Tag: Kruger National Park

Can you spot the leopard? Photographer barely spotted it himself

While on safari, wildlife photographer Henri Olckers had nearly given up on spotting a leopard until he turned his head and saw some spots.

Wildlife photographer Henri Olckers and his father were driving down a dirt road in Kruger National Park hoping to spot a leopard relaxing on a branch.

“But it wasn’t meant to be,” Olckers recalled to USA Today/For The Win Outdoors. “Or so it felt.”

They were driving on S125 for the first time in the iconic South African park.

“It is a beautiful, quiet 20-kilometer road, running parallel to a dry riverbed on the one side and dense bush on the other,” he told FTW Outdoors. “We were both scanning every tree next to the riverbed.

“Approximately 1 kilometer before the end of the road, we had almost given up all hope when I turned my head away from the riverbed and looked to the right. All I remember was seeing a few spots in the dense foliage, and I slammed on the brakes. I just remember yelling to my dad, ‘Leopard, leopard, leopard.’

“I grabbed my camera with my one hand and steered with the other. I couldn’t decide if I should reverse quickly and risk scaring it off or reverse slowly and miss a photo opportunity.”

He slowly got the vehicle into position. Luckily the leopard remained stationary and he started taking photos.

“It clearly wasn’t used to cars or people because it immediately lowered its head and ears as if trying to hide. Once we switched off the car, it relaxed a bit more, later seeming quite interested in us. After about 3-4 minutes, he got up and walked deeper into the bush where we lost visual.”

Several people viewing the image on Olckers’ Facebook page never could spot it. Among the comments:

“I would have driven straight past. Blissfully unaware.”

“Can’t see any animal, but just love the beautiful vegetation—especially the golden grasses.”

“I couldn’t find.”

“Took a while. I thought I was getting goofed on. I would not survive long in the jungle.”

The spots are what stand out the most, just as they did when Olckers first spotted them.

“It was the highlight of our trip,” Olckers told FTW Outdoors.

Photos used by permission of Henri Olckers.

Watch: Wildebeest boldly protects mother and calf of another species

The “thrilling spectacle” unfolded in front of safari tourists on an afternoon drive in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve in South Africa.

Wildebeests usually stick together in herds to protect themselves from predators, but in this case, a lone wildebeest bull boldly stood its ground to protect a distressed mother waterbuck and her calf from wild dogs.

The “thrilling spectacle” unfolded in front of safari tourists on an afternoon drive in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, which is next to South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

The waterbuck and its calf were standing in water at Mandleve Dam, chased there by a pack of wild dogs, according to the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve Instagram post.

“The dogs attempted to attack the calf, but were courageously repelled by a wildebeest bull who defended the distressed waterbuck as if they were his own family,” the post stated.

“Despite numerous attempts by the dogs to approach the water, they were bravely confronted by the protective wildebeest. Eventually, the dogs gave up as daylight faded, avoiding the risk of being injured by the wildebeest’s sharp horns.

“The guests at Baobab Ridge Game Lodge watched in awe at the display of bravery and unity among the diverse wildlife. It was a reminder of the intricate balance of nature, where even the most unlikely alliances could form in the face of danger.”

Can you spot the leopard? Photographer spotted it just in time

An amateur wildlife photographer in Africa was fortunate to have witnessed firsthand a leopard’s ability to camouflage its body.

An amateur wildlife photographer was fortunate to have witnessed firsthand a leopard’s ability to camouflage its body.

Henri Olckers, a nature lover, frequently visits South Africa’s iconic Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in Africa.

Olckers often posts photos on his Facebook page of the wildlife he encounters, including several involving leopards.

But images taken on the S1 tar road, near the S4 intersection, were nearly missed.

“We spotted the leopard walking and then she settled in the grass,” Olckers told USA Today/For The Win Outdoors. “If we drove past 30 seconds later, we would have missed her.”

Olckers shared three images, the last being a much closer shot. Note: The second image is repeated, revealing the leopard in the circle.

Among the reactions on Facebook:

“If you weren’t specifically looking for something…you would definitely miss it!”

“Wow, amazing.”

Some commenters thought there were two leopards hiding, but Olckers said there was only one.

Photos used with permission from Henri Olckers Wildlife Photography.  

Efforts to herd escaped elephant back into park thwarted by angry mob

An elephant from Kruger National Park escaped into a neighboring township. Video footage shows the initial panic. Then things change.

An elephant from Kruger National Park in South Africa escaped into a neighboring township and ran wild, sending people scrambling for safety.

But not all the people fled.

Some chased the elephant and threw objects at it, and the situation worsened as officials from the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency and KNP attempted to use a helicopter to drive the elephant back into the national park.

Community members threatened MTPA officials on the ground, and police could not control the crowds, prompting the helicopter to be withdrawn, KNP’s Ike Phaahla told Lowvelder.

Sadly, the incident on Saturday in Matsulu ended in heartbreak with officials from the MTPA having to euthanize the elephant.

“The MTPA colleagues did their best, but it looks like their efforts were in vain,” Phaahla told Lowvelder.

From The South African: “The Matsulu Community Policing Forum’s Jacob Siboza told the publication that he was informed that some community members had started cutting the elephant up after the MTPA had shot it.”

Watch: Lioness makes sacrifice to save cub from hungry hyenas

A lion and her cubs were sharing a meal in a tree when some hungry hyenas arrived, hoping for leftovers. Then one cub made a huge mistake.

A lioness and her cubs were enjoying a meal in a tree when a clan of hungry hyenas arrived and surrounded the tree in hopes of a helping of leftovers.

One of the cubs inexplicably jumped down from the tree—an apparent attempt to flee the scene—and was instantly surrounded by the hyenas and their snapping jaws.

“The cub was fear-stricken; it froze,” Benji Solms, a guide at Serondella Game Lodge in Kruger National Park in South Africa, told LatestSightings.com. “The whooping sounds of the hyenas, accompanied by their very scary sight, made him shiver in his skin. He realized that he had made a life-threatening mistake!”

The mother lion recognized the threat of losing her cub to the hyenas, dropping the impala carcass from the tree and jumping to the ground to confront the hyenas.

“She gave them a stare of death and stood firm,” Solms said. “It worked, and the hyenas instantly turned their attention from the helpless cub to the meat in front of them.”

The hyenas scurried off to feed on the carcass, and the cub was safe, thanks to its mother who sacrificed dinner to make the rescue.

Baby buffalo ‘shows elephant who’s boss’ in amusing chase

Video footage captured in Kruger National Park shows the elephant in full reverse mode to avoid a confrontation with the tiny buffalo.

On Thursday we shared footage from South Africa showing a small crab in battle posture against a wary lion.

Tiny versus mighty appears to be a theme because the accompanying footage shows a courageous baby buffalo chasing a large elephant.

The footage was shared Thursday by Kruger Sightings, in reference to Kruger National Park, along with the X description: “Baby buffalo shows the elephant who’s boss!”

As viewers can see, momma buffalo is close behind baby buffalo, obviously concerned for its safety.

The elephant, running backwards while facing baby buffalo, seems to be trying to avoid contact and trumpets its sentiment as the encounter mercifully concludes.

In the safari vehicle, a tourist is heard proudly boasting that she captured the scene on video.

Also on Thursday, we shared footage from India showing two men outside of a moving vehicle running from an angry elephant.

That footage is neither cute nor amusing, however, as it shows one of the men falling and being kicked by the elephant.

Watch: Tense moments as lions, buffaloes clash near safari vehicle

The lions launched repeated attacks on the buffaloes in action that occurred just yards from wide-eyed tourists in Kruger National Park.

A safari guide in South Africa’s Kruger National Park has captured dramatic footage showing a confrontation between lions and a buffalo herd.

The footage, captured by Nombekana Safaris and posted below, shows lions repeatedly charging the herd while seeking an opportunity to single out a buffalo.

But the buffaloes appear to have been too alert and steadfast in their stand against potential predation.

As viewers can see, the larger and more powerful buffaloes charged back defensively in action that occurred just yards from the safari vehicle.

Rodney Nombekana declared it to be an “amazing sighting” and his guests might consider that an understatement.

African buffaloes are not taken lightly. They’re surprisingly agile and can weigh more than 1,600 pounds.

Lions are successful when they can catch a lone buffalo by surprise or separate a young or weak buffalo from the herd.

Play halted as massive eagle kills impala on golf course; video

Play was interrupted on Skukuza Golf Club in South Africa recently as a massive eagle feasted on a baby impala that it had ambushed.

Play was interrupted on a golf course in South Africa recently as a massive eagle was spotted feasting on a baby impala.

The accompanying footage was captured at Skukuza Golf Club, which bills itself as the “wildest course in the world.”

The footage shows golfers pausing to watch the martial eagle over its prey, with the videographer describing the scene as “unreal.”

Skukuza is in Kruger National Park and the course is unfenced. Lions and other large critters roam its fairways, but they’re rarely spotted during playing hours.

Martial eagles are among the largest eagles in Africa, with wingspans measuring nearly eight feet. They’re opportunistic predators capable of spotting potential prey a distance of three miles.

Martial eagles prey on mammals, birds, and reptiles. They also kill livestock, making the large raptors vulnerable to ranchers and farmers.

Martial eagles are listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Watch: Wild dogs turn the tables on a stalking leopard

A leopard that snuck up on a pack of unsuspecting wild dogs sleeping in the grass thought it had an easy meal as it stealthily closed in.

A leopard that snuck up on a pack of unsuspecting wild dogs sleeping in the grass thought it had an easy meal as it stealthily got closer and closer.

Wildlife photographer John Fabiano was on a safari near Lower Sabie of South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park when his group witnessed the rare encounter. And he got the moment on video.

Fabiano described how it came down to LatestSightings.com:

“The leopard, using the wind and bushes to its advantage, began a stealthy approach towards the dogs. It used the direction of the wind to blow its scent away from the dogs so they could not be alerted. The thick bushes were perfect camouflage for the leopard.

“Moving closer to the unsuspecting dogs with each step. The leopard was careful not to make a sound, placing each paw precisely where the first was. Its eyes, sharp and focused, never left the dogs as it moved. The dogs were completely unaware. The leopard’s movements were so silent and calculated that it was able to get within a few meters of the sleeping dogs!”

Until…

“Just then, one wild dog lifted its head and saw the leopard a few meters from it, instantly shifting the dynamics,” Fabiano stated. “The leopard turned in shock and began running, and a chase ensued as the dogs all took off behind the leopard.

“The confrontation ended as quickly as it began, with the dogs triumphantly returning to their resting spot. For the dogs, they were extremely lucky that one of them picked up the leopard’s presence, had they not things might not have ended so well for one of them!”

Fabiano told LatestSightings.com that seeing the wild dogs was special, but “witnessing their interaction was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Watch: Lion bites trailer tire, leaving tourists deflated

Footage has surfaced showing a lioness popping a trailer tire in Kruger National Park as a male lion watched curiously from alongside the road.

Earlier this year we shared footage showing a bull elk using its antlers to pop the tire of a vehicle driven by a tourist who had taunted the animal.

The “perfect response” event occurred in the Rocky Mountains.

On Thursday, footage surfaced showing a female lion biting the tire of a trailer being pulled by tourists in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

The footage, captured by Ryan Badenhorst and shared by Kruger Sightings, shows the lioness backing away as air hissed from the tire.

A male lion watched curiously from a resting position alongside the road.

It was unclear why the lioness bit the tire, or how the tourists dealt with the dangerous situation.