Soul food

05 November 2024 - Qwabi Private Game Reserve; Day 3

This morning, it was just the ranger and I on the game drive. I opted not to have coffee and muffins and was picked up earlier at our lodge to get a head start on the other vehicles. 

We had a leisurely drive and enjoyed whatever we saw - I love this image of a magnificent male Nyala framed by the surrounding bush

Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii)

At a large dam, we saw a Hippo returning to the water after its foray into the bush to feed

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious)

A Brown-hooded Kingfisher was close by

Brown-hooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris)

Heading to our coffee stop, we came across a small pride of Lion that must have made a kill in the night, as there was still evidence of blood on their faces

Collared Lioness (Panthera leo)

Lion (Panthera leo)

At our coffee stop, a Jacobin Cuckoo made an appearance

Jacobin Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus)

and we found the tiniest of Leopard Tortoises that I had ever seen. It would have easily fitted in the palm of my hand

Baby Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis)

Driving back on the mountain road, a couple of Zebra whose white stripes were coloured differently due to the red sand

Burchell's Zebra (Equus q. burchelli)

Back to the Lodge for a hearty breakfast and then all to soon, we had to pack for the ride back to the other camp where we had left our cars. Whilst waiting for our pickup, I had Brown-crowned Tchagra in the bush outside our lodge, clearly showing it's brown crown

Brown-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra australis)

A Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird calling from high in the top of an adjacent tree

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus chrysoconus)

A Swordtail which was a challenge to try and photograph, as it was both skittish and fast-flying

Large Striped Swordtail (Graphium antheus)

And an odd but striking Fly on our railing

Fly sp.

We then said our goodbyes to Michelle and Kurt at the Lodge for a thoroughly enjoyable and decadent weekend and headed for the safari vehicle to take us back to the main camp. On route we stopped for a Rhino that disappeared into the bush, but picked up a pair of Southern Ground Hornbill's foraging on the plains (apparently these had been introduced to Qwabi from Mabula). I noted it was each for themselves when food was found and devoured without sharing

Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri)

Whilst watching the Hornbill's, the de-horned Rhino appeared and walked across the plain, giving great views.

White Rhinocerus (Chiromantis xerampelina)

Here, both endangered species together

White Rhinocerus and Southern Ground Hornbill

Once back at the main camp, we unloaded and packed the Hilux for the fair drive back to Midrand, much more chilled and relaxed than when we first arrived - the bush is our soul food!

Ratel in the house

04 November 2024 - Qwabi Private Game Reserve; Day 2

We slept very well and were up early for the pre-dawn coffee and muffins before heading out on our morning drive. Most of the others opted to sleep in, so it was only Gill and I on the drive.

We picked up the Cheetah family not far from the Lodge

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

However, the highlight of the day, was finding a lone Honey Badger foraging for food on one of the cut-lines on the mountain. We sat quietly watching him working his way down the road, hoping we would walk right toward us. Unfortunately, he had other ideas and cut-off into the bush. What a special sighting and it was the first for our ranger at Qwabi

Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis)

European Bee-eaters were quite vocal and found a couple that were still roosting in the cool of dawn

European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

We eventually found an open area for our morning coffee and were treated to a few Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus)

A single Little Bee-eater framed by two Zebra

Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus)

and a distant Lesser Grey Shrike, which highlighted that the migrants had certainly arrived back on the summer wintering grounds

Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor)

Back to the Lodge for a delectable breakfast and then to chill around the lodge and our room for the rest of the day. I had a Spotted Fly outside our lodge

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)

We had a short afternoon drive, finding a pair of Yellow-billed Hornbill

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)

Then a gorgeous sunset, show-casing the Waterberg

Glorious Waterberg

Over sundowners, the stars and crescent moon put on a show, before heading back to the lodge for another sumptuous meal

Starry, starry nights

Qwabi magic

03 November 2024 - Qwabi Private Game Reserve; Day 1

We were kindly hosted for a weekend at Qwabi in the Waterberg by Kurt and Michelle, to celebrate Kurt's 70th birthday with family and friends.

Qwabi is an authentic safari destination set in one of only two UNESCO-declared savannah biospheres in Africa, Qwabi Private Game Reserve presents you with a unique, immersive safari experience. Here, you will be surrounded by a vibrant, ancient landscape coloured with a water-rich ecosystem, remarkable sightings and scenery, and bespoke luxury at one of two exclusive lodges, Letamo and Babohi

We left after lunch from Midrand and arrived in time for afternoon tea, after checking into our luxurious room (Babohi Leopard Lodge # 5). Here a late afternoon view from our patio

Waterberg

It was then time for the afternoon game drive and we enjoyed a lot of banter and laughs between all on the drive and our guide. We weren't far from the lodge, when we picked up a family of Cheetah on the move - Mother and 4 grown cubs.

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

Cheetah family

As it was late afternoon, our guide predicted that they were heading to a waterhole to drink and he was right! We enjoyed watching them drink as the sun slowly dipped behind the imposing Waterberg range. Pure magic

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

We left the sighting and found this quizzical Giraffe who had been silently observing the Cheetah's quenching their thirst.

Cape Giraffe (Giraffa c. giraffa)

We headed to our sundowner stop, but were distracted by a large male Lion resting up at a dam after the sun had set. 

Lion (Panthera leo)

I quite enjoy this image of a Guineafowl gingerly walking past the Lion, probably with one eye on the Lion and the other looking forward

It was then time for sundowners on one of the open plains under the starts, before heading back to the main lodge for a sumptuous dinner and to bed in our vast bedroom.