A special thanks to all of Rhulani’s Rangers: Sean, Alasdair and Riaan. Over the last months, I could see all of the Big Five (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Leopard) and also the Super Seven animals (which includes Cheetahs and the famous Wild Dogs of Madikwe). Of course, besides the Super 7, each of the great Game Drives also offered a lot of small, fascinating or rare wildlife species – like an Aardwolf or Chameleons.

Lions (Big Five)

From roaring Lions at night to Lion cubs or Lions mating right in front of our Rhulani Landcruiser – I have seen it all. Sometimes they walked right in front of the vehicle, had a drink at one of the waterholes, were lazing around in the shade of a tree, enjoyed eating their kill, popped out of the long grass or could be seen in the spotlight at night. There was no shortage of Lions / Lionesses and Lion cubs in Madikwe Game Reserve.

 

Elephants (Big Five)

Elephants were seen on almost every drive – from big breeding herds with cute little Baby Elephants to big Elephant Bulls. They gathered around a waterhole, climbed up the Tau Dam wall to get into the water or sometimes just greeted us on the side of the road – or were standing right in the middle of the road – blocking our way – just for the fun of it.

 

Rhinos (Big Five)

I spotted White Rhinos and little Rhino babies on several Game Drives with Rhulani Lodge in Madikwe. I was also part of the Rhino Drumming Fundraiser Event. So far, I haven’t spotted a Black Rhino, yet – maybe that is still going to happen.

 

Buffalos (Big Five)

I saw some old Buffalos “Dagga Boys” roaming around alone in the Madikwe bush or at some small waterholes. Once, a Buffalo also visted the waterhole right in front of Rhulani Safari Lodge. A very special sighting was a very large herd of Buffalo including babies. Some Buffalos enjoyed a mud bath, others just slowly trotted along the plains.

 

Leopards (Big Five)

Leopards are the most elusive of the Big Five. I was lucky enough to spot 2 different Leopards in 4 different sightings.

Munye, a young male Leopard, was found in the South Western part of Madikwe several times, walking around our Landcrusier and strolling through the bush. Once, he was hiding in a bush to enjoy its kill from the night before – a young Blue Wildebeest. I saw him 3 times in total. Maybe he will show himself again, soon.

The female Leopard “Tsala” first walked past our vehicle and then climbed up a Marula tree, offering everyone a great chance for a “Downward Hanging Cat” photo.

 

Cheetahs (Super 7)

It took a long drive to get to the Cheetahs and the great tracking skills of Rhulani’s Rangers. I could enjoy them 3 times. Once, they were lying underneath a tree, the other time they were walking towards a waterhole and having a nice sip, and the third time they crossed the road in front of us before hiding in the long grass – where we still found them.

 

Wild Dogs (Super 7)

Most of the time, the famous Madikwe Wild Dogs, one oft he most endangered animals in Africa, were quite far away from Rhulani Safari Lodge – but that didn’t hinder us to still look for them. We almost crossed the whole reserve for them.

I was lucky enough to be able to see them twice. The pack of 14 was once very well hidden in the long grass before slowly getting up, running along the road and resting again in front of our Landcruiser. The second time, they were walking in between the 2 Rhulani Landcruisers and some of them also decided to have a closer look at a Wildebeest that was grazing nearby – maybe they were preparing for a hunt later that day.