My adventure into the bush this week started with a simple plan: to try to get across to a pack of wild dogs that had been seen moving through the south-western grasslands. As so often happens, however, the bush had other ideas.
On the way, we briefly bumped into a portion of the Msuthlu Pride, but with the wild dogs still our focus, we pushed on. It was only later that we realised we had driven straight past something remarkable, a cheetah perched high on a fallen marula tree. Thankfully, Nick and Joy were following behind and picking up the pieces, and we were treated to a superb sighting.
Before long, the cheetah slipped down from his lookout and began moving purposefully toward a large dazzle of zebra, clearly eyeing a small foal. The tension built quickly, but the zebra spotted him first and bolted across the open ground. With the opportunity gone, he eventually settled along a historical feature of the reserve, the old, long-discontinued Selati railway line.
Later, we spent time with the Nkoveni Female leopard resting on a fallen knob thorn tree in beautiful golden light. As the sun sank lower, the distant gurgling calls of male impalas caught her attention, and within moments she was up and moving, melting into the grass in full hunting mode.
In the fading light, I focused my attention and camera on the impala herd, hoping to capture the moment she burst towards them, only to realise later that the real story was unfolding just outside my field of view. Reviewing the footage back at camp revealed that I had unknowingly filmed the Nkoveni Female slipping into a perfect ambush position, far closer to the impala than I had realised at the time. And only in hindsight now do I kick myself, I should have stayed!
A classic case of the bush teaching another lesson.
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Londolozi's most viewed leopard and prolific mother. This gorgeous female has raised multiple cubs to independence.
Fascinating video today Sean beginning with the roadblock of some Msuthlu Pride members. Given your intent to follow up on the wild dog sighting, it was easy to pass by them and even not notice the cheetah on the fallen tree branch. Now I don’t feel so tunnel- visioned whilst on a drive, thinking ahead to the hoped-for sighting, thereby missing what’s actually nearer. As far as not seeing how close Nkoveni was to the herd, I believe that the height and thickness of the grasses make it extremely difficult to follow a leopard in dimming light…… next time.
Thanks so much, Denise. Yes, so in my defence, I could see the vehicles following the wild dogs on the other side of the road ahead of me so that is where I was looking at the moment I drove passed the cheetah. But thankfully, Nick and Joy were following behind me to pick up the pieces.
Then yes, the Nkoveni stalking sequence, I think I would have probably missed her even if I was staring right in that direction.
Hi Sean, the male Cheetah was a bonus because we don’t always see Cheetah, except for a little while back we saw the mother Cheetah with her cubs. Good to see Nkoveni female again and maybe there was something hindering her to catch an impala so close. Usually she has no problem catching an impala. Your footage shows just how close she was to them. I wonder where the Shingi male was when all this was going down. Loved the lions in the road claiming the road all to themselves.
The cheetah was such a bonus and we had an amazing view of him.
Yes, Nkoveni was so close to the impala.
Q: How is it that these bundu fundis are such great writers?!
A: They are at one with nature!
I guess that could be a good explanation.
Hi Sean, I always get those edition late, but the video was there on time. A lone cheetah always takes by surprise and makes you wonder. What a regal animal. The Nkoveni Female always steals my heart, so fascinating with her peculiar eyes and stunning beauty… lions on the road that won’t move, that is funny for us to look and a sign that they get accustomed to you perfectly. They seem to mean, that’s fine, we just rest here and you drive ….
Cheetahs are so regal and spending time with them is always a treat. The lions are very well accustomed to us being here and couldn’t be bothered.