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Elephant Walking Trails

"Not for your average traveller is our motto we live by, join us on braving the wild and experience Africa at it's best!"
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21/06/2024

Bachelor groups are fascinating social structures that occur in various animal species, including African buffaloes. Here are some reasons for this:

Social Dynamics and Age:

In buffalo herds, older males (bulls) often form bachelor groups. These groups consist of mature bulls that have been excluded from the breeding herd.

As bulls age, they may struggle to keep up with the main herd due to physical limitations or competition from younger bulls.

Forming bachelor groups allows these older bulls to maintain social connections and companionship without the demands of breeding.

Hierachy:

Within a bachelor group, there is typically a dominant bull and some subordinate bulls. This is established through threat displays and physical sparring.

17/06/2024

Winter is upon us, and that makes for a whole different variety of sightings. Firebreaks and short grass highlight things like warthog burrows, yellow mongoose, sevals, and, like most guests, the Hippopotamus thinks the swimming pool is too cold, too. They often come up onto the banks to lay out in the sun. We caught this one at the edge thinking about it, but look how still he is and the water..

15/06/2024

That moment when you realize you have children on board and need to do the birds and the bees talk!

When male lions want to determine if a female is ready to mate (in oestrus), the male lion frequently smells the rump of the female or the area where she has recently urinated. Then, he pulls back his top lip in a grimace, which is known as the “flehmen grimace.” This action contracts muscles on the palate, forcing steroid hormones into the Organ of Jacobsen—a chemo-receptive gland that detects reproductive status of the female lion.

14/06/2024

Cheetahs have semi-retractable claws that are partially extended. Unlike other cats, their claws remain extended and visible when at rest. This allows for better traction during high-speed sprints, allowing them to chase down prey more effectively. Cheetahs do not rely on brute strength like a lion but rather use the claw to trip up their prey, causing them to fall and be disoriented.

12/06/2024

Guests loved this sighting. Imagine it, you pull up, nothing is happening, and everyone is why have we stopped.

Next thing the Big Lion male and a few lions just come over the horizon of the road. Love ❤️ showing guests the wonders of Africa.

11/06/2024

Cheetah, focus on the face, and you can see how strict the regime is of territorial marking. Territorial animals will always mark around their area, which may be small or large depending on other factors such as competition, the size of the area, and the age of the animals.

In the end, it still is an indicator for others to stay out of their territory.

26/05/2024

Cuteness overload, it's all ears! Buffalo calf checking out the big green box (Safari vehicle). Buffalo's are respected as one of the most dangerous amongst the Big Five. They act with herd mentality and have been well known to fight off lions.

22/05/2024

Oh dear, a real-world problem........ The best road blocks are now available

Take advantage of some great winter specials!
Elephants on patrol!

20/05/2024

Unedited, I absolutely loved this picture. Taken with a Samsung S23 Ultra, it picked up on the colors and gave a super sharp, clear picture. If you are a newbie using cellphones for photography, always angle the phone both ways to see the best clarity and ensure any sunlight or sky coloration is picked up to improve your photo.

18/05/2024

Why do you never in Africa just randomly put your hands into trees?

We have a variety of awesome snakes, some of them highly venomous like the boomslang, black mamba, vine snake, etc. Here, we have an African rock Python. It is a constrictor and prefers to crush or choke you to death. The little guy currently won't do too much, but they can grow up to 4m in length, swallowing whole impala, goats, etc. Take note that a bite from a Python can cause serious infections due to the number of teeth and bacteria.

16/05/2024

Look closely, we know winter is here, but that is not dead leaves ........Red Billed Quelea by the hundreds.

15/05/2024

Were back! Managed to catch up with the Northern young males from the pride of six. These males, once fully grown, are going to be both handsome and deadly.

If reaching maturity as a coalition of 3, it would be easy for them to overpower any dominant males.

03/05/2024

You just know .... it is going to be a great sundowner. Everything you need, Nambiti Sunset Gin, Tonic, biltong, chips, samosa snacks, and who brought the Nyala.

NYALA gate crashing an afternoon sundowner.

01/05/2024

One of the biggest questions I get is, Brent, guiding for the number of years that you have, don't you ever get bored or over it?

Absolutely not. The drive is a passion, and every day is different. The animals are never doing things the same, and you can not start to explain some of the incredible people you meet on your journey. The bonus is living where the stresses of daily traffic, office desks, and a real 8 to 5 job cause you to miss out on some of the awesome animals and sunsets. 😁

29/04/2024

When the wildlife tries to sneak up on you! Buffaloes generally have a reputation for being aggressive, but it is not always the case, and often, curiosity is more of a temptation for them. We had been sitting in the herd for a while when the bulls who were fighting over females and dominance then wanted to check out the vehicle. Captured some great photos.

27/04/2024

Waterbuck, I loved this shot! It is difficult to capture the afternoon grasses moving in the breeze, which actually created awesome camouflage for the antelope.

22/04/2024

Training 4 x 4 skills is a critical component to any guide. At Springbok Lodge, not only are most guides all accredited on 4x4 driving, additional skills are taught on the rescue of a vehicle, the use of tow ropes, sn**ch- ropes with the use of knots and extended ropes.

Training in all aspects of the vehicles and out there in the field is an ongoing annual process with all guides at every lodge and can be a load of fun, too. Check out our quick video.

21/04/2024

What a round of some of the weeks sightings. Check it out and tell us your favorite.

19/04/2024

The two lion sisters on the hunt. When it is time to hunt, it is time to move quickly and as efficiently as possible. Here, the lions missed out, two many eyes from the wildebeest and open areas offering no cover!

16/04/2024

There are just some things that you don't need to speak about, THEY JUST HAVE a COOL FACTOR ABOUT THEM.
Love ❤️ snakes, African Rock Python.

13/04/2024

Trouble in paradise! Lions will roar instinctively when they feel their dominance or territory is under threat or a challenge from other males. The roar is a clear warning for other lions to stay away from the females within their territory.

07/04/2024

The Puff Adder is found throughout Africa, except for the Sahara Desert and rainforest regions.The typical size of a Puff Adder is about 1m in total length including body and tail, weighing over 6kg for very large specimens.Puff Adder venom is cytotoxic. This can cause swelling, pain, blisters, and tissue damage. This venomous snake has large hinged front fangs that are capable of deep venom pe*******on.

In summary, the Puff Adder is a stealthy and formidable viper, adapted to life in Africa’s diverse landscapes. Its distinctive appearance and potent venom make it a captivating species for both researchers and snake enthusiasts.

Remember, encountering a Puff Adder in the wild requires caution and respect for its role in the ecosystem.

01/04/2024

Fungus can be such an interesting topic as their is such a variety from all the.mushroom species to examples such as bracket fungi, lichen, and much more.

Pictured this example of pycnoporus coccineus. Such a vibrant color!

31/03/2024

Lions were demonstrating their hunting skills unfortunately after two major attempts, they gave up!

30/03/2024

When you just want to relax, enjoy the sunset, and watch the gameviewers go by! Black backed Jackal.

29/03/2024

Welcome to the office, enjoy our week of special sightings.

26/03/2024

There's nothing like a great sundowner. Always remember that Gin and Tonic will always taste better in the bush with a sunset and a host of friends.

23/03/2024

Did you know that Warthogs have specially adapted pads for feeding on their knees. As they have a short neck, this allows them to feed better on the short grass stems and roots. They utilize the nose to help with digging.

The defense of Warthogs is the tusks you see on either side of the jaw area. The top allows for pushing, shoving, and flicking any opponent into the air while causing injuries to the attacker. The bottom set is razor sharp and can easily slice you open.

20/03/2024

Can you see it? What is it?

17/03/2024

Osteophagy is the practice of animals, usually in reference to herbivores in order to get important phosphorus minerals and calcium. Plants do not necessarily contain high trace amounts of phosphorus, which means animals supplement their diets by rolling bones in the mouth as phosphorus is important for skeletal development, protein synthesis, cell signals and lactation development.

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Videos

Male Lion fiercely defends his females. As guides, we often talk of animal comfort zones. It's a YES to the questions running in your mind now, but let's understand that every situation will be different. In this particular situation and unknown to anyone, two young males had urinated on the ground to possibly mark territory. The females wanted to smell and roll in it, forcing the dominant male to approach us. In these instances, it is more risky to start up and cause an irritation to the males and females but notice how guides inform guests to minimize movements, which eventually leads to the male calming down.

One of the biggest questions I get is, Brent, guiding for the number of years that you have, don't you ever get bored or over it? Absolutely not. The drive is a passion, and every day is different. The animals are never doing things the same, and you can not start to explain some of the incredible people you meet on your journey. The bonus is living where the stresses of daily traffic, office desks, and a real 8 to 5 job cause you to miss out on some of the awesome animals and sunsets. 😁

Anyone who really knows me understands my passion for elephants. I started my guiding career, and we won't talk about how long ago 😁 following elephants, learning their habits, dietary, movement patterns, and mood. Love ❤️ elephants. #thespringboklodge #elephants #nambitireserve #cellphotography

Have you visited one of the best value lodges for you in the Nambiti Game Reserve. Offering two awesome game drives a day, 3 meals, and accommodation, you get to sit back and relax and let the guides and staff take you on an exceptional holiday stay. Been a repeat guest, tell us one of your favorite stories with a photo to share! #thespringboklodge #cellphotography #nambitireserve

Training 4 x 4 skills is a critical component to any guide. At Springbok Lodge, not only are most guides all accredited on 4x4 driving, additional skills are taught on the rescue of a vehicle, the use of tow ropes, snatch- ropes with the use of knots and extended ropes. Training in all aspects of the vehicles and out there in the field is an ongoing annual process with all guides at every lodge and can be a load of fun, too. Check out our quick video. #thespringboklodge

What a round of some of the weeks sightings. Check it out and tell us your favorite. #thespringboklodge #nambitigamereserve #nambitireserve #wildlifephotography #cellphotography

There are just some things that you don't need to speak about, THEY JUST HAVE a COOL FACTOR ABOUT THEM. Love ❤️ snakes, African Rock Python. #thespringboklodge #nambitigamereserve #nambitireserve #snakes

What a great week from sunsets to awesome sightings. Here's a quick video to check out some highlights. #thespringboklodge #nambitigamereserve #cellphotography #wildlifephotography

Lions were demonstrating their hunting skills unfortunately after two major attempts, they gave up! #TheSpringbokLodge #nambitigamereserve #lions

Welcome to the office, enjoy our week of special sightings. #TheSpringbokLodge #nambitigamereserve #wildlifephotography

Can you see it, name it?

Lions in the tree, awesome!

What week, catching up with previous guests and seeing some awesome game.

What a week, catching up with previous guests and enjoying some awesome game. #thespringboklodge #nambitigamereserve

Handsome Male Lion with a twist!

Brothers for life! Cheetah brothers will protect their territory as a coalition. Strengths are tested over females and food but always when protecting the territory and each other, they are brothers for life! #nambitigamereserve #cellphonephotography

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