We are just back from a “cannot find the words to do it justice” 6 day trip to Pioneer Camp where the wildlife experiences we enjoyed thanks to our ranger Richie Ferrier and tracker Ox were outstanding. On our second day , after a first day encounter with all the Majingalane coalition , we sat with a male cheetah for over an hour until it decided to move and stalk an impala with its youngster. We were very ,very fortunate to see this magnificent male in full action and witness the successful outcome to his day .

Cheetah and impala January 2013

The magnificent Tugwaan male

Always look behind you!

Female leopard and cub drinking

Final photo of a Majingalane brother

On a high from this experience  we hit the road back to camp when my wife Elizabeth spotted two adult rhinos ( male and female) and a youngster . We decided to pull in and observe . What followed was incredible . It began with Richie remarking almost nonchalantly that he could hear another rhino coming in fast . It turned out to be a big male and he whooshed onto the scene , all worked up and full of aggression . Figuratively speaking the jackets came off and the males set to with the younger male clearly at a huge disadvantage in terms of physique.

In the following 20 minutes the heavyweight rhino gored the youngster twice and chased him around the bush with his piercing screams heard by everyone . The final scene was of the combatants hurtling  towards our vehicle and others with Richie hitting the reverse gear and hurtling  backwards over a big log with his two gobsmacked passengers springing three feet into the air.

Rhinos have weak eyesight so he was very wisely taking precautions as these bush combatants were hurtling at full speed and banging a land rover or two would not have been of any consequence to them !

Every day at Londolozi was special but this one is seared into the memory .

Thanks and best wishes to all at Pioneer Camp

Ralph Topping