Day: September 21, 2024

Nhlanhla Nkuna, a guide in Balule Nature Reserve, had front-row seats to these sad sightings. He shared his footage and story with LatestSightings.com.

“We found a huge male lion that was relaxing in the shade of some shrubs when something caught his attention. A steenbok! He jumped up, but before realizing what was happening, the little buck had disappeared into the bushes.”

The question was: why was the steenbok running? Was something chasing it? The lion, now still at attention, looked in the direction of where the steenbok had come. That’s when he saw a pack of wild dogs running at full speed; they had been chasing the steenbok and were completely unaware of the danger next to right next to them, which was now well hidden in the bushes.

“As soon as the first dog came around the bush, the lion pounced. He caught the wild dog off guard and grabbed it by the throat. The wild dog let out a squeal and a whimper. He was caught, and there was no way he could do anything about it.”

“The other two members of the pack came rushing in as soon as they heard the screams. They realized that one of their members had been caught, and if they stood any chance of getting him back, they would need to intimidate the lion. There was no way they would win a physical battle, so the two dogs began barking and growling at the lion.”

“The huge male, who knew that the dogs could not harm him, just kept his grip firm on the wild dog’s throat. At that point, the wild dog gave his last kick, and a small whimper of its last breath came out, and his life came to an end. The other dogs, clearly defeated, just stood and watched on.”

Lions will take any opportunity to kill potential competition for food. Anything from leopards to hyenas, wild dogs, and even cheetahs is fair game. The less competition there is, the more prey the lions have for themselves. As sad as it is, it is the harsh reality of the wild that these animals call home.

“We spent the morning tracking a resident lion pride that calls this area home. We were lucky enough to find some of them quite early in the drive; three of the females, to be precise. They were all quite hungry and seemingly on the hunt. They stumbled upon a decent-sized bachelor herd of buffalo and the battle began!

“After carefully assessing the situation, the lions targeted one of the weaker bulls. They charged in at full speed and were able to single him out. The tactic was clear: they were not going for the kill because taking down a big buffalo bull is no easy ask for 3 lionesses. So they decided to rather wear him down before they made the final blow.”

“The buffalo bull was not going down without a fight. He stood strong and tried to swing his horns fast enough to catch one of the lionesses off guard. The lionesses, on the other hand, were too smart; one of them managed to get onto his back and began biting at his spine while the other two took to his legs and hoping to snap his tendons and cripple him.”

“The bull let out multiple distress calls, which caused his family to instantly respond. They rallied together, forming a line, and charging in at the lions. With powerful horns and brute strength, they pushed the lionesses away for a moment.”

“The fight went back and forth for hours. The buffaloes would keep running in trying to save their brother, and the lionesses would just move off for a moment and instantly come back. At one point, they even got the big buffalo on his back and tried eating him alive, but like true family, the other buffaloes refused to give up and rushed in again.”

“However, things took a turn, the buffalo herd paused, sensing a shift. The buffalo sank to the ground, letting out a final, sorrowful bellow before falling silent. The lionesses had succeeded; their constant biting had broken his back and severed the tendons in his legs. With no chance of recovery, he and the other buffaloes understood the outcome.”

“The exhausted lions lay next to the immobile buffalo, who was amazingly still alive albeit not for long. As tired as lions were, they quickly called their little ones, and out of nowhere appeared seven cute cubs, all excited for a good meal. They immediately began biting and taking nibbles out of the buffalo’s back, while their moms watched on and caught their breath.”

“We had booked a houseboat on Lake Kariba to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday. We were to spend an entire week on the boat, with the promise of sightings of wildlife from the comfort of our boat. Little did we know that the best of our sightings would take place on our very first morning.”

“Our first boat safari yielded buffaloes and elephants, and for us, that was already pretty amazing. But as we were heading back to the main boat, we noticed some movement and activity on Fothergill Island, which was about 500 meters away. It appeared to be lions from the distance, and as we got closer, it became clear! 22 lions hunting a massive herd of impala.”

“The lions were all split up and half surrounded the herd while the others sat in ambush close to the water’s edge; this resulted in chaos. The herd began scattering and running in all directions. Some of the impala came within inches of being caught, while others managed to make a safe escape.”

“The lions waiting in ambush were so eager to catch an impala that they were trying to grab them in midair! Luckily for the impala, lions are not as agile as leopards, so catching their prey midair is not that easy. However, one unlucky impala chose the wrong escape path, and things ended very badly for him.”

“The lions seemed to, at this point, all lock into one impala, and their attention was focused. The impala thought that it could make a quick escape by running along the water’s edge. It picked up speed and ran straight ahead, missing the first and second lions. But when it tried to dodge the third lion, it jumped, and so did the lion.”

“Before all four of its legs could leave the ground, it was down! And one by one, the lions came running in to have a piece of the meal. A small antelope for 22 lions doesn’t last very long, so they all knew they had to grab what they could while it was still there.”

Travis Carreira, an IT Consultant, during a trip to Marloth Park which borders the Kruger National Park, captured this once-in-a-lifetime sighting. Travis shared his footage and story with LatestSightings.com.

“Maureen and Piet, a couple of my friends, spotted a leopard from within the fence of Marloth Park, on the other side of the Crocodile River. As the day progressed, the temperatures peaked at around 41 degrees Celsius. Maureen and Piet sat through it, watching the leopard attempt hunt after hunt, with no success. As soon as I finished my workday, I left straight to where they had seen the leopard last in hopes of spotting it too.”

“I was watching the beautiful sunset on the river when a gentleman came up to me and asked if I could see anything. I explained to him that there had been a leopard hanging around all day, but I couldn’t see it. He then pointed and said, there! There’s the leopard! We jumped up and ran closer to the fence to get a visual.”

“When running to the fence, I lost sight of it again but caught a glimpse of a hyena who moved into a gully. Then I noticed a small herd of impala, and they were moving in the direction of the hyena. I knew something was about to happen, so I started to film them. As Murphy’s law would have it, I readjusted to get more comfortable, and the next thing, the leopard jumped up and caught one of the impalas!”

“Shortly after that, the hyena tried to catch one of the other impalas but failed. A little disheartened, the hyena turned its attention to the leopard. Seeing that the leopard was successful, it thought that it would be easier to steal a meal rather than to try hunting again. The hyena moved in quickly and stole the impala right from the leopard’s mouth. The impala was still alive at this point, and the hyena began dragging it up the hill to a safe spot to eat it. The hyena had a firm grip on the impala, even though it was still kicking there was no way it could break free.”

“Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed more movement. Two massive crocodiles, likely attracted by the commotion, emerged from the river, complicating the situation. The larger crocodile went straight for the impala that was still kicking in the hyena’s jaws. Once the crocodile got a hold of the impala and crushed it with its powerful jaws that was the end of the impala’s life.”

“The leopard who made the initial kill was very hesitant of both the hyena and the crocodiles, so it made one or two half-hearted attempts at getting its food back but was not successful. All this commotion and noise attracted another hyena. This one was bigger and seemed to be more confident. It instantly went to the crocodiles and bit onto the impala, trying to steal it from them.”

“The 1st hyena now also confident with its buddy around, joined in the tug of war. The two hyenas tried using tactics to steal the meal again, but this time, they were left with just some scraps of meat, and the majority was taken by the crocodile.

There were a few other people at the sighting with me. At times, it felt like we were spectators in an arena. The excitement couldn’t be contained as we witnessed this once-in-a-lifetime sighting.”

A telltale sign that a lioness has cubs is suckle marks on her underbelly. And this particular Kambula lioness had plenty of it. The rangers and guides at MalaMala all knew that she had cubs, and everyone was eager to see these tiny balls of fur!

On this particular morning, the guide found her all alone. She looked like she had a full belly and was walking with a lot of intent, but this time it wasn’t to hunt. She was focused on another mission even walking just meters from a herd of wildebeests, without looking their way.

As she continued, she let out low-frequency contact calls, and the group and guide knew that if they followed her, they were going to be in for a treat. She was heading from the open plains to a more thick, dense bush.

Scanning the direction, she was heading, it was extremely thick, and there was no movement to be seen. Mom picked up her pace, showing a look of nervousness on her face, perhaps due to the presence of another large game near where her babies were stashed. After waiting some time to see where Mom was heading, the group began to get nervous that maybe the cubs were very well hidden. And when mom eventually reaches them, it might be too thick to see them.

But just then, from the corner of the guide’s eye, he saw movement! It was a tiny lion cub, with tufts of hair on his ears barely visible in the long grass. One, then two, then three, and they just kept coming until a total of six tiny cubs came running and calling in the cutest manner, trying to respond to their mom!

The cubs looked like they were trying to say, “Here, mom, we are over here.” They ran as fast as their short, tiny legs could take them. Mom found a comfortable place next to the road in the open and sat patiently for them. They were so excited at this point that they were jumping and hoping with a bounce in their step!

As soon as they reached their Mom, they tackled her and jumped on top of her! They wanted milk; they were like little kittens, purring and wagging their tails. Each of the little cubs fell perfectly into place as soon as Mom turned on her side, and they began suckling. Not bothered by the group’s presence, mom and babies were having a moment of bonding and love.

When it just isn’t your time… This Nyala was chased into a waterhole by a hunting lioness, where it was attacked by opportunistic crocodiles!! After narrowly escaping the large reptiles, the Nyala was left with no choice but to take the lion head-on.

As the group arrived at a waterhole on the Mkuze Game Reserve they were greeted by action. A lioness on the hunt! She had spotted a nyala bull that had not seen her at the time and she looked hungry! As soon as she realized this was a potential meal the hunt was on!

The lioness immediately went into stalk mode. Making use of the thick cover that was surrounding the waterhole, she managed to get within a good distance of the Nyala. Off she went with a burst of speed! But the Nyala was not caught by surprise, as he had seen the lioness and darted off in time.
He ran for a bit, but he realized there was no way he would outrun the hungry lioness. So he went straight for the water, hoping to escape the hungry lioness. The lioness, knowing the potential risk of the big crocodiles that lurked in these waters did not dare to go in! The nyala aware of the dangers still was willing to risk it. The lioness also knew that the nyala could not stay in the water forever, so she sat and waited for the nyala to move.

The lioness sat patiently staring at the nyala with hungry eyes. The nyala, on the other hand, stood in the water, staring back at the lioness, hoping that she would go away. With all his focus on the lioness, the nyala was caught off guard when he suddenly felt something at his feet. A few crocodiles had been stealthy approaching him in the shallow water and he only realized when a slash erupted, and a crocodile snapped its jaws, trying to grab hold of the nyala.

Luckily for the nyala, his super-fast reflexes saved him, and he managed to kick and jump away from the crocodile. But he now had to run out of the water as quick as he could because if he didn’t, the croc would get him. But the catch was that when he left the water, the lioness was there. Being stuck between a rock and a hard place the nyala had to make a decision and make it fast!

Giosuè Spinosa was out on safari when he witnessed this incredible moment. Giosuè shared his rare footage and story with LatestSightings.com.

When days on safari seem boring and not much is to be seen, it is always a good idea to visit the closest water source or river to look at what you can find. On this particular day, Giosuè headed to the Shingwedzi River in the northern sections of the Kruger National Park. After waiting and scanning the sand banks for any movement, something caught his eye—it was a snake!

Lifting his binoculars and taking a closer look revealed that this was one of Africa’s deadliest snakes. It was a black mamba. The snake was moving along a patch of dry river sand, making its way to the water’s edge. The speed at which it was moving led him to think that the snake was not going just for a drink but perhaps was looking to cross the river.

The Shingwedzi River is a river that is filled with crocodiles and hippos. The hippos that were not too far off did not even notice the snake. However, the group of crocodiles that were basking in the morning sun picked up the Mambas movement almost immediately. One of them, who was closest to the snake, rushed off and tried to catch it.

The snake, however, was not only too fast but also too agile for the slow crocodile; it just moved out of the way with a quick turn, and the crocodile snapped its jaws, catching nothing but a gasp of air. The snake was now free to make a run for it! It quickly got into the water and began gliding on the surface with lightning speed, moving in different directions so that no crocodile that was lurking could even have a chance at catching it!

The rest of the crocodiles watched from the bank as the snake made its way successfully over the crocodile-infested river. But it was far from over; the snake unfortunately chose the wrong exit route from the river. It was hard to get out of the water in a really clay and muddy area. This slowed the snake down as it was struggling to move in the thick sludge that was at the water edge.

Elephants, often perceived as disruptors, are in fact crucial architects of biodiversity within their ecosystems. The evolving landscapes we witness today are part of a natural continuum, with noticeable shifts in tree species distribution over time, reflecting the dynamic nature of these ecosystems.

The behavior of elephants, such as toppling trees to access fresh branches and leaves, plays a pivotal role in this ecological dynamic. While it may seem destructive, this activity is a natural ecological process that enhances habitat diversity and accessibility. When elephants bring down a tree, they not only reach the nutrients themselves but also enable other animals to access the bounty of fresh leaves and branches, thereby enriching the overall biodiversity.

This aspect of elephant behavior is a prime example of how they contribute to the ecological balance, creating opportunities for a multitude of species and thus boosting the area’s biodiversity.

The impact of these majestic creatures is even more pronounced given the current constraints on their habitat. With significantly less space to roam than their ancestors, every action of an elephant has a heightened effect on their environment.

A compelling illustration of this dynamic is seen in a video captured in the MalaMala Game Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park, by David den Hartog. The footage showcases the astonishing ease with which an elephant can push down a large tree, a testament to the animal’s immense strength and its role in the ecosystem. This visual evidence not only highlights the physical power of elephants but also underscores their integral role in shaping the landscape and facilitating ecological diversity.

The scene from the MalaMala Game Reserve is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of nature and the significant role that elephants play within it. Observing such a moment brings to light the extraordinary capacity of these animals to influence their environment and the myriad ways in which other species benefit from their actions.

“We had just returned from dinner back to the house; it was extremely dark due to a power outage, and the sounds of nature and the bush were so tranquil. That’s until screeching and whining broke the peaceful atmosphere. My wife at the time said it sounded like a group of angry Indian Mynahs.”
“Out we went with our phone torches as lights to investigate what and where this sound was coming from. We all got a shock when we saw well over twenty very angry mongooses screaming and screeching as they were attacking a python.”

The gang was relentless, and they attacked from every angle; some were biting while others were scratching and clawing at the snake. The snake, on the other hand, did not even try to attack once. The snake knew that it was outnumbered and overpowered and that there was no chance it could attack all of them.

The mongooses were protecting their family, especially the little ones. They showed no mercy to the snake. Some mongooses boldly faced the snake’s head and its dangerous fangs, attacking it, while others targeted its body, attacking continuously.

Banded Mongoose are often the target of many predators, and due to their small size, they find strength in numbers. They will gang up and attack exactly like they did to this python. Sometimes they will not stop the attack until the threat is dead, and other times they will do it until the threat leaves.

The python at this point realized that if it did not make a run for it, it was very likely that it would end up dying. So, the snake made for a small branch that had been lying on the floor. This gave it some cover and protected its head from the attacks and bites. But its body was still very exposed, and it needed to go even further into cover.

After discovering that one of the resident lionesses had given birth to a cute litter of cubs, everyone was excited to see them. The guides at MalaMala had given the mother and cubs some space in their first few days, just so that the mother was not under added stress. However, on this particular day, the mother lion decided that she was now ready to show her cubs.

As the group got into one of the dry riverbeds and scanned for a bit, the sound of a mother lion caught Michael’s attention. They approached the calls and were greeted by the cutest little lion cubs playing with each other. At this point, their mother was already standing in a tree that was not very big.

She looked down on her cubs and let out these low-toned calls. Alerting her little ones that she was up above them. The cubs, with their small legs, frantically ran around the base of this tree, looking up at mom and letting out their own very cute contact calls. It sounded as though mom was trying to communicate with her cubs and tell them to come up.

The little ones, with their tiny legs and small size, thought that this was an impossible task. They found a much smaller branch of the tree that had fallen and thought that this was more their size. They climbed it with ease and looked over to Mom. But Mom did not want them to climb any small branches. She wanted to teach them the skill that not many lions have: climbing a tree.

Leopards are cats that are known for climbing trees, not lions. However, lions have been observed climbing trees on occasion. Sometimes to steal a kill of a leopard that was left in a low enough branch, and other times just for a bit of fun and games.

Mom kept calling her cubs, and one of them understood that mom meant bossiness. So off it went to the base of the tree its mother was in. The cub looked up, and to it, this was an enormous task, but it was determined. One paw at a time, it began climbing, digging its tiny claws into the bark to give it some traction. It inched slowly up until it was only a few inches from its mom.