We arrive in Thornybush Game lodge to celebrate a milestone, our 25th wedding anniversary.
We look forward to languishing in this lavish spot, for four nights and then bust our butts for 24 hours on game drives. It’s going to be wild. Just 5 mins into the game drive …we were in no way prepared for our first sighting. We were still in disbelief as the leopards lay there resting from their recent kill. Then the cub gets up and scampers up the tree for another snack on the impala. Thornybush nature reserve is a 14 000 hectare, unfenced pristine wilderness situated between the Kruger national park and adjacent private reserves. We wind down the day spotting more animals. This is the land that lions rule, but it is the quirky elephants that keep us entertained.
As the shadows lengthen and the blood red sun dips below the horizon, we sip on an ice cold gin and tonic in the middle of the veld, before returning to the comfort and warmth of the lodge.
The perfect end to an incredible first day.
Episode 2
As we ease into the rhythms of the bush and the trackers look for signs of animals we are excited for what the day will bring. We don’t have to wait too long and the day kicks off with a lion sighting. It is a mating pair. The alpha male seems well versed in staying on top. With a poached egg of an eye…it just goes to show that a disability should never stand in the way of progress.
After this we spot a cheetah lining up her kill for the day. Unfortunately there is too much commotion with our presence…so we leave, to give the cheetah the upper hand. The newly renovated Thornybush game lodge is a sanctuary. It has a relaxed elegance about it.…and we take the time to recharge in this beautiful place before our next game drive. One of the great joys of a game drive is the coffee stop. I say nothing, I merely watch and enjoy. From nowhere a white table cloth is whipped out, and laid upon the ingeniously integrated flip-up bull bar table. We are rewarded with the famous Amarula coffee. This is our opportunity to connect with the guides in their office and marvel at their knowledge of the bush. We have had a successful morning spotting game and it is time to head back to base
The beauty of our camp is that, it is is unfenced. Game is allowed to roam freely through it. The immersive experience is unique in the world.…Later we pick up on the cheetah digesting in the shade next to an impala carcass. The cheetah unlike the leopard, has no way of hiding its prey, and instead has to gorge on the impala before any other predators pick up on the scent.
Frank and Freedom have picked up on something special. Frank disappears into the bush on foot, following the spoor. We flank him in the vehicle. Freedom indicates that Frank has found them ….and it is a family of white Rhino. Immediately into the next game drive, standing on the edge of the scrub warming in the sun, we kick off with another family of white rhino…and then a mating pair of lion on the move, To complete the morning game drive, we are lucky enough to spot a giraffe…and a formidable pack of African wild dog. These opportunistic predators, operate in highly social pack, of between 10-40 dogs, and can sprint at 70km/h to bring down prey, such as impala. According to World wildlife foundation the population of African wild dogs is currently in the region of 1409. They are on the endangered species list and to see them in the wild is an absolute privilege. Further on we we discover a new pride of lions, made up of a collection of adults, sub-adults and cubs. Our proximity to this pride of lions felt as if we were part of it. Lions are highly social, like us, they love, cuddle and play …they form strong bonds of friendship that last a lifetime. There are two cubs still suckling.In this pride…a matriarch returns and the welcoming committee is there to welcome her home. Satisfied and hungry, we head back to the lodge, to kick back and relax and catch up, on some shut eye.
Ep3
In this episode we wrap up our safari in Thornybush. It has been an unforgettable experience that can only be described as exquisite. The density of game in this area is unmatched, and the reason we keep coming back to this region. The rangers are experienced and intimately connected to their natural surroundings. Their Finely tuned senses bring the spectacle of the wilderness to life. We saw so many animals in four days and some of our best sightings ever. For photographers, this is a dream and we get to share it with you. This connection with nature, is one that we all need in our modern times, to restore our sense of purpose on this planet.
Let’s not take for granted that we share this planet, with beautiful wild creatures that they are willing thrive if we let them.
We are fortunate enough to spot two two leopards, initially both on the ground…and then one, saunters off and climbs a tree, to an impala impala kill, whilst the ever present Hyena wait patiently for scraps. We catch up with the African wild dogs again, languishing in the veld. Nothing seems to be going on here, but it is always a great photo opportunity. Suddenly all of them get up and are on the move, like a well orchestrated hunting machine. The excitement levels are high. We give chase and follow them as they disappear into the bush.We find them again a few minutes later with an impala kill. The animal is devoured within minutes. It was absolutely insane experience to see the pack work together. From this frenzied activity we leave, to discover what else the bush has on offer and to lower our adrenaline levels, we stop to observe elephants that quietly go about their business of munching on branches and leaves.
A last lap to return to the leopard with the impala kill, for another look into the secret life of this beautiful beast. Enjoy the montage… of a leopard quietly confident in it’s natural habit, enjoying the spoils of the kill. And then it slowly rises, cleans itself and disappears, like a ghost into the landscape.
Anybody that has spent enough time in the bush knows that lions rest during daylight hours, this pride lounging in the bush is no different…some are even to lazy to get up, to urinate.
Another perfect day has reached it’s conclusion and we celebrated yet another superb African sunset, with smiles on our faces. Satisfied smiles, we arrived with no expectations, and left feeling completely sated and happy with the incredible sightings of game.
It’s the last day, in a few hours we will be on board our flight home, but before that happens, we have one more game drive, and as it turns out, it becomes one of the best. It is the mother and son, leopards again with another impala kill. They are high in a tree with the kill, casually draped over a branch, Hyena’s at the ready below..The inexperience of the cub is apparent and palpable, with the impala teetering on the edge of the branch. The cub has focussed on the impala hind quarter whilst the rest of the carcass dangles invitingly below. We are all waiting with bated breath, it’s just a matter of time before the inevitable happens. From the moment the carcass slips out of the cubs paws, till the moment in reaches the frothing jaws of the hyenas, seems impossibly fast and slow all rolled into one. This spectacle is both mesmerising and totally terrifying at the same time, the speed with which the impala carcass is dispatched, is nothing short of insanity.
Watching beasts compete for food gives one a sense of appreciation for what it takes to survive in the wild. It all looks a bit chaotic to us…but this, is the cycle of life.
It is not everyday one gets to witness hyena tearing a carcass to pieces, in what feels like a few seconds, and in the end it is the leopard cub that needs consoling…and probably some lessons learnt in this round. We hope you enjoyed this animal spectacle as much as we did. We feel privileged to share this experience with you.