Limpopo-Lipadi

video dung beetles(20Sec)

𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬 After a visit to Limpopo-Lipadi some weeks ago, co-owner Lucy was contemplating what keeps her and the family coming back to the Reserve. Read her notes here: “No doubt the warm welcome from the staff, the heat of the African sun, the amazing dawn chorus, and the smell of the rain on dry ground all play their part, as do the many memorable moments with the larger wildlife. But it is often the smaller wildlife that give us jaw-dropping surprises and lasting memories. On a recent trip we stopped the game drive vehicle beside a heap of rhino dung, teeming with dung beetles of different sizes and colours, all of them very busy at their task. Within a few minutes there were four keen photographers laying on the ground with their lenses pointing at the working beetles. We expected some great shots of the beetles rolling their dung balls away, scampering up on top of the dung balls to get their bearings before continuing with their efforts to roll the ball away from the heap. Then we noticed a very large ball of dung being moved with a lot of beetle activity around it. That’s when we had a real eye-opening moment: the beetles all wanted possession of this prize ball and were fighting over it. There were beetles being shoved off the sides and chased away, only for them to fly back. Some of the wrestlers fell completely off of the ball and continued fighting amongst themselves, only for the wrestlers to realise that they’d been left behind and had to hurry back into the fray, whilst others were being flicked off the top of the dung ball into the air. What an amazing few minutes it was and so unexpected. Another fantastic memory to take away with us from Limpopo Lipadi.” Want to be a part of Limpopo-Lipadi’s adventures? For discreet information on share sales, contact [email protected]. To book a safari, request our rates via [email protected] or via What

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𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐨-𝐋𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐝𝐢’𝐬 𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 If you would ask any of Limpopo-Lipadi’s co-owners what the iconic species of our Reserve are, there would be little hesitation in answering that question: wild dogs and rhino! So, when these co-owners were driving up to a waterhole, just before sunset, their surprise was a very happy one… First, they almost bumped into two rhinos who were ready to go into the water to drink and bathe. But then some minutes later three wild dogs appeared, also anticipating a drink and a bath. At first the two species were quite skittish around each other, but soon the mood became more relaxed, and they all started to enjoy those last moments of the day. The co-owners enjoyed their sundowners in the car, with the best view in the world. For more: https://limpopo-lipadi.org/2024/10/16/limpopo-lipadis-iconic-species/ If you would like to support our conservation efforts, have a look on our website: https://limpopo-lipadi.org/donate/. For discreet information on share sales, contact [email protected]. To book a safari, request our rates via [email protected] or via WhatsApp: (+267) 76770191. . . . #dehorned #dehornedrhino #keepthemsafe #endangered #wilddogs #painteddogs #sunset #ilovebotswana #tuliblock #conservation #wildlifereserve #travel #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #botswana #wildlifeprotection #botswanawildlife #limpopolipadi #safari #wildlife Video: Cornelie de Jong

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𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 Whenever co-owner Mauro comes to the Reserve, he likes to make the most of his days and enjoys going out at the crack of dawn: “Even though the morning was cold and crisp, we decided to head out at dawn. We hadn’t even left the gate when our guide suddenly stopped and scanned the horizon. At first, it looked like a wildebeest—earth-coloured and narrow at the hip. But then our guide called out, “Lion!” and we immediately proceeded, carefully approaching the spot where we had seen the lions appear. For the next half hour, we had the privilege of watching two majestic male lions as they patrolled their territory before disappearing into the dense bush.” For More: https://limpopo-lipadi.org/?p=7559 Want to be a part of Limpopo-Lipadi’s adventures? For discreet information on share sales, contact [email protected]. To book a safari, request our rates via [email protected] or via WhatsApp: (+267) 76770191. . . . #lion #bigfive #majestic #ilovebotswana #tuliblock #conservation #wildlifereserve #travel #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #botswana #wildlifeprotection #botswanawildlife #limpopolipadi #safari #wildlife Photos: Mauro Odolini

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𝗜𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗲, 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅… Join us for a meditative moment with this beautiful tower of giraffes, having their afternoon drinks at Tholo Dam waterhole. At Limpopo-Lipadi we have an abundance of giraffes, but it is not often that we see such a good number of them taking their chances to drink together. Lowering their head towards the water makes giraffes vulnerable for predators, so they usually take turns to drink. So, enjoy this peaceful moment with us! If you would like to support our conservation efforts, have a look on our website: https://limpopo-lipadi.org/donate/. For discreet information on share sales, contact [email protected]. To book a safari, request our rates via [email protected] or via WhatsApp: (+267) 76770191. . . . #giraffe #towerofgiraffes #drinking #waterhole#ilovebotswana #tuliblock #conservation #wildlifereserve #theafricanbushyourway #travel #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #botswana #wildlifeprotection #botswanawildlife #limpopolipadi #wildlife #slowsafari

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Breeding Herd Up Close It had been a while since these co-owners had seen the breeding herd out in the open. Here is their story: “After having followed the tracks and seeing glimpses when crossing the road there had not been a real good opportunity to see them properly. Then, one late afternoon upon arriving at Mogorosi waterhole, there the elephants were in their full glory! For more than an hour we witnessed them parading in and out of the water, taking mud maths and showers of sand. The small ones were frolicking with grass they had pulled out, rolling around in the mud and just simply playing with each other. While we were batting the mopane bees away from us, the elephants took their time to enjoy the water. After an hour or so the sun was now setting quickly, and they were starting to make a move. They decided to move past us at a very short distance, which can be a daunting experience. Keeping very quiet in the car we waited until it was safe to reverse and make our move away from the breeding herd. The matriarch and one of her sisters made a half-hearted mock charge to show us who is boss in this territory, and we quickly made way for them. Off they went, into the sunset…” Want to be a part of Limpopo-Lipadi’s adventures? For discreet information on share sales, contact [email protected]. To book a safari, request our rates via [email protected] or via WhatsApp: (+267) 76770191. #elephants #breedingherd #dustbath #mudbath#ilovebotswana #tuliblock #conservation #wildlifereserve #theafricanbushyourway #travel #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #botswana #wildlifeprotection #botswanawildlife #limpopolipadi #wildlife #slowsafari

On a recent trip to Limpopo-Lipadi co-owner Conny and her friends had a fabulous time, even so that it evoked pure poetry to describe their magical moments: “The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy of mopane trees, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The air is crisp and filled with the earthy scent of damp soil and fresh foliage. As we drove slowly along the winding dirt trail, the bush came alive with the sounds of birdsong and rustling leaves. Occasionally, we caught glimpses of wildlife darting between the trees – a flash of an impala's graceful leap, the lumbering gait of a warthog. And then, there they were, emerging from the dense undergrowth along the road, their majestic manes and lithe forms exuding strength and agility, sauntering slowly towards the waterhole; we watched them with awe abating breath as they quench their thirst, occasionally their piercing yellow eyes scanning the surroundings, ever vigilant even in this moment of tranquility.... These are the moments we carry forever.” Want to be a part of Limpopo-Lipadi’s adventures? For discreet information on share sales, contact [email protected]. To book a safari, request our rates via [email protected] or via WhatsApp: (+267) 76770191. Video: Conny Krauss Read more here: https://limpopo-lipadi.org/2024/04/14/moments-to-carry-forever/ . . . #ilovebotswana #tuliblock #conservation #wildlifereserve #theafricanbushyourway #travel #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #botswana #wildlifeprotection #botswanawildlife #limpopolipadi #wildlife #slowsafari #momentstocarryforever #magicalmoments #mothernature #forevermoments

Limpopo-Lipadi Reserve sits on the edge of a communal free-range area of Tsetsebjwe and Moletemane villages. Within the Reserve we practice wildlife and wilderness conservation on 20,500ha of land. On the other side of the 13 strands 3-meter-tall game electrical fence are hundreds of cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats. The local farmers keep a handful of livestock and plough the ground for basic crops such as maize, sorghum, beans and watermelons. Through a camera trap set along the fence, we see wildlife and livestock walking on both parallels of the fence. The two types of land use shows that co-existence between farming and wildlife conservation is possible. However, the avoidance of conflict between the two is a function of dedicated science-based management. As a Reserve we are dedicated to ensuring that wild animals do not cross the fence to cause problems on farmlands by checking and maintaining the fence on a daily basis. The farmers on the other side of the fence have confidence in the Reserve protecting their substance agrarian livelihoods. Through our Motse initiative, Limpopo-Lipadi works to facilitate a harmonious co-existence between the two livelihoods styles by supporting socio-economic programs. These programs include assisting the local clinics, schools and tribal administrations with materials support. If you want to learn more about our community work, please visit our website: https://limpopo-lipadi.org/motse/. To support the Motse initiative, hit the Donate-button: https://limpopo-lipadi.org/donate/. Read more: https://limpopo-lipadi.org/?p=7353 . . . #motse #community #coexistence #ilovebotswana #tuliblock #conservation #wildlifereserve #theafricanbushyourway #travel #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #botswana #wildlifeprotection #botswanawildlife #limpopolipadi #wildlife #slowsafari

In the Reserve our guides make a big effort not to drive over elephant and rhino dung but rather go around it, especially during the ‘green’ season. The reason is that in this season the dung beetles come out to do their important work in the bush. We make sure to make a little detour (and often a stop) for them whenever we encounter them on our roads, rolling their balls and tagging along one or sometimes more passengers on the go. These little beetles are some of the most fascinating insects out here in the bush. For the whole winter, they have been in a state of ‘hibernation’, waiting for the heat of summer and the first rains to arrive. After some good rains the bush starts buzzing with the wing beats of these flying decomposers. Read more (link in bio)… Two beetles, a male and a female create the ball, with the male pushing it away from the dung pile with its back legs, as quickly as possible. The female hangs on for dear life. We are always amazed by the strength and tenacity of these little beetles, as they roll their ball of dung in a straight line across all sorts and sizes of obstacles, sometimes pushing more than 50 times their body weight up a steep embankment. The male will collect and roll the dung, forming a movable ball that will be pushed with the back feet as the front legs are armed with serrations to grip the ground for stability. Read more: https://limpopo-lipadi.org/?p=7330 If you would like to be a part of our conservation efforts, do call on us. For discreet information on share sales, contact [email protected]. To book a safari, request our rates via [email protected] or via WhatsApp: (+267) 76770191. . . . #dungbeetles #dung #elephantdung #greenseason #ilovebotswana #tuliblock #conservation #wildlifereserve #theafricanbushyourway #travel #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #botswana #wildlifeprotection #botswanawildlife #limpopolipadi #wildlife #slowsafari

Botswana is home to five of the eleven vulture species found in Africa. Common vulture species found in the reserve include the Cape vulture, White-backed vultures, Hooded, Lappet-faced and the rare White-headed vulture, more or less in that order. Whenever our rangers find vultures patching on trees and the ground, they immediately investigate what is it interesting those vultures. One late afternoon, our senior guide John, called our anti-poaching rangers to some vultures patched on the trees near the Cabbage Dam waterhole. Researcher manager Botilo responded immediately with the rangers to investigate the site. It was not long before they discovered a zebra carcass that looked a day old. A grim discovery of a fetus stuck in the birth canal led to the conclusion that maternal mortality was the cause of death... There were also no predator bite marks to suggest otherwise. Read more (link in bio)… The team immediately decided to set up two camera traps to see any further scavenging activity after dark as it was almost dusk. To their surprise, as they were setting up the cameras, a pack of wild dogs made a grand entrance to investigate the stench smell of the decomposing carcass. Read more here: https://limpopo-lipadi.org/2024/02/09/the-garbage-collectors/(opens in a new tab) If you would like to be a part of our conservation efforts, do call on us. For discreet information on share sales, contact [email protected]. To book a safari, request our rates via [email protected] or via WhatsApp: (+267) 76770191. . . . #garbagecollectors #vultures #capevulture #whiteheadedvulture #ilovebotswana #tuliblock #conservation #wildlifereserve #theafricanbushyourway #travel #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #botswana #wildlifeprotection #botswanawildlife #limpopolipadi #wildlife #slowsafari

Having camera traps around the Reserve has turned out to be a great way to ‘sneak up’ on animals and learn about their behaviour, without disturbing them in their daily life. Every time Research manager Botilo downloads images from a camera trap, it is a surprise what happened while animals were just living their lives. Here is the story of a hide-and-seek leopard in action: “Leopards have a very broad-based diet. They hunt and eat anything from lizards, birds, rodents to calves of antelopes such as wildebeest. In some instances, leopards have been recorded catching catfish in drying muddy pans. This makes leopards one of the most highly adapted predators in African landscapes. This male leopard has been witnessed on camera trap spending hours on end at this waterhole. The evidence provided by the same camera trap has shown the leopard using the log to stalk and catch some guinea fowls approaching from the other side. In this instance, probably an oblivious antelope coming to quench its thirst due to the rising temperature of our unforgiving summers.” If you would like to be a part of our conservation efforts, do call on us. For discreet information on share sales, contact [email protected]. To book a safari, request our rates via [email protected] or via WhatsApp: (+267) 76770191. https://ow.ly/YAWu50QsPBS . . . #camaera #caughtoncamera #sneakup #photographer #photography #leopards #lizards #birds #calves #wildebeest #cameratrap #caughtoncamera #sneakup #leopard #animalbehaviour #ilovebotswana #tuliblock #conservation #wildlifereserve #theafricanbushyourway #travel #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #botswana #wildlifeprotection #botswanawildlife #limpopolipadi #wildlife #slowsafari