It is with the biggest smile on my face that I can mention the news of our resident African wild dog pack denning on Leopard Hills’ property.

The alpha female supplied me with one of my most remarkable sightings only a few weeks ago: We had seen how pregnant she was, but I could have never imagined what was going to happen next.

Early one morning we set off looking for the pack of wild dogs. They were searching for den sights and we had a rough idea of where she was going to drop, so we headed off in that direction.

We heard the distant call of a wild dog and rushed into the area only to find the alpha female… She was running circles and constantly calling.

“Why?” I kept asking myself. Was she lost?

All of a sudden, the other 11 wild dogs came running towards the den and the alpha female ran towards the alpha male, collected him and bolted towards the supposed den.

It then became clear to me that it was time and she wanted the safety of the pack while she was giving birth. The alpha couple disappeared into the hole while the rest were on lookout.

After a few days the alpha female was seen and it was clear that she had given birth.

Now we wait for first glimpse of our beloved pack’s newest members!

I wanted to share some news from the Sabi Sand…

It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of the last Ximungwe lioness recently. It is believed that she was trying to protect her cubs from a clan of hyena’s and was badly injured in the collision.

We assumed straight away that both of her and the cub were killed in the fight, as is most often the case in these sorts of scenarios.

As the reserve mourned the loss of this remarkable bloodline, an unexpected event occurred. We were woken by the sound of lions roaring together. Upon investigation, we discovered one Plains Camp male with the remaining members of the Ximungwe pride. Amazingly, the last male cub of the Ximungwe lioness was also there: Alive, healthy, and clearly hungry!

It is moments like these that fill us, as guides and guests, with such excitement each morning, wondering what will unfold in this hopeful story of the last living Ximungwe bloodline.

Being seated for many hours can start to feel a little cramped.

So, why not do a bush walk? This is a great way to stretch those legs and get in a little exercise.

To me, there is nothing more exciting and humbling to be on foot in such a beautiful place. These bush walks are not focused on bigger animals like the Big 5, but more upon the little things like tracks, scat and plants. It is a great way to experience the bush and to learn how people did it years and years ago.

Of course, every now and again you come across one of the Big 5, but with the experience and guidance of our guides, you have the pleasure and adrenaline encounter with these animals on foot.

We are trained to encounter these animals without being seen which allows us to experience them in their natural environment without any human disturbance.

So, the next time you are at Leopard Hills, chat to your guide about a bush walk in one of the most incredible areas of the world!

“Are we happy folks? Should we reward ourselves with a Bush-Mix?”

These questions tends to leave my mouth on most morning drives as we finish up with one of our incredible sightings and start to head for a break.

Quite a few of the spots we have chosen as allocated drink stops are situated right next to the water; this usually means we spend some time watching hippos and birds while quenching our thirst over a beautifully prepared cup of coffee, hot chocolate and Amarula. (Aptly named a “Bush-Mix”.)

Every now and then the bush sends a welcomed surprise our way in the form of a herd of elephants also wanting to use the same spot as us for the same purpose. It’s amazing to see how quickly everyone goes silent and starts to just take it all in, both the Bush-Mix and the scenes.

While the elephants may not get to nosh on one of our famous Leopard Hills muffins, they do get to quench their thirst and supply our guests with an unforgettable moment in the bush.

View the reel here.

Going on safari is a memorable experience that will stay in your heart for many years to come.

It’s to wake up at the dawn of day surrounded by the call of hyenas. To hear a leopard vocalise and jump on the vehicle with pure bliss and curiosity of what the day holds… It’s about enjoying the laughs on drives and the surreal feeling you get when you see your very first lion or elephant up close.

Very often we get so caught up in the excitement of finding our next mammal, we forget to look around us and appreciate nature for what it is.

When I say the “natural arts”, I’m not referencing some Harry Potter-esque subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; I’m talking about the natural beauty that surrounds us. The birds singing as if they belong to a gospel choir, the golden light of a winter sunrise colouring the land, one foot at a time. I’m talking about a dead tree that got struck by lightning 10 years ago and is now just a silhouette, or something as simple as a mud wallow that’s dried up and formed a beautiful pattern.

As a guide, I myself also sometimes loses sight of what matters. I also get distracted and only focus on the big stuff, but I do think it’s very important to stop and smell the flowers every now and again.

Ernest Hemingway once said: “The earth is a fine place and worth fighting for.” I couldn’t agree more!

Now, these things don’t only happen in Africa. Nature also surrounds you in your daily life, so the next time you step into the garden to let the dogs out, take a second to appreciate it for what it is…

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.