About the Author

Pete Thorpe

Alumni Ranger

Pete was a Field Guide for Londolozi for 4 years, contributing to the blog as a fantastic writer as well as photographer. Right from his very first bush trip at the age of four, Pete was always enthralled by this environment. Having grown ...

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26 Comments

on Incredible Otter Sighting: On Foot

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Marinda Drake
Master Tracker

Wow! Amazing video. Fantastic sighting.

Michael and Terri Klauber
Master Tracker

Pete, You guys hit the jackpot! Just like we are always told when on safari at Londolozi, you never know what will be around the next turn! Where do the otters live? Well done!

Pete Thorpe
Alumni Ranger

Hi Michael and Terri!

Cape Clawless Otters (the ones found at Londolozi) are typically associated with waterbodies including rivers, marshes etc. They have even been seen along the coastline in the waves in South Africa. At Londolozi they are very much confined to the Sand River and its associated thickets. Unless one day we are all surprised by one appearing elsewhere, which wouldn’t surprise me!

Vin Beni
Master Tracker

Tracking a lioness, 2 wild dogs & impala, a hippo, 2 crocodiles. and 2 otters–all within minutes. What do you do for an encore?

Pete Thorpe
Alumni Ranger

Show James Tyrrell the footage of the sighting he missed while he was with the Wild Dogs… (He didn’t believe us on the radio)

Francesca Doria
Master Tracker

HI where I live in Europe otters are rare animals but recovering. I just love them! They are very smart and joyful. Thanks for the rare images!

Barbi Evenson
Senior Digital Ranger

WOW! I had no idea there were otters in Londolozi! What a great surprise… we live in California on the Monterey Bay Coastline and we ♥️ Our otters! They are so fun to watch and so playful. It looks like your otters are just as fun! Great sighting!!

Kara Taylor
Master Tracker

Incredible! I cannot believe all of the unique things being seen recently – it’s just mind boggling!! Well done!

Nicole Bernhardt
Senior Digital Ranger

I’ve been lucky enough to see them once in the Kruger, this was a really nice sighting though

Wendy Hawkins
Senior Digital Ranger

Oh my goodness me how wonderful & they were so oblivious to you guys being there! Thank you for this special video

Mama Lioness
Senior Digital Ranger

I don’t know who was having more fun? You boys or the otters? ..Just delightful!

Lisa Antell
Master Tracker

Another day…..another moment of Londolozi magic!

Trish Monck
Master Tracker

Otters are so fun to watch, cool stuff!

Joanne Wadsworth Kelley
Master Tracker

Amazing!! And you were able to film it!

Suzanne Gibson
Master Tracker

Rescuing a honey badger and watching otters all within a week – how amazing! What’s next, partying with pangolins?

Pete Thorpe
Alumni Ranger

It has been a ridiculous few weeks. We did actually see a pangolin while taking photos of the stars a few weeks ago (believe it or not). The other incredibly rare sighting was the serval we saw last week. It was captured on film and is now in The Week in Video #18 (around the 11:20 mark).

Suzanne Gibson
Master Tracker

Thanks Pete, yes I saw that on Sunday, it was a fantastic sighting. I did manage to see a serval at Londo a few years ago, but by the time I got my camera ready it had vanished into the long grass. It was wonderful though even to have that brief glimpse.

Sam Lovett
Explorer

Wow, Thank you so much Pete Thorpe The otter sighting must have been amazing!!!!!!!!!

Wendy Macnicol
Digital Tracker

Hi Pete. HUGE excitement, not so! What a wonderful, wonderful sighting! The excitement clearly mirrored on your faces! Quite understandably. When are you going to produce some more photos of the otters?? Wendy M

Pete Thorpe
Alumni Ranger

Hi Wendy,

I suspect it will be a long time before we see otters again with our own eyes. However, it may be an interesting trail camera project to try and capture them moving about unnoticed…

Paul Canales
Master Tracker

So very cool, and I especially appreciate the boyish fun the guys were having with the sighting and film capture!!

Victoria Auchincloss
Master Tracker

otters are one of the most adorable species. we are familiar with sea otters and they are hard to find. But to find these two not only out in public but nipping at crocodile tails is amazing!! Victoria

Denise Vouri
Guest contributor

Brilliant! What amazing sightings you’ve had, and now playful otters. They’re so much fun to watch- we have them in Monterey bay, California. I could see you all were giddy with delight!

Christa Blessing
Master Tracker

Wow, every day at Londolozi seems to bring new and unexpected behavior of animals nobody has ever witnessed before. Otters chasing crocodiles back into the water! And male leopards carrying baby leopards! And a honey badger trapped in the roots of a tree. What an exciting time you are having!

Callum Evans
Master Tracker

Unbelievable!!!

Ashely Ndebele
Senior Digital Ranger

brilliant video.thank you

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