Lukimbi News Articles

January Newsletter

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:39:07 +0000

On the 31st of December 2009 around 9pm in the evening the guests at Lukimbi all dining in the Boma, witnessed a partial eclipse of the moon. It was also the second full moon of the month which means it was a blue moon. New Years Eve was truly special and a great prelude to the New Year!

Last year was full of drama and the big cats were without doubt in the spot light. The original pride of 22 lions had since split into two groups, one of 13 and one of 7, the two adult lions, one of which we named Toya dominated both prides with little threat of a take over.

Close to the end of last year Toya died from what we think was a snake bite but we will never know. This turned out to be a terrible blow for the lone male trying so desperately to hang on to his territory. Five younger males have moved on to the concession and it seems as they are here to stay. We see them on a regular basis and their strength and confidence grows day by day! It’s only a matter of time before something gives. Already the males have killed all the young cubs but the lone male has still managed to fight them back from his territory which is getting smaller and smaller.

Leopards are always magical to see and grace the bush with what seems to be supreme royalty. Seldom seen, these great cats are a prized find. Last year we witnessed two of these cats, a male and a female staking a claim within the concession, both fighting for territories and then holding them - evading ever present hyenas looking for their next macabre free meal. Lions that would not think twice to put an end to their royal blood lines. It’s not easy being a leopard but a cloak of invisibility and cold calculation are these cats’ greatest attributes. We hope to continue watching these two leopards as they carve out a piece for themselves in the bush.

The New Year has started off with a bang and sightings have been excellent. Wild dogs have been moving threw the area and it appears to be a new pack that we have not seen yet which is very exciting. Buffalo, Elephant, White Rhino are still seen regularly and Giraffe in big herds streaming on to the concession are a spectacular sight.

The year has a lot of potential and all at Lukimbi are looking forward to what is in store, never knowing what is around the next corner. Africa is a beautiful place with creatures great and small all equally interesting. Join us in discovery; find your sense of Africa.

Kind regards

Lukimbi Team.

The New Year has started off with a bang and sightings have been excellent. Wild dogs have been moving threw the area and it appears to be a new pack that we have not seen yet which is very exciting. Buffalo, Elephant, White Rhino are still seen regularly and Giraffe in big herds streaming on to the concession are a spectacular sight.

The year has a lot of potential and all at Lukimbi are looking forward to what is in store, never knowing what is around the next corner. Africa is a beautiful place with creatures great and small all equally interesting. Join us in discovery; find your sense of Africa.

Kind regards

Lukimbi Team.

November Newsletter

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:18:30 +0000

Less than a month ago the bush was suffering from the new summer heat. With most days reaching over 30’C, and a few topping 42’C, the bush was taking a hammering. Trees began wilting, the scorched earth was baked hard by the sun, and the stress that comes with minimal water resources available, was beginning to tell on many animal species.

But hope arrived on the horizon, as dark images started curling over the Drakensberg Mountains. Just like a regimented army the clouds marched across the vivid blue sky, blocking out the harsh solar rays. And in the tradition of an African storm the world went black, the bush stood still, the sky rumbled as it prepared for the onslaught, and purple lightning licked across the heavens … and then came the rain. You could almost hear the bush give a relieved sigh. This month we have received 159 mm of rain.

From the rain, the bush has turned into glorious shades of green, with wild flowers dotting the landscape. Frogs have set up centre stage in all of our now filled pans, and the Foam Nest Frogs have begun to border any water resource with their eggs in their white bubble-wrapped nests.

All of our rivers and drainage lines, such as the Lwakahle river line right outside of lodge, have begun to flow. Catfish in their dozens have been seen crossing roads and moving upstream to lay their eggs. Baby terrapins are moving from puddle to puddle, and birds such as the Woodland Kingfisher, Violet Backed Starling, Wahlbergs Eagle and Diedericks Cuckoo have arrived safely back from their migration.

Our two resident leopards, Nkanyamba and Nulu, were seen mating again. We all live in hopes of seeing Nulu become a Mother in the future. And the coalition of five male lions deigned to grace us with their presence for a good 48 hours, asserting their dominance over one of our females, before disappearing back into the Kruger National Park. It is still unknown of the whereabouts of our original dominant male, and the younger cubs have not been seen for a now concerning amount of time. We all hope that the pride take-over becomes a page in history fairly soon so that relative peace can return upon our life-beaten lion pride.

Our daily short bush walks that occur after morning game drive, have been incredibly pleasant. The other day five big male buffalos, aka dagga (mud) boys, were approached unseen as they lay in the water, resting up from the heat of the day. The rangers and guests sat quietly on the elevated river bank watching the rather comical antics of the old goliaths for a good twenty minutes. One of the buffalos kept nodding off to sleep, and as his head dipped forward, his nose would touch the water and subsequently wake him up. He would then chew some cud, his facial expression one of someone reminiscing over the events of the day, and as the comfort of the cool water, and the contentment of having a warm back from the sun began settling over him, his head would begin to droop and the cold water would bathe his nose causing him to wake up yet again!

The team of Lukimbi are looking forward to more rain and a summer full of new experiences and adventures!

We hope to see you there sharing the magic of the African bush with us.

Kind Regards,

Lisa Thomas
Field Guide

For more information regarding animal sightings and daily happenings at Lukimbi safari Lodge, please join our group on Facebook (www.facebook.com).

October Newsletter

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:05:34 +0000

The vibrations from the sound ripple through our inner core, our souls bowing down in submissiveness in recognition of his almighty power . . . and fury. He runs, stiff legged, head held in regal pose, his full black mane billowing around him. We watch in awe from the relative safety of our vehicle as he roars his displeasure yet again. The full impact of his wrath aimed solely towards the new comers.

Over the past week or so I have been lucky enough to witness a turf war, and what seems to soon be, a lion pride take over. Our Lwakahle Lion Pride was originally made up of 18 lions. This impressive pride had two brothers as its guardians. Sadly, one of the brothers died of natural causes a month ago, leaving the pride at an enormous loss.

We may not always understand the ways of Mother Nature, and at times they seem it to be incredibly harsh and cruel, but in Mother Nature’s infinite wisdom, she always finds a balance. Soon after the death of our male, a fluff-ball was found amongst the large predatory bodies of the pride. We had a new cub!

The remaining brother continued his work as guardian and proclaimed his territory with his bone-chilling roars to those who were listening . . . and they were.

A coalition of five male lions were listening to the roar of the lonely brother, and realised that they had the upper hand. They ventured onto Lukimbi to investigate further, and were found. A game of cat and mouse ensued.

The brother always kept a few steps ahead of them, roaring his displeasure, but they never stopped their pursuit. We watched them trail after each other, their ominous bodies silhouetted by the first crescent of the moon creating an atmosphere of mystery and heightening the thick air of tension that fell upon the bush.

The outcome of the battle is still not clear, and the verdict on a guardian for the Lwakahle Lion Pride is still out. It’s as if Mother Nature herself has called for a reprieve and as a compromise has delivered some sought after, and treasured, life giving rain.

So we sit back and wait. Absorbing the beauty of the golden light after the rain. Breathing in the smell of damp earth, our ambrosia. Listening to the calls of the birds as they embrace the elixir of life. Subconsciously keening for the still nights to be shattered by the call of an old friend. . .or someone else.

We look forward to and are apprehensive about what lies in store for the Lwakahle Pride’s future. Will the lone brother continue to be the guardian, and will we watch the successful ‘cub-hood’ of our new fluff-ball? Or will a violent battle occur where many lives will be sacrificed in order to successfully instil the new guardians?

This month has been memorable in many ways, but no matter how the stories of this wild place unfold, Mother nature knows best.

A pride take-over is similar to a legend. It’s often read about, or seen on a professional nature documentary, but very rarely experienced in person. If you would like to follow the events of the turf-war, visit our Facebook Group page (www.facebook.com). Look up Lukimbi Safari Lodge and read what myself and other rangers are privileged enough to witness.

Lisa Thomas
Ranger