Blog - Page 9

"Every creature was designed to serve a purpose. Learn from animals for they are there to teach you the way of life. There is a wealth of knowledge that is openly accessible in nature. Our ancestors knew this and embraced the natural cures found in the bosoms of the earth. Their classroom was nature. They studied the lessons to be learned from animals. Much of human behavior can be explained by watching the wild beasts around us. They are constantly teaching us things about ourselves and the way of the universe, but most people are too blind to watch and listen.” - Suzy Kassem

The month of November has been simply amazing, with a fair amount of rain, dams are full and the bush is lush and green, and with those factors playing in our favor this has meant that animal sightings have been numerous especially when it comes to our big cats. However all the other inhabitants from elephants to woodland doormice have put on a show for guests and guides alike. Enjoy this months highlights captured in photos.

“Nothing but breathing the air of Africa, and actually walking through it, can communicate the indescribable sensations.”- William Burchell

Winter has drawn to a close and spring has sprung, temperatures are beginning to climb and we have already had a fair amount of rain, the dull browns of winter are slowly changing into the vibrant greens of the wet season. September is considered one of the best times of year to go on safari as the bush still isn't thickly vegetated yet and the chill of winter has begun to subside, game viewing has been top notch with many excellent sightings being had by our guests while out on their safaris.

On the 24th of August we said our final goodbye to the last remaining lioness of the infamous Machaton pride. She lived a long, challenging life...over the last year or so we have watched this lioness over come the odds time and time again. However recently we have seen her rapidly losing her grip on her long standing reign here in the Timbavati. This lioness constantly surprised us with her will to live and survive, but after recent sightings we couldn't help but feel that it was just a matter of time before she passed marking the end of the Machaton pride.
She was located one the morning of the 24th after not being seen for about a week, she was in terrible condition, her body riddled with deep infected wounds and she was skin and bone and clearly starving, being the lioness that she was the reserve ecologist was notified and he came out to assess the lionesses condition, on seeing her he made the decision to end her suffering and humanely euthanize her, as sad as it it is this was ultimately the best decision.

The last couple of weeks have been extremely interesting here at Umlani, lion dynamics have changed, leopards have been mating and amongst all of this we had an extremely rare sighting, even rarer than mating leopards...

If you will stay close to nature, to its simplicity, to the small things hardly noticeable, those things can unexpectedly become great and immeasurable."- Rainer Maria Rilke

It is incredible to think that we are moving out of winter already, as time flies by one thing remains a constant AMAZING animal sightings, in this highlights blog we have included last months sightings, creating a bumper issue for your enjoyment.