About the Author

Chris Taylor

Ranger

Chris was born and raised in the Kwa-Zulu/Natal Midlands where his family inspired his early passion for the natural world. Exploring Southern Africa as he grew up, this passion was allowed to develop and his curiosity to expand. After high school, Chris spent ...

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39 Comments

on A Reawakening of the Senses: The Sounds of Londolozi

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Marinda Drake
Master Tracker

Lovely blog Chris. It is all about the overall experience in the bush. It is not just about chasing around looking for a predator. You miss all the best the bush has to offer if you just slow down and apprecuate the little things. Love all the iconic sounds if the bush that you mentioned. We heard our first Woodlands this week in White River.

Chris Taylor
Ranger

Thanks Marinda. I agree, its important to slow the experience down.

Gawie Jordaan
Master Tracker

to me, The bark of a “brandwag! “

Joan Schmiidt
Master Tracker

When we were there in 2017 we were parked between 2 pair of mating lions, and they started to roar at each other.
Quite a sight!

Chris Taylor
Ranger

That certainly sounds like an unforgettable experience, Joan!

Andrew and Daniel Bolnick
Digital Tracker

Chris, Thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. Hope to “hear” more in the future.

Chris Taylor
Ranger

Thank you Andrew and Daniel! Possibly more to follow in the next few weeks so keep a look out!

Irene Henkes
Digital Tracker

Oh, the sounds of the bush. I especially love the Kingfisher……………. Really good, thanks!

Chris Taylor
Ranger

Thank you Irene! Yes, the woodland kingfisher call is quite iconic and they’re beautiful birds to see as well.

Mary Beth Wheeler
Guest contributor

The roar of a lion and the low growl of a leopard call are both iconic African sounds to me. But the song of the Cape Turtle Dove always brings Africa to me immediately. I can close my eyes and find myself standing on the Founders Camp deck!

Chris Taylor
Ranger

The Cape Turtle Dove does indeed have a beautiful call. Reminds me of a winters day in Africa!

Doug Hammerich
Digital Tracker

This was one of your most amazing blogs yet! Thank you so very much!

Chris Taylor
Ranger

Thank you Doug. I enjoyed putting it together!

Gregg Higgs
Explorer

We had the experience of a male lion’s roar during our stay at Londolozi. It was pitch black (Greg our ranger turned off the spotlight) the lion approached made a few calls, stopped directly in front of our vehicle and let out a magnificent roar! I’m sure it could be heard for many km, so powerful, a sound I’ll never forget.
My favorite bird call is definitely the WAH from the “go away” bird.
I really enjoyed this blog entry Chris, well done.

Chris Taylor
Ranger

Thank you Gregg! That sounds like an incredible experience that you had – one that doesn’t happen too often! The grey go-away bird’s call is definitely one that can’t go by unnoticed during a safari!

Victoria Auchincloss
Master Tracker

I never cease to be amazed at the depth and quantity and quality of the info you all share with us. Looking forward to paying more to the smaller things that are all around us in the bush. Victoria

Chris Taylor
Ranger

Thank you Victoria. It’s a pleasure to share what we experience here in this amazing environment.

Suzi Byrd
Digital Ranger

Hi Chris, We have been reading the blog for over a year now in anticipation of our 6-day trip to Londolozi in Sept 2018. We both feel that this is unexceptional post and one that we will save. Thank you for all of your hard work on this.

Chris Taylor
Ranger

I’m glad you enjoyed reading this post, Suzi and Ben! I hope that your stay was an unforgettable one and that you return sometime in the near future.

Michael Kalm
Guest contributor

Wow! Londolozi! Not content with giving us some of the greatest sights in nature, now you’re giving us some of the greatest sounds as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Can I expect that smells will be next?

Chris Taylor
Ranger

I’m glad you enjoyed the post Michael! The smells would be quite a an interesting and challenging post but keep a look out for more to follow!

Darryl Piggott
Explorer

What a wonderfully enjoyable blog this is! A real reawakening of senses even though we’re far from the bush. TWIST – The Week in Sound Tracks?

Chris Taylor
Ranger

Thank you Darryl, I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed the post. ‘TWIST’ would indeed be quite an interesting addition to the blog!

Ann Richardson Berg
Digital Tracker

Hello Chris,
I fullt agree with you, it is important to try to use and enjoy more senses than seeing. I love to listen to birds. They create so much happiness with their beautiful songs and calls. I really like all the different sounds in the bush. When we visit Londolozi it was a lot of different sounds that all together created the magical feeling. I think your argument today is brilliant.
I really enjoyed listening to your different sound
examples from the bush. I think the Woodland Kingfishers call was very special. Personally I am very impressed by hyenas. Their language seems to be very rich and in some way a little funny. I think they are so intelligent and smart. I agree with you they are misunderstood. Thank you for bringing up a very interesting subject.

Chris Taylor
Ranger

Thank you for the comment Ann. The bird calls do make up a large portion of the sounds of the bush – some more noticeable than others; like the Woodland Kingfisher! The hyenas are indeed incredible animals and special to view and hear while on safari.

Sunay Nezir
Explorer

Great post, thank you very much. Cape turtle doves’ call is missing, one of the most distinctive sounds of African bush.

Chris Taylor
Ranger

Thank you Sunay. The Cape Turtle Dove is indeed a very iconic call!

Denise Vouri
Guest contributor

Wonderfully written Chris, and love the sounds and videos that brought it to life. I find all my senses have been heightened during my forays into the bush or even while relaxing on a deck, overlooking the waterhole, although quite low a couple of weeks ago. The call of the francolins early morning never fails to put a smile on my face, and the mewling sounds of young lion cubs is intoxicating!! How about the mating sounds of lions/leopards, quiet during first several seconds and then ending in a crescendo of growls……

Living there you have a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the sounds presented each day and hopefully pass along some of your vast knowledge to guests who are used to traffic sounds!!

Chris Taylor
Ranger

Thank you Denise, I really enjoyed putting this post together! It sounds like you are able to relate to these special sounds quite well.

Karl Kornwolf
Guest contributor

Not only the “voices of the bush” are impressive and unforgettable. When I was the first time on Londolozi with my 14 year old daughter we were part of an unbelievable (personal)tracking experience. We had a conflicting relationship at the time as father and daughter – some parents will remember this as well …..

Now, there was this amazing first game drive for the two of us. We never forgot this intense experience when the pulse climbed up while joining the “bushveld green” Land Rover ….. minutes later we crossed the Sabi Sand River and bumped into a female Leopard playing and feeding her cup.
Deborah turned to me, smiling ….. all of a sudden we were calmly re-connected. It was a very short moment which we easily could have over looked or just not recognized it. But the bush veld made us us aware of our relationship without really noticing it. The “encounter” with the Leopard was touching her, it made her understand there is more in life to learn and to love. We came closer at heart again, it was a (fragile) re-creation of our relationship.

Later the week she was tired and did not participate the afternoon drive. Together with other guests I spotted a Cheetah; which is a very rare experience in this area. Deborah was sad that she has not seen this wonderful wild cat – and we were about to leave the next day.
At dinner with the other guests we spoke about the Cheetah. Tully – a fantastic empathetic ranger – watched my daughter…. she could read her soul and mind very well and asked the other guests if they would be fine when we all go out next morning to track the Cheetah again. Just for the purpose that Deborah could take this wonder filled experience with her back home. She was super proud that all guests agreed….
Solly – the Master of all Trackers – made it…. we found the Cheetah ….. it even let us see its incredible hunt ….. to see the majesty of this animal was breath taking. It was like looking into God’s face right away.

The days were one of the most important moments in my life. It was like God wanted to send us a special gift to re-connect as father and daughter again.

Chris Taylor
Ranger

That sounds like an amazing safari and powerful experience that you had during your time here, Karl. It amazes me how a change of environment and re-connection to the natural world can alter your personal life so much. Thank you for the comment and we hope to see you back at Londolozi in the near future.

Karl Kornwolf
Guest contributor

Dear Chris, many thx for your encouraging words and the invitation 😉
In dead it was a life time opportunity and a life changing experience to be on Londolozi – and also to start the work with the amazing team from the Good Work Foundation!

I will carry your blog about the voices with me. It reminded my a lot on the fantastic experiences I was gifted with. Now I can share it with more friends and also in my business environment. Sure to the voices I could learn to hear the silence better again and what it tells me. It is a very good advisor. Yes, the lion roar is and was impressive. Then, much later I learned about some of the bird sounds. The great final is always to just hear the bush and the peace of it. Thx so much Chris for your awesome blog. For sure I will come back again and hope to meet you in person! My best, all blessings, Karl

Callum Evans
Guest contributor

One day I’ll hear a lion roaring, one day!!

Callum Evans
Guest contributor

I’ve heard the hyena, nightjar, spurfowl, kingfisher and scops owl before though! For me, the sounds of the bush are just as important as the sights!

Callum Evans
Guest contributor

And lets not forget the smells!

Wendy Hawkins
Senior Digital Ranger

Oh Chris this was a lovely blog, with the sounds attached & I hope there will be more with sound such as jackal, giant eagle owl, water thick knee please? Thank you & Happy New Year

Anne Weprin
Explorer

Nice vocalization postings. My fix for the day, thank you Chris. (I had the great opportunity for some great vocalizations — video — from last day on our Londolozi trip, 2009; mating leopards; crazy awesome). again thanks!

William Paynter
Master Tracker

The sounds speak volumes about their makers and their surroundings. Thanks Chris.

Leonie De Young
Master Tracker

Love this blog Chris, fantastic pics and great recordings of different wildlife – the bird calls are helpful when watching the drives. Thanks so much for sharing with us. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

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