Just Look How Many Sightings There Are Of The Big Five And Other Animals At Nambiti

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Nambiti Hills Private Game Lodge

Photo by Clinton Friedman

Are there more sightings of wild animals at Nambiti Private Game Reserve than any other reserve? Well, I can’t answer you there and it shouldn’t be a competition because being able to up close and personal to just one wild animal and observe it in its natural habitat is, in my mind, a great honour in itself. But I have just looked at the list of latest sightings (which will be different by the time you read this) and I am astounded by how many there are within a month. As much as 85 sightings of elephant, 10 of lion on a kill, and 7 of cheetah on a kill. Not to mention the vast number of times rhino and buffalo have been spotted. This month, the elusive leopard was only seen once. I’m jealous there. I love leopards and would dearly love to see one again but they keep themselves well hidden, wise creatures.

The fact is, on any outing you take in Nambiti Hills Private Game Reserve, guided by the ever-knowledgeable game guides and trackers of Nambiti Hills Private Game Lodge, you WILL see game, and most likely lots of it. To come across lion or cheetah is not an everyday assurance, but quite possible, but you will very likely see elephant, rhino, buffalo, the ubiquitous and much maligned wildebeest, giraffe, impala and various other buck, and a great deal more. Add to that that, at Nambiti Hills, you are taken out on an evening and early morning game drive every day of your stay, and your chances of exciting game sightings are greatly multiplied.

The guides throughout the reserve are on a portable radio system (not the correct terminology, please excuse me) that means that any sightings by one guide will be shared with all. I have had the experience on several times where the game guide has raced us passengers to the other side of the reserve to catch up with young cheetahs attempting a kill or a lion stalking a wildebeest somewhere. Believe me, it’s a bumpy ride as the terrain at Nambiti is hilly, rocky and a bit precarious in places. If you want to feel the bounce most, sit at the very back and hold on tight! It’s all part of the adventure, of course, but personally my greatest excitement is when, unprompted, you suddenly come across wild animals yourself. Sometimes, after hours of searching for a particular animal, you just turn a corner, and there the magnificent beast is, right by the roadside, pulling berries from a tree or rubbing up against a rock, or whatever the case may be.

Then it feels as if it is just between you (and, okay, the other guests in the vehicle, the guide and tracker) and this wild animal, this great gift to nature and lesson to humanity. The glory is in just sitting there, observing and communing. Everyone has a different interpretation of spirituality and I respect that yours may not be akin to mine, but for me, sitting still in the heat with that pungent and yet comforting smell of the wild around me and calmly connecting with a wild creature governed by instinct and an understanding of the land, is the most humbling, beautiful and awe-inspiring sensation I know. It is also the time when I feel truly African. And for that I am always grateful.

- Siobhan, writer, passionate about wildlife

Sometimes you get lucky

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Nambiti Hills Private Game Lodge

This morning as we woke to a clear sky there was a different type of a chill in the air, one that made you zip up your jacket just that much further and huddle round the fire while drinking a fresh cup of coffee as we waited for the rest of the guests to join us on the morning drive.

The chill in the air didn’t seem to bother the birds as they welcomed the rising sun with a melody of squawks and whistles. A kudu barked in the distance which gave us direction for the morning drive. It was a loud raspy bark similar to that of a dog, and by the volume wasn’t too far away. A quick chat with the guests as they hunkered down under the over-sized blankets and we were off, heading through down the entrance and into the reserve. It wasn’t long before Tico spotted a few crows and jackal up against the side of the ridge. We went to investigate. What was left were mere scraps of what would have been a big meal for the animal that caught it. A little investigative work and we came to the conclusion that the prey was too big for the jackal and the size of the bones that were crushed meant something larger had been there first.

When looking for clues it is always good to cover the area well and the best approach to finding tracks is to walk in ever increasing circles until you pick up on what you are looking for. This morning it was one of two animals, lion or hyena. Once we reached the edge of the road, now some distance from the kill itself, we picked up on one lion print. The track, judging by its size, belonged to none other than our territorial male. With this in mind, we were on our way. With Tico walking in front of the vehicle and the guests scanning the grass and shrub in the area, we headed off on the tracks across one of the many streams and up a long hill where we found signs of scent marking on the odd bush and the flattened-out ground where he had lain moments before. We pushed on slowly as the shale made tracking difficult and the tracks started to disappear.

By this stage, Tico had joined us up on his seat and we started searching once more for the tracks we had just lost It was decision time and we opted to leave him to his day. Tracking a lion can be a very rewarding experience but sometimes you just need to call an end to the tracking when conditions become dangerous. Tall grass and a big cat make for an unpredictable situation. This morning ended just like that, with the last of the tracks heading into the long grass on the side of the hill.

It was with a look of disappointment on the guests faces that we called off the search and headed up the hill for some coffee and to come up with a new plan. We decided to take a slow amble back to the camp and take in whatever wanted to present itself.

Sometimes the drive is action packed and other times the African bush keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting in anticipation for that glimpse of a lion’s mane through the long grass or the flick of a tail to give away the sleeping cat’s position. But the one thing we can count on is that every drive is different and that even a “quiet drive” is filled with the sights, sounds and smells of the African bush.

- Brett Hoy, game guide at Nambiti HIlls Private Game Lodge

Photo by Clinton Friedman

Lion Kill

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Nambiti Hills Private Game Lodge

Lion Resting Photo by Natalie Weeden

One morning we came across the 3 young lions on an eland kill. The 3 youngsters are spending more and more time away from the adults as they get older – they’re roughly 1.5 years old. We have been very impressed to see them hunt and kill some rather large animals and the eland was the biggest yet…weighing in at roughly 800 kg.

Fox Feeding - Photo by Mike Weeden

They had had their ‘lions share’ and were resting away from the carcass when 2 spotted hyenas came wandering through. Hyenas and lions are notorious enemies as the hyenas constantly hound lions for heir kills and, in numbers, are an equal match to the big cats.

Yawning Lion - Photo by Natalie Weeden

We waited in anticipation to see what might happen as the young female caught sight of them. She got into stalking mode and headed towards them. When she got within about 7 metres there was a stand-off. At this stage, the male lions showed no interest and just watched from 100 m away. Eventually, the female took off after them amidst much growling and dust and we saw them disappear into the thick bush. The one male eventually decided to see if he could help and ambled over but, by that stage, the female had seen the hyenas off and the intense interaction was over.

It’s wonderful to see wild animals in their natural environment as we do everyday here at Nambiti Hills but these interactions are what make for really special memories.

Resting Lion- Photo by Natalie Weeden

- Ross Cairns, Game Guide, Nambiti Hills

Our Social Circles