When it comes to African wild dogs, sightings are rarely peaceful! On this exceptional morning, we were notified that the wild dogs were hunting around one of the local dams. We hurried to take a look and upon arrival we noticed all 23 wild dogs staring at the water. To our surprise, 5 crocodiles were feeding on an impala which we quickly assumed was chased into the dam by the wild dogs.

The overload of different animals was too much for all of us and we weren’t sure which way to look! Within minutes the hippos had picked up on the chaos and came to investigate at speed. A miscalculation from a hippo caused it to go rushing into the crocodiles on the kill which sent one of the crocodiles flying through the air.

With that, the wild dogs realised the loss of their breakfast and decided to move on for the morning.

We decided to stay with the crocodiles to watch the rare feeding habits of these incredible reptiles. Croc rolls and head shakes kept our guests locked in for over an hour as we watched them devour the impala.

What a sighting!

For many first-time safari-goers, buffalo don’t always inspire the same excitement as lions, leopards, or elephants. At first glance, they can look like oversized cattle with a bad temper. But spend a little time with them, and you’ll quickly see why we hold them in such high regard, especially the bulls.

Picture this: A fully grown male can weigh close to a tonne. When breeding season arrives, these giants compete for dominance in battles that shake the very ground beneath them. The impact when two bulls collide is not unlike a car crash; sudden, violent, and felt deep in your gut.

Now, to put things into perspective, a buffalo can run at around 60 kilometres per hour (35 miles per hour). That’s about 16 meters (54 feet) in a single second. Imagine two of these muscular, one-tonne beasts thundering towards each other at that speed, heads lowered, neither willing to yield. It’s raw, primal power at its finest!

Next time you find yourself sitting quietly with a herd, take a moment to really look. Notice the thick muscles bulging in their shoulders and necks, built for power. See the massive, helmet-like boss in the centre of their heads – nature’s armour for those earth-shaking duels.

They’re impressive, intimidating, and utterly fascinating. One thing’s for sure: I wouldn’t want to bump into one of these warriors in a dark alley… or even on the far side of a guarri shrub.

Watch video here.

The Sabi Sand and Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve truly never cease to amaze me. This morning started quietly – with lots of tracking, but little success. However, as the morning was coming to an end, a glimmer of hope appeared…

As we passed a large marula tree, we noticed a very upset leopard in the top branches. This young male, Vutomi, was perched there to escape an unlikely mate, Maxiambanci. At first, it seemed she wanted to mate with this not-so-sexually mature youngster, but Vutomi was having none of it.

It soon became clear why: Only a few meters away, carefully observing, was Dad, the dominant male of that area, Euphorbia. He was not about to let his newly independent son, still graciously living in his territory, mate with one of his females.

Leopards are highly territorial and solitary cats, so seeing two leopards in the same vicinity is rare enough. But three? I never thought I would witness something so odd and rare. Some days, even as guides, we can only sit back in awe of how truly amazing the sightings in the Sabi Sand can be.

Watch video here.

Winter came and went in a flash, and you can feel the change all around. The days are warming up, and little signs of the new season are starting to pop up everywhere.

The impala lilies are beginning to bloom, adding some color back to the bush, and just this past week we spotted the return of the Wahlberg’s eagles. We’re still waiting on those first proper rains to give the dry Western Sector some much-needed relief, but even without them, there’s a fresh energy in the air. The mornings are getting livelier with the dawn chorus, and the nights are finally losing their chill.

Here’s hoping this new season brings some balance, and plenty of good fortune, to everything out here in the bush.

If you’re interested in experiencing an awe-inspiring South African safari, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our reservations desk at book@leopardhills.com.

Alternatively, click here and make use of the quick and seamless online booking process and start planning your ideal vacation today.

We look forward to welcoming you to Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve!