s Memorial, Flap-necked Chameleons have spiced up our sunset safaris and the Southern Tree Agamas are sunbathing on rocky surfaces around the lodge.

The reserve is looking particularly magnificent at this time of year. As you take in the landscape, the contrasts are striking: expanses of blackened earth giving way to brilliant green shoots, set against the rich, rusty-red tones of the dolerite boulders. Many of the herbivores are drawn to the delicious bounty of fresh vegetation and where there is an increase in primary consumers, you had better believe there will be an increase in predators as well.

Two of the more memorable moments in these open patches involved an unsuspecting reedbuck and an unfortunate zebra. Myself and Siya were watching Malica and her two cubs towards the end of a morning drive. The road we were on was incredibly rocky and while I was sitting with the cubs, Siya looped around to try and get a visual of the mom who had moved down into the gully. In the blink of any eye, the cubs got mobile and seconds later we were sitting behind Links Dam watching them feast on a reedbuck ewe that Malica had taken down. None of us saw the kill, it happened that quickly, but it was awesome to watch the cubs figure out how to open the carcass to start feeding. They are nearing the time in their lives where mom will abandon them and they will have to fend for themselves. In light of this next chapter, the cubs have been fitted with their own tracking collars. A milestone moment in their journey. The unfortunate zebra fell victim to the two new male lions and the southern lionesses. The hunt took place in the late afternoon but the big cats were still feasting the following morning. With the area so open, the visuals were graphic and raw. It was a photographer’s dream in terms of proximity and colour. Interestingly enough, these four lions followed up the zebra meal with a warthog and then a waterbuck over the next two days.

Unique sightings have undoubtedly been a feature for this month. My guests and I watched a Reed Cormorant hunt and devour a frog one morning at Links Dam. On another occasion, this time at Bass Dam, we watched as a toad defied death by inflating itself so much that the Water Monitor Lizard wasn’t able to swallow it! The interesting sightings haven’t only happened during daylight hours. On an afternoon game drive, we turned around to rescue a guest’s cap before continuing back to the lodge by taking the scenic route. This route took us along Spruit Road where we believe we encountered a tree full of glow worms! As if that wasn’t crazy enough, when we turned up towards the lodge we found a male leopard standing off to the side of the road. It walked off into the thickets as we approached but then popped up a few more times to drink from a puddle in the road before eventually lying down in the grass. We actually moved off to allow other guides to get a view! On a separate evening, we were driving back after sundowners and we spotted a caracal. The smaller cat was sitting in the grass staring back at us before it disappeared into the darkness in search of food. Sightings of caracal are rare, and so when we encountered another one on the following night, it was clear that September was feeling generous! The smaller cats featured a few more times but this time it was the servals that stole the limelight. At least two females have litters of kittens. One female in the north has two kittens while the one in the south appears to just have one. Both mothers have been spotted walking in the road or hunting rodents just off to the side of the road. They are incredibly successful hunters and gobble their prey within seconds!

Our Square-lipped Rhinos have also been very entertaining. On a morning drive we came across a mother and a calf that were accompanied by a large bull. The cow was not in the least bit interested in the bull and she made it quite clear. A few minutes later, another mature bull arrived on the scene and this is when things heated up. There was posturing and a bit of shoving, however, it was the audio that really had all of us quite intrigued. One of the bulls moaned or whined at the other one for the duration of the standoff. It was a sound that none of us will ever forget! The young calves that are being weaned off of their mothers’ milk have also expressed some interesting sounds. A high-pitched, plaintive squeal can be heard each time the calf begs the mother for some milk. With their little horns starting to grow longer, you can imagine the discomfort when they move in to suckle from a teat. Every encounter is an opportunity to learn more about the dynamics, but also to fully embrace the moments and spend time observing their behaviour.

One of the highlights from September is most certainly the newborn giraffe calf. Field Guide Mark and I headed out for an afternoon game drive and happened to choose the same route as we left the lodge. To our surprise and delight we stumbled upon a newborn giraffe. We knew that we must have just missed the birth because some of the afterbirth was still visible. While we were there, we watched the calf take its first steps and have its first suckle. These are the moments that make each game drive special. You just never know what you will find around the next corner!

As the colours of Spring begin to pop up all over the place, we are starting to see and hear many of the beautiful feathered characters that call Nambiti home. The Long-tailed Widowbirds and Pin-tailed Whydahs are wearing their eclipse plumage and tail feathers are beginning to lengthen as they transition into their breeding outfit. The call of the Red-chested Cuckoo is ringing out across the valleys as they return to seek out host species for the breeding season. The low booming call of the Common Quail can be heard at dusk if you listen carefully. Then, of course, one of the most loved species that can be heard around the lodge is the African Paradise Flycatcher that is starting to set up nesting sites for the season. We have also identified and logged a few interesting species this month, most noticeably a Black-chested Snake Eagle, a small flock of Swee Waxbills, a Black-winged Lapwing and a pair of Senegal Lapwings!

Our morning game drives are now departing at 05:30 and the sunset drives are still beginning at 15:30. Please don’t forget to bring your own bottles with you to help us reduce plastic and paper waste.

See you soon for your next safari adventure! Stay wild!

Head Guide Noleen Turner

It’s no surprise to anyone that the weather has been a little peculiar this year. In the second
week of the month our country experienced extremely cold conditions across eight of the nine provinces and we were wondering if any snow would end up falling on the reserve. It seemed to be snowing all around us, and while conditions on Nambiti were icy and wet, the snow stayed away. It was really awesome to look across at the Drakensberg mountains and see them covered in white snow for a few days. It is also interesting to mention that we haven’t really experienced the blustery winds associated with August, but they may just be delayed a few weeks. You never know.

Our nation celebrated Women’s Day on the 9th of August, but it was the male lions that stole the show on game drive. We responded to an established lion sighting where the two new male lions had been found and it was reported that there were some intense vocalisations echoing across the plains in the northeast. As we made our way into the area, we happened upon our dominant male. He was highly mobile, visibly distressed and physical injuries were showing on his body. Coming from east of his location were the younger males, and they were on a serious mission to catch up with the king. We stayed to observe as much as we could before making space for other guides to come in and share in the experience, but after stopping for coffee at the waterfall the radio updates confirmed that they were still hot on his heels. I asked for another standby, but by the time we got to their location the big male had made his escape and the warming temperatures had forced the younger males into the shade for the rest of the morning. Two days later, the new males were called in on the road below our lodge. They had taken down a kudu for breakfast but were now more interested in territorial activities and the southern lionesses who were in the vicinity. At this time we observed that the lionesses were not in the least interested in the younger lions and actually made every effort to avoid them. Then, just two weeks later, the southern lionesses and the coalition of new males were found together on Ziggy north corner. They were out in the open and it was clear that the moves had been made and the transfer of power was firmly underway.

The Big-5 flexes continued into the third week. I was exploring some of the burnt sections of the reserve one afternoon when a leopard was called in at the bottom of Den Road. On this specific afternoon, I turned to my guests and filled them in on what I had heard over the radio. The decision was unanimous, we were throwing caution to the wind and finding the fastest route to the rosetted pot of gold. Once we were within range I called for a standby and within 30 minutes we were sitting with a male leopard. The visuals were not perfect as he was hidden behind a guarrie bush on a rocky ledge, but the experience was very rewarding! All three of the Umzolozolo guides out on drive responded to the sighting and it was the talk of the town when we returned to the lodge in the evening!

Our elephant herd has been quite mobile between the central and southern regions. They, like other herbivores, have been drawn into the recently burnt areas to investigate the ash and lingering scents as they assess what has changed. They may even be seeking out charcoal, which can provide minerals and help neutralise natural toxins from some of the plants they eat. It is an impressive sight to watch the grey giants moving swiftly through the ash, and it offers excellent photographic opportunities. Our newest member of the herd is now eight months old and full of sass. He is a popular tourist attraction and his curious nature and feisty character make for great entertainment!

In June this year, guests at Umzolozolo participated in a black rhino dehorning event. The bull that we dehorned featured in one of the most amazing black rhino sightings we have ever experienced on the reserve. More in terms of quality time and opportunity for sharing knowledge about these infamous creatures than anything extraordinary. As many of our guests know, we don’t call any sightings of rhinos in on the radio, so if you don’t drive in the right areas at the exact right time, you usually miss them. As luck would have it, this sighting was a busy one because he popped up close to the elephant herd. Guides that were on standby for the elephants had the privilege of sitting with the black rhino! August was actually a fantastic month for black rhino sightings, I logged 10 separate encounters, including a very special moment with Torpedo and her calf.

It hasn’t only been about the main characters this month! We have experienced big dazzles of zebras in the open grasslands as they graze the new shoots, and when the light shines from behind them it presents you with magnificent photo opportunities. I shared an incredibly unique sighting of a serval with my guests recently which lasted over 30 minutes as we tracked her through the grasses, over the road and into the block. She was on the hunt for dinner and while she was acutely aware of us at all times, she was quite relaxed. On the open plains we have spotted the breeding herd of eland with new calves and quite a few zebra foals moving around in those areas. In the wooded savanna we have seen a couple of new giraffe calves and there is a very young square-lipped rhino calf giving everyone good vibes.

I cannot, in good conscience, not give a quick update on our spotted treasures. The cheetah brothers took down an eland calf towards the end of the month and it was in an open area quite close to the road. They have spent quite a lot of time in the southern and central regions of their territory this month while expertly avoiding all of the big cat drama along the way. Meanwhile, our two cheetah cubs have blessed us with frequent sightings of their high-speed training sessions. Mom looks on as they chase one another through the reeds and the longer grasses, but she also joins in the activities every now and again. They are almost a year old now and are looking more confident with each passing day. We watched them stalking and chasing Helmeted Guineafowls one morning which was both informative and captivating.

The change of season brings with it a change of feathered friends and changes in our sedentary birds as well. The Long-tailed Widowbirds are moving into their eclipse plumage as their tail feathers elongate and their feathers blacken. We have logged a few migratory species already, namely Red-breasted Swallows, Black Kites and Wahlberg’s Eagle. Field Guide Promise reported a Senegal Lapwing a few days ago that was foraging in the firebreak on the western boundary, and I have noticed an increase in Quailfinch and Orange-breasted Waxbills in the same area. Within the next couple of weeks we are expecting to start hearing a few cuckoos, and to possibly see some Temminck’s Courser and the Grey-crowned Cranes!

As the seasons begin to change, we are reminded that windy conditions lie ahead with the
possibility of Spring rains and some cold fronts. Our morning game drives begin at 06:00 and the sunset drives are now beginning at 15:30. Please don’t forget to bring your own bottles with you to help us reduce plastic and paper waste.

See you soon for your next safari adventure! Stay wild!

Head Guide Noleen Turner

Let’s start this month’s report with some news from around the lodge. The elephant herd spent some time in the south of the reserve and some young bulls ventured down to Hoopoe Dam to check out the new fire pit and test out the steps. They gave them two trunks up and headed into the thicket below Room 5. We hosted a very special wedding at Umzolozolo in June. Vows were exchanged out on the deck and a sensational photoshoot took place across some beautiful locations in the south. Guests have enjoyed a couple of bush breakfasts down at Hoopoe Dam where the mild winter sun has made for a fabulous way to thaw off after a chilly morning safari. Our lodge continues to receive upgrades and improvements; a few of the older chalets are due for revamps and the ambient lighting around the lodge grounds is looking fantastic.

The most significant sighting that field guide Mark and I experienced this month involved the two new male lions. We were conducting our morning safari when lions were called in over the radio. It was the southern lionesses, the dominant male and the two new male lions. They were within a few hundred metres of each other and tensions were running high. Guides reporting from within the sighting indicated that there was a great deal of audio and that the big male was pushing the two males further south. We took a standby and waited for our opportunity. I made my way into the loc a few minutes later to view the lionesses that had gone static on the road. They seemed pretty unaffected by the whole ordeal and posed beautifully for some photos. As I was leaving the females, the big male lion crossed ahead of me and disappeared into the dense acacia thicket. I caught a glimpse of him a few minutes later and assessed that he was in hot pursuit of the younger males in the southern plains. As luck would have it, my instincts were correct. As we observed the two young males’ behaviour, we quickly realised that they were stressed and on high alert. The dominant lion was not prepared to let them go without a warning and a reminder of who is still king of Nambiti. It was exhilarating and very informative. We eventually returned to the lodge with quite the story to tell.

The cheetah brothers featured quite a bit this month as well. They popped up in the south on a number of occasions and even entertained us with one of the zebras that frequently patrol the fenceline. You realise the size difference between the slender cats and the stocky equine when the two species are in close proximity to one another! I must say, as a photographer, the crepuscular hours certainly provide the more perfect conditions for shooting these golden cats. The elephant herd continues to inspire and amaze. They move large distances to find food in the winter months but will also stay in an area for a few days if there is an abundance. We caught up with the herd a few times and also with some of the bulls that are moving around on their own. Our hippo pods are always a treat to view in the winter months. They can be seen sunbathing in the milder conditions on the banks of the dams and on some occasions they are even grazing close to the water’s edge at midday. If you want to get good photos of hippos, winter is definitely the best season to visit.

In the second week of June, our lodge was involved with a dehorning event. The ongoing challenge of rhino poaching continues to ensure that our population needs to be monitored and dehorned on a regular basis. Guests booked in during the event were directly responsible for the sponsorship of the event and their contribution to the protection of the species will never be underestimated. The day was charged with emotion. At times it felt like time had stopped and we were looking in on everything from the outside. At times everything was high-paced, chaotic even and it felt like we were right there feeling all the feels. Being a part of this kind of conservation initiative is life altering; it makes you grateful, it makes you thoughtful, it makes you feel guilty, but it also leaves you humbled and extremely significant within the bigger picture.

Before ending off the report for the month, I have to mention how entertained we have all been by the giraffes! Quite possibly the most quintessential mammal of Africa, these tall wanderers have shown so many of their quirks over the four weeks. We have observed them as they browse the acacias and regurgitate the mouthfuls, as they pick up bones to obtain phosphorus and calcium, as they bend down low to drink water and as they cross over plains and move silently through the dense wooded savanna. There is a newborn calf in the south that still has its umbilical cord, and there are many dominant bulls that can often be seen from various spots around the lodge. Quality time with these iconic mammals is always a treat and if we are really lucky, they will stick around and enjoy a sundowner or an Amarula coffee stop with us!

The cold weather has not been as consistent as we usually expect for June, there have been some frosty mornings, but milder temperatures have also been experienced. Still, we urge you to pack warm jackets, beanies, gloves, buffs and scarves to ward off the cold. Please don’t forget to bring your own bottles with you to help us reduce plastic and paper waste.

See you soon for your next safari adventure! Stay wild! 

Head Guide Noleen Turner

Before I leap into the nitty gritty of our February surprises, here is an update on the special
characters we have come to feature more regularly in this report. Our cheetahs have been a bit more elusive this month, offering intermittent moments rather than consistent encounters as we are accustomed to. The older mum with the five cubs narrowly escaped the attention of our southern lionesses, but soon settled in another area and has been seen hunting on a few occasions. In their stead, we have enjoyed more frequent lion sightings this month, which is probably the contributing factor to our spotted cat movements. The elephant herd has been moving around the reserve quite a bit this month. Time with the herd has been erratic, but they have certainly given us some beautiful moments. It was definitely the month of the bull elephant, though, they have kept us entertained and on our toes.

Alrighty, let’s get into the surprises that February brought us. The fun started from the deck at Umzolozolo. From the elevated viewpoint, Henry caught a glimpse of the two Mpilo male lions down at Hoopoe Dam. With only a couple of minutes to go before the official time for the afternoon game drive, we gathered our guests with a little more gusto and headed down to see if we could get a closer view. Field guide Promise and I arrived within minutes of each other and the lions did not disappoint. They are becoming a lot more relaxed around the cruisers and eventually chose to walk past the vehicles on their way up towards the main road. It may have been the first surprise that they gave us this month, but it was not the last.

It is no secret that I am extremely fond of elephants. I enjoy spending time with them and experiencing their intensity and observing their behaviour. Most of the time, I am learning about their interactions with each other, but sometimes they come into my personal space and I get to learn even more about how they see and interact with me and my vehicle. On two separate occasions this month, the two Tembe elephant bulls gave me something to ponder. I was heading home one morning when I came across one of the bulls on his way to Manager’s Dam. As usual, I stopped a good distance away and took the time to observe his mood. Happy that he was not distressed or grumpy, I approached him and followed him up towards the dam. He knew I was there and checked on me out of the corner of his eye. A few minutes passed and when he moved off the road, I drove beyond him to get a front on view and keep the sun behind us. Positioning yourself in front of a bull elephant can often appear to be confrontational,  I didn’t block his path or park square on.

Nevertheless, he turned to face me and eventually approached. Knowing the nature of this particular elephant, I decided to drive further up the road and give him plenty of space to get to the dam. The surprise came when he stood on the edge of the dam wall, facing me (parked 20m away) and he rumbled at me. A deep vibration that we all felt. Just the rumble. No head shake, no aggression. It was the first time that I had ever experienced this and it got me thinking. The second encounter was with the other Tembe elephant bull. He was browsing at a medium distance from the road when I arrived to view two other bulls a short distance away. As I was about to leave, he moved closer to the road. I pulled off the road and gave him space to choose which way he wanted to go. He chose to walk straight towards me. I reassured the guests, I greeted the bull, the bull reached out to place the tip of his trunk on the steps of the cruiser, I requested that he stop that behaviour, he listened and eventually moved off. They are curious and they are gregarious, you just have to speak calmly and firmly so that they know what your expectations are at that moment.

As the sun was rising on a morning game drive, we arrived at a battle. We joined another guide to watch two hippos fight for territory. The behaviour was intricate, not just raw power but also subtle gestures and grunts. Each round involved chomping at the water surface, scattering of dung, threat displays with their mouths opened widely and then the contact. These are hefty animals with a lot to fight for and it was fascinating to watch the battle unfold. Their forward-facing tusks seemed to be doing the most damage, and then when they moved closer to the dam wall, they stood up to challenge each other with their full body weight lifting one another off the ground as they reared up on their hind legs. It was an epic surprise to kick off a fantastic morning!

We experienced a few other surprises including three Grey Crowned Cranes at Bass Dam, the Tswalu lionesses taking a nap at Zigalala Village, white rhino moms expressing their
unwillingness for romance (despite the month), a buffalo bull with some anger issues, a South African rock python and a puffadder on game drive and a 5/5 brown hyena sighting after the ranger social!

The Umzolozolo guiding team welcomed a new guide. His name is Johan Rautenbach and he will be spearheading a growing division within our department and assisting with field guide duties. He is a young man from KZN with a real passion for botany!

While the official months of summer have ended, we are still expecting hot conditions with afternoon thunderstorms. Sunrise is a little before 06h00 and sunset is just after 18h30 at the moment. Remember to pack waterproof clothing, sunscreen and hats, and to bring your own 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