October Newsletter

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:31:49 +0000

The drought continues over the concession ….

This has been one of the best game viewing months Lukimbi has ever had.

It has been a very warm and dry month with temperatures of up to 40. Herds of elephant, ambling down to the riverbed pool in front of the lodge trumpet in triumph as they see water, washing away mud etched onto cracks of elephant skin. Excited guests from the spacious deck areas around the lodge watch all these elephant interaction with glee.

Most of the Acacia nigrescens trees have started to flower leaving what looks like a light yellow blanket. We now have resident impala, kudu and a buffalo bull on the green, irrigated lawns around the camp.

Animal sighting started off with a cheetah stalking a steenbuck and then taking it down in front of a vehicle full of guests.

We had the highest amount of black rhino sightings ever recorded at Lukimbi.

Leopard sighting were phenomenal. The one that stands out is how two vehicles witnessed a big male leopard taking down an impala right next to the road and then pulling it up a tree.

We were also very fortunate to see wild dogs three times. On one of the occasions we saw five adults and three pups feeding off an impala.

Our lion pride is doing exceptionally well. There are 16 all together consisting of 6 adult females, 2 dominant males and 8 cubs which we follow by tracking on a daily basis.

Big buffalo and elephant herds come through the concession after drinking at the Crocodile River.

To the end of the month, just to finish the month on a high, three vehicles were watching a big male cheetah, when he spotted a herd of impala in the distance. All the rangers with their guests stood quietly , watching the cheetah using his hunting skills. After about 15minutes we saw the impalas scatter in all directions with the cheetah leaping onto the hindquarters of a female impala. The cheetah being very vulnerable to other predators, he sat out of breath with big eyes, looking for any hyeanas, leopards or lions that might steel his kill from him. We then left him feeding on his kill.

Warm regards from the rangers at Lukimbi

Spring Cheetah

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:25:21 +0000

The sun breaks the horizon and bathes the bush a beautiful gold. On a mild Spring morning, the ever vocal Black Crowned Chagras and Grey Headed Bush Shrikes announce their presence and my guests and I greet each other "Good Morning" over a warm cup of coffee, standing on the deck of the lodge watching a big old buffalo bull having a drink of water at the river below us.

My tracker James and I have had a great last few days together, the game had been brilliant but we were in for a big surprise!

After just a few minutes down our access road, James tapped the bonnet of the Land Rover and pointed into a knob thorn thicket to our left. To my surprise, he announced “Cheetah”. . . What, no ways, what an amazing spot!
I switched off the engine as not to frighten it off - the gorgeous spotted cat slowly pushed through a thick course of Raisin bushes and onto a small clearing. The young male Cheetah jumped onto a large Termite mound and scanned his surroundings. He was hunting, I explained to my 6 South African guests who were just as excited as I was! Wow, what a treat.

He jumped off the Termite mound and headed straight toward a section of Magic Guarris near a Sodec area. Again James tapped the bonnet and asked me to quickly drive forward next to the Cheetah and to switch off the engine. He pointed out a male Steenbok about 60 meters ahead of us feeding on the sweet grass around a White Rhino midden. The Cheetah was now walking up the Rhino path toward the midden, a perfect run way for the precision fighter pilot to take off and go for the kill.

In 10 months guiding in the beautiful south of the Kruger National Park, I’d only seen 6 of these stunning cats, never even thought of witnessing one of these speed merchants make a kill, but it was happening.

The Cheetah was so relaxed it didn’t pay any attention to us what so ever, focused entirely on the Steenbok in front of it. The Cheetah started trotting up the Rhino path, then stopped - dead silence- 5 slow steps forward, its foot placement careful and precise. Make even the faintest of sounds and the hunt will be over, head low, legs bent ready to spring, every muscle showing as the cat lowers into position, “There he goes” the Cheetah was off and so was the Steenbok, running for his life.They made a turn and headed passed the Land Rover tearing through the Guarris like the bushes were not even there.

I remember the eyes of the Cheetah as it crashed through the bush next to us, it was so focused on the prey, it hardly blinked, not to lose sight of its target.
The Steenbok turned again and ran onto the clearing behind us. You hear and read about the speed of a Cheetah but I will never forget the speed of that cat when it hit the clearing, it was incredible. The little antelope didn’t stand a chance in the open, every stride over the sodec sight, little puffs of dusts as if the two contenders were not even touching the ground, rather flying over it in a life or death dog fight.

Out stretched legs pulled the Steenbok close and the Cheetah went straight for the throat. The little Steenbok couldn’t even make a sound as the assassin washed the life from its eyes. The Vervet Monkeys and Tree Squirrels in the near by flowering Knob Thorns were making a cacophony of alarm calls but it was too late. The Cheetah had its prize. What an amazing sighting! One I shall never forget!

My passion for the bush was installed at a young age and to be able to share extra ordinary events like this is very special. The African bush is truly a magical place that holds many rewards!

Dylan Brandt,
Lukimbi Safari Lodge KNP

Lukimbi News Articles

October Newsletter

Spring Cheetah