Sabi Sands Game Reserve in South Africa is renowned for having one of the best safari experiences in the world. It is situated in the southwest corner of Kruger National Park, and share a 50 kilometer unfenced border. The reserve it especially famous for leopard sightings, due to the leopards being habituated to safari vehicles, making more intimate sightings possible. I was hoping that our time here would provide some good leopard sightings, but we also needed to find a predator that we hadn't seen yet, the wild dog.
Also known as painted dogs, the wild dog is one of the hardest predators to find while on a typical safari in Africa. There are estimated 7,000 African wild dogs left, covering vast distances in sub-saharan Africa. They live in packs, sometimes up to 30 individuals. And are led by an alpha male and female pair. Their colorful, mottled coats and huge round ears immediately distinguish them from jackals or hyenas. They specialize in running down their prey over long distances, wearing them out until they move in for the kill. They can run faster than a greyhound, and maintain 20mph for over 10 miles. Talk about endurance! This also makes it very difficult to have a long encounter with them. You see them, and then they are gone.
We felt so incredible lucky to be able to see them on the run tonight. I can't believe that we hit our number 1 animal on our first game drive. And our guide, Willy, and tracker, Richard, were not done yet. They got word that there were two leopards getting close to each other's territory, so even though it was getting dark, we sped off to see if we could find them. And find them we did. We ended up have a roaring leopard right next to us. We had a spotlight so we could see what was happening in the dark.
A 5 year old male leopard was challenging the 10 year old male for territory. They watched each other, postured, and roared. Finally they ran off together through the bush, staying quite close. It didn't come to blows this evening, but the groundwork is being laid.
After all of this, we were so excited that we almost forgot that we had an amazing new lodge, Kirkman's Camp, and incredible new chefs to meet. Welcome to Sabi Sands!
These brown headed parrots loved the tree right over our outdoor lunch tables. Their loud calls were unmistakable.
This is our tracker, Richard. He has been doing this for many decades. Here, in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, you have a team of guide, who drives and interprets what you are seeing, and a tracker, who sits on the very front of the hood in a special chair and spots animals, tracks on the road, and signs in the bush.
On our first game drive this afternoon, we found a klipspringer antelope. We had only seen these briefly during a beautiful sunset in the northern Serengeti.
The number one animal ontop of our 'hope-to-see list' was wild dog. They can sometimes be very hard to see here, but we were told that they were seen earlier around the outskirts of the reserve. We blasted past rhinos and more to see if we could find the wild dogs, aka painted dogs. We found them!
How cute is this baby rhino with her mom. The horns of rhinos in this reserve are cut off to deter poachers from killing them.
This was the 5 year old challenger, putting on quite the show for us tonight.
Whatever is going on, you have to stop to enjoy the sunsets here in Africa.
Kirkman's Camp has a totally different feel from the lodges and camps we've stayed at so far on this safari. It is a colonial historical lodge, built back in the 1920s. It blends that colonial charm with a luxurious touch.
The food was photo worthy at every meal. This was springbok venison, which turned out to be one of our favorites.
Once it warms up, I am definitely going to use the pool. It overlooks the Sand river, and I hear that sometimes animals will come drink from it.
Here we are flying over the Sand River, half of what the Sabi Sand Game Reserve is named after.
Inside the bar at Kirkman's Camp.
The bedroom had everything I needed.
Your own mini-bar setup in the room....get outa town! There was even a lime, knife, and cutting board... all ready for the first gin and tonic.
After a scenic flight in from Johannesburg, Sue and Greg were ready to experience the next amazing spot on their safari.
Beautiful backdrops in a new ecosystem for us. This was shortly after seeing the wild dogs. What a night!
And we didn't have to go far to get the wild African safari experience. We were visited by a rare antelope, called Nyala, during our lunch. We found out that they are local residents of the camp.
The rooms at Kirkman's Camp were magnificent. Luxury, while in the bush.
This is the view from the balcony. No fences, just out in the middle of the wild. We could see all the way down to the Sand River.
A perfect blend of old colonialism feel, with modern luxury finish.
Here is our guide, Willy, giving us the rundown of all the special species that can be found here at Sabi Sands.
Riding in from Skukuza Airport, entering the famous Sabi Sand Nature Reserve.
As always, keep traveling and keep sharing!
-Dai Mar
