Every now and then, a game drive comes together in such a way that you are reminded of just how unpredictable and magical the bush can be. Recently, I had the privilege of guiding guests who have been visiting Londolozi for the past four years. Together, we’ve shared countless special moments with elephants and leopards, but this particular morning would turn out to be one of our most memorable yet.
Sunrise from Ximpalapala Koppie
This morning, instead of chasing after sightings straight away, my guests wanted to slow down and enjoy the peace of the bush. So, we set out early and made our way north to climb the granite outcrop of Ximpalapala Koppie. The short hike to the top was more than worth it. As the sun crested the horizon, it lit up the wilderness below us in soft golden hues. Sitting there in the crisp winter air, the silence broken only by the calls of birds beginning their day, we felt the stillness of the bush at its best.
It’s a special feeling watching the sun rise higher above the horizon and watching the shadows of the trees and rocky outcrops crawl along the landscape.
The Lone Tsalala Female on the Hunt
After soaking in the sunrise, we descended the koppie and began our drive back towards the river. Not long after, one of my guests pointed out movement in the grass, a lioness. It was none other than the Tsalala Female, moving with quiet determination. Alone and lean, she was clearly in hunting mode.
The Tsalala Female flicks her tail and strides past our vehicle, looking for prey.
We followed her carefully as she weaved through thickets, used termite mounds for cover, and paused to scan the clearings. For half an hour, she led us on an edge-of-our-seat experience until she finally spotted a herd of zebra. Dropping flat into the grass, she disappeared from sight. Minutes dragged on like hours as we waited. Then, in an instant, the bush erupted. She burst from her cover and launched at a zebra that had strayed from the group. The chase was explosive, but the zebra was quick and managed to get away without being caught. A near miss, we were seconds away from witnessing a kill right before our eyes.
A Riverside Pause
After the thrill of the hunt, the lioness settled into the long grass to groom and rest. We left her to her nap and made our way down to a quiet section of the Sand River. The river, flowing steadily even in winter, is always a serene place to stop. With binoculars in hand, we enjoyed some birding while sipping on hot coffee and nibbling on some snacks, grateful for the calm after the action.
Pausing at Taylor’s Crossing in the Sand River is one of my favourite things to do. Here we listen to the water trickle past, the hammerkops screeching, and anticipate any monkey alarm calls.
An Unbelievable Surprise – A Pangolin!
As we began heading back towards camp, content and ready for breakfast, the radio crackled with a message that made my heart skip a beat: a pangolin had been found nearby. These elusive, secretive animals are among the rarest to see in the wild, and despite years of guiding, I had never been lucky enough to find one walking in the open.
Now this was something I’ll never forget. The pure luck of watching a pangolin stride across the road in front of our vehicle in daylight.
Moments later, as we rounded a bend, there it was. A pangolin ambled across the road in front of us, on its back legs, completely unconcerned by our presence. To see this prehistoric-looking creature moving so naturally was extraordinary. For all of us, it was a first, a sighting that will be remembered forever.
With a view of the pangolin in the open, you can really appreciate the scales, eyes, ears and nose of this prehistoric and secretive creature.
The Magic of One Drive
All of this, the sunrise, the lioness’s hunt, the riverside coffee, and the pangolin, happened in less than four hours. A single drive that felt like an entire safari wrapped into one. It’s moments like these that remind me why no two drives at Londolozi are ever the same, and why each time we set out, we do so with excitement and anticipation for what the wilderness might reveal.
I am grateful to call Londolozi my home, and it excites me to know that I have similar game drive experiences to look forward to. Ones with surprises, peaceful moments and exhilarating encounters.
Nick Tennick
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