BIG CATS, KRUGER and MALA MALA April 2013 photo safari

This was a tailor made photo safari incorporating the three best locations we have on offer on our SOUTH AFRICAN tours.

The trip began at the Big Cat Reserve, Cheetahs, Lions and Leopards, as well as two new stars at the reserve, Caracal kittens !!

The two male Cheetahs, Hunters and Floppy continue to provide excellent photo opportunities, so too did the female King Cheetah who is now back to full strength after breaking her leg last year.

Many thanks yet again to Jaco our ranger who continues to offer an experience second to none at this reserve which we have now been visiting for the past 10 years !!

The timing could not have been more perfect, during breakfast on our final morning the heavens opened with a very heavy late in the season rainstorm that dropped over 40mm's in less than 45 mins. This should provide good water well into the dry season and the grass and animals will be very happy about it.

On to Kruger National Park where we spent some time at the bird hide near Skukuza camp. Good Hippos, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers offered some great photo opportunities.

Then it was off to Mala Mala Game Reserve and again this reserve produced great opportunities. Many thanks to Pieter our ranger who got us up close and personal with Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Leopard, Cape Hunting Dogs and even a rare Pangolin - many thanks Pieter !!! thanks too to all the staff at both reserves for a most hospitable stay.

Here are a few photos from the tour:

Enjoy and all the best

The WILD4 Team !

King Cheetah - Big Cat Reserve

Male Lion - Big Cat Reserve

Lioness and cubs - Big Cat Reserve

Female Leopard - Big Cat Reserve

Male Leopard - Big Cat Reserve

Zebra - Kruger Park

Hippo - Kruger Park

Malachite Kingfisher - Kruger Park

Cheetah - Big Cat Reserve

Caracal - Big Cat Reserve

Caracals - Big Cat Reserve

Crocodile - Big Cat Reserve

Young Elephant - Mala Mala

Crocodile taken with a GO PRO Hero 2 - Big Cat Reserve

Male Lion yawning - Mala Mala

"West Street Male" Leopard  - Mala Mala

Giraffe - Mala Mala

"West Street Male" Leopard - Mala Mala

"West Street Male" Leopard - Mala Mala

Young female Leopard - Mala Mala

Male Lion - Mala Mala

Male Lion - Mala Mala

Male Impala - Mala Mala

Marabou Stork - Mala Mala

Cape Hunting Dogs - Mala Mala

Cape Hunting dog - Mala Mala

Pangolin - Mala Mala

Lion Pride - Mala Mala

"Tamboti female" Leopard - Mala Mala

Male Elephant - Mala Mala

Black winged Stilt - Kruger Park

"Tamboti female" Leopard - Mala Mala

MALA MALA March 2013 Photo Safari

Just back from a quick 3 night photo safari to Mala Mala and we were treated to some fantastic sightings. It was also great to catch up with some of the animals that make Mala Mala the special place that it is.

Many of you will recognize some of the characters of this real life, real time documentary and it is always such a privilege to spend some time with these animals.

Anyway, here are a few photos and some updates.

Enjoy,

Best wishes,

Stu

First up a short Video from the tour

The Tamboti female with her Impala carcass.

It was incredible to watch this beautiful cat take her kill up a tree, at night. The power is just immense and although we did not witness her kill the Impala, the show she put on taking it high up into a tree was a very special way to start the trip.

Tamboti Female with her kill safely stashed. The next morning they were both back on the ground, perhaps it had fallen out of the tree during the night.

The next character some of you will know is this awesome male Leopard known as the Airstrip male. I think he is my favourite Male Leopard on the reserve, chunky, confident and a real treat to see. Here he was heading down to cross the causeway in front of Main Camp

Tamboti female

Airstrip Male in the Sand River in front of Main Camp

Female Kudu

We were very lucky to see some White Rhino 

Members of the Styx pride, doing quite well. The small cubs photographed on the October safari are now full of beans and giving the younger males a hard time 

 Zebra, Mala Mala

 Styx pride cubs

 The Styx Pride resting in a dry river bed

The Bicycle Crossing Male (Father of the Airstrip Male) 

 Bicycle Crossing Male

 Male Elephant

 We have been very lucky with our visits to Mala Mala and always seem to see a pair of these most beautiful Saddlebilled Storks

Giraffe - Mala Mala

 Zebras - Mala Mala

Cheetah female with two cubs. This female has now lost two of the original 4 cubs and it seemed she had just lost the second one, possible to the Styx pride who had moved through the area she had been in during our 2nd night.

Cheetah and Zebra 

 Male Elephant

 Team Photo - many thanks to Yuri our ranger for looking after us

 Green Pigeon - Mala Mala

 Cape Buffalo herd - Mala Mala

 Cape Buffalo

 Spotted Eagle Owl

 This sighting of one of the sub adult males from the fourways pride was my first sighting of this pride on Mala Mala - he is a handsome boy !!

 Some more members of the Styx pride

 Some of you will be pleased and amazed to know that the old female from the Styx pride is still following the rest of the pride at the age of 17 yrs !!

Wildebeest baby - Mala Mala