Two Totally Different Months from the Hide
October has now come and gone, and the rains have just arrived. The bush was looking dry and barren, but it shouldn’t take long for the lush green pastures of the Lowveld to return.
The lodge has been exceptionally busy, with Ian based at camp almost full-time for the past two months, away from the family in Hoedspruit. Being busy is always good for business, but being apart from family for extended periods is hard — especially while Savanna has been studying so diligently for her final school exams.
Our guests have experienced a variety of sightings over the past two months. In September, there was a noticeable shift away from elephants, as they spent most days down toward the river. Interestingly, September last year was the complete opposite, proving that animal movements aren’t always tied to the season. In October, the elephants returned, and we enjoyed several great sightings — though they did go AWOL again on a few occasions. With the hotter weather in October there were plenty of pool parties enjoyed by the herds of elephants that visited.
We’ve been particularly fortunate with predators at camp, recording no fewer than 10 leopard sightings and 4 lion sightings. Some guests were lucky enough to see them while others slept soundly through the night! On two occasions, a pair of leopards passed right through camp. On one night Neil had dozed off just for those crucial 5 minutes when the two leopards snuck in and had a drink unnoticed! Snooze and you lose!
Ian joined Mark and Dina in the hide one evening and captured a stunning image of two young male lions drinking at sunset — the same pair that had scavenged from an impala carcass just 30 metres beyond the laundry area before taking up “security duty” near our guest cottage.
Out on the reserve, we’ve enjoyed many memorable drives, with a litter of jackal pups stealing everyone’s hearts. Baby animals always spark joy — and the classic South African “Aagh shame!” has been quickly adopted by our international visitors.
One dramatic night saw a hyena chase a kudu through the camp fence. The sound of breaking poles and snapping wire startled the hyena, who abandoned the chase. The kudu, though bruised and shaken, was later seen on camera limping away — alive to see another day.
A morning drive combined with a boat cruise was another highlight, featuring black rhino, Sharpe’s grysbok, klipspringer, and many other special sightings. During the cruise, a pride of lions had their morning siesta rudely interrupted by an elephant — what a day that was!
Impala were daily visitors, often arriving in large herds. Now that the rains have brought back natural waterholes, they’ve dispersed, easing competition for the last of the winter grazing. Other species spotted recently include duiker, steenbok, kudu, bushbuck, zebra, white rhino, and giraffe. A bushbuck ewe had been sheltering with her fawn under the dining deck, but she seems to have moved on in the past week.
The birdlife has been equally active as breeding season is in full swing. The barred owlets were first to start nesting, and the male has been tirelessly gathering food, providing wonderful photographic opportunities in the marula tree.
The yellow-billed hornbills have recently sealed in their matriarch and are now busy feeding her. You may wonder why I say “matriarch” — these birds normally breed in pairs — but this year, we’ve regularly seen three individuals bringing food to the nest. It seems last year’s chicks may be helping, a behaviour I’ve not seen recorded elsewhere.
The red-billed hornbills also appear to have a nearby nest, as they’re constantly busy around the hide each morning, collecting mud and food.
Finally, in mid-October, we celebrated a major milestone — the completion of our solar installation after a three-year wait. We’re thrilled to have joined the renewable energy community and to be doing our part to reduce our reliance on coal-powered electricity and its associated CO₂ emissions