A South African Afternoon Safari- Sabi Sands 2019
It was a dusty, dry July afternoon that I set out amongst the spectacular landscape of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. It is world-famous for its fearless and iconic African wildlife, and especially its leopards. Very difficult to observe leopard behavior can be seen here easily, including mating rituals and caring for young. I was extremely excited for a trip of a lifetime as we set off with two expert guides to our aid. Almost immediately we could see some female Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) grazing in an open patch of grassland. We turned onto a dirt track crossing the Sand River, one of the few lush areas of the reserve during the dry months, after observing the antelope. We could see a very large pod of Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) , wallowing in a dammed part of the river! Definitely a bucket-list species for me. On a nearby tree branch we could see a Red-Billed Hornbill (Tockus kempi). In the river there was a small group of Egyptian Geese (Alopochen aegyptiaca) and on the banks a Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer). A baby Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus) darted past the vehicle as we drove into the bush. We drove for about five minutes and came to a watering hole where a herd of Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) galloped from one side of the track to the other, an unforgettable and majestic sight. As we were driving, we also saw a flock of Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris). Our driver had received a call about a mother Leopard (Panthera pardus) and her cub in a sandy riverbank. After about ten minutes of driving, we arrived to an amazing view of the mother leopard fearlessly resting with her cub on a sandy bluff, not 40 feet away from our jeep. It was a spectacular experience that will never forget. She moved on after being spooked by the calls of Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) in a jackalberry tree. Our guide suggested visiting a Hippo carcass afterwards, about 15 minutes from the riverbed. Dusk was approaching, and scavengers would be more active. Along the way, we saw a huge herd of Impala (Aepyceros melampus), crossing the trail. Coming close to the carcass, I saw a Lappet-Faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) high up in an acacia tree. The carcass had 2 adolescent Spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) who fed nervously as more Hyenas came. Eventually an entire clan arrived to feed: about 6 members total. Dusk had fallen and the experience was mesmerizing. We left the carcass to spotlight for nocturnal animals. Within a few minutes, our guides found a Small-Spotted Genet (Genetta genetta) in the crook of a tree which quickly disappeared into the bush. We got back a little before 7 pm, and I would consider my first African Safari one of the best moments of my life. It was a dream come true to cruise the bush looking for megafauna, and I truly enjoyed it. I would recommend Sabi Sands to anyone thinking of going on Safari in Africa.
Life List Animals:
African Leopard- 2
Small- Spotted Genet- 1
Hippopotamus- 30
Spotted Hyena- 6
Impala- 50
Nyala- 5
Vervet Monkeys- 10
Red-Billed Hornbill- 1
Lappet-Faced Vulture- 1
Helmeted Guineafowl- 8
Egyptian Geese- 4
Marabou Stork- 1
Nile Monitor- 1
Giraffe- 4
