The Great Migration Safari: Day 8

As now seems to be the norm, we started off with a spotted hyena den site, with 1 adult hanging around the den. Immediately afterwards we happened across 2 more hyenas feeding on the remains of a young wildebeest kill. It was the classic Masai Mara scene, with a couple of black-backed jackals hanging around looking for some scraps, and all the vultures coming in to see what they could get. When the hyenas were done, we made our way back to the Mara River to see if we could photograph any crossing action. After the usual wildebeest back and forth, we managed to see quite a big crossing, which was made even more exciting by the arrival of a large crocodile. It didn’t take the crocodile long to pick off a victim. The young wildebeest really didn’t stand a chance. We ended the day with 3 lions getting ready for the nights hunt.

Major sightings of the day:

Spotted hyena den, with 1 adult at the den

2 spotted hyena feeing on wildebeest

2 lions

Many different elephants

1 river crossing

Crocodile kill

3 black-backed jackals

Many buffalo

3 lions

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The Great Migration Safari: Day 7

Although the big cats were out and about, the famous river crossings were the highlight in a day filled with amazing sightings. We saw three different crossings, and during one of these crossings a young zebra got caught by a huge crocodile. The crocodile quickly swam away with its prize, so we followed to see if there would be any feeding action to photograph. That turned out to be the right decision, because in no time at all, several monster crocodiles were involved in a feeding frenzy that needed to be seen to be believed. What a scene to witness and photograph!

Throughout the rest of the day, the cameras were kept busy by a host of other species, but a family of 5 cheetah were particularly special. We also managed to find the big male lion we saw on day 5, and he made for good images as well. The real surprise of this years Great Migration Safari, has been the number of hyenas we have seen. We saw another den site with 7 adults and 1 little baby, and continuous sightings of them throughout the day.

Major sightings of the day:

Hyena den site with 7 adults and 1 little cub

Several sightings of spotted hyena

Several sightings of elephants

3 female lions and 1 male lion

3 river crossings

crocodile kill and feeding on zebra

1 female and 4 sub-adult cheetah

fighting elephants

To join us on safari, click here!

The Classic South African Safari: Day 4

This was another busy day on safari! We started off with 5 lions having a great time in the river; the 3 youngsters were playing for close to 2 hours that made for wonderful photography. We then found a large male rhino, followed by an adult female rhino with her calf. Those sightings took up most of the morning, and we were feeling really good about getting some breakfast in, when the real treat jumped up next to us and caught a female nyala! We spotted a female leopard crouched in the grass, and within 30 seconds she was onto the unlucky nyala like a flash! It was a truly unbelievable sighting. The afternoon was also productive, with several sightings of elephants, buffalo and rhino. It was a very special day indeed, well, unless you are a nyala…

Major sightings of the day:

Pride of 5 lions, playing in the river
7 sightings of rhino
Female leopard hunting and catching a female nyala
Male elephant
3 sightings of male buffalo
2 sightings of elephant herds

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Botswana: The Okavango Delta Safari video

Heading into Botswana’s Okavango Delta is always a special experience. The combination of land and water based safaris, as well as the incredible bio-diversity it has to offer mean that you always leave the safari feeling like you won.

Check out the video of this incredible safari.

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Botswana: Okavango Delta Safari 2013: Day 10

The mood is always a little bit sombre on the final morning, but was picked up substantially by a great surprise – a rare sable antelope. A large male sable popped out of the bushes right next to us, and then had the courtesy to let us follow him for a good 20 minutes! After the sable had left us, we went back to see what the situation was with the leopard and her tsessebe kill. She had brought the kill down the tree and was quietly munching away on the floor, giving us a good clear view. A wattled crane and 2 large herds of elephants with little babies drinking sealed off a great safari!

Major sightings of the day: