Red spells danger

We watched this Leopard hunting for almost an hour one evening.

The guides use a red filter on the spotlight so the lights don't interrupt the hunt. The cardinal sin is to interfere, giving either the hunter or prey an advantage.

The animals can't see the red light so for them it is dark as usual., but for the camera a striking image earie in its colour cast.

Time for a nap.

Thorny lunch

Zebra portrait

Just hanging around II

 

Just hanging around

The Timbavati is great for Leopard.

We found this one in typical pose on an afternoon drive.

Close encounters of the Rhino kind

You just don't get a better view of a Rhino than the Scout's jump seat on the front of the Land Rover.

This old boy literally brushed past the scouts feet.

Another day and another lovely Rhino.

This chap was very chilled out, happy to be receiving a full manicure from his attendant Oxpeckers

The marketing shot

Impala bones

Even in death there is beauty.

We found the remains of an impala fairly recently killed and eaten.

Leopard print

 
 

Whilst out on a walk we found a drying water hole. The mud was still quite wet and  it was clear to see that shortly before a Leopard had taken the same route.

One of the reasons it had decided to get its feet wet was that under the surface of the mud were cat fish trying to bury themselves to survive the oncoming dry season. There were dozens of stranded fish, most half eaten.

Rhino drinking

Just dropping the kids off at the pool

A wonderful sighting of mum and baby white Rhino at a water hole.

Vultures

Vultures nesting

The Aardvark sunset

As the sun went down on another wonderful day in Timbavati little did we know that we'd finally see an Aardvark after more than 20 Safari holidays.

Sadly it was moving fairly quickly and the light levels were too low for a decent picture, but a wonderful memory none the less.

Full Hyena

While out on an evening drive we found this Hyena stuffed so full of a kill it had stolen from a Leopard it could hardly move.
Every breath seemed painful - if only it had some indigestion medicine.

Just nearby we could also se the Leopard hovering waiting for the Hyena to leave so it could retrieve some of its hard earned meal. But this Hyena wasn't planning on moving anywhere for some time.

Fever Tree

Fever Trees glowing against a bright blue sky at Kambaku River Sands

Another mum and baby

Another mum and baby.

Typically, if an elephant can fit underneath its mother’s belly it is under one year of age and very young baby elephants have a thick coating of fur that falls out by the time the elephant is 6 months to 1 year old. So this baby was probably 6 months to a year old.

Sunset over the Klaserie

Wild Dog

Wild Dog are one of our favourites. One of the most endangered animals in Africa it is always a privilege to see them.

In this case they were in a small pack denned on the edge of the nThambo area. We saw them over a period of a few days in various places.