Ibhubesi Travel Solutions

05/07/2024

12/04/2024

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Polan Tembo, Yamukelani Humphrey Ngwenya, Shingirai Kwashira

06/04/2024

Bush buck

06/04/2024

kudu

06/04/2024

Impala

06/04/2024

Oryx

06/04/2024

Common duiker

06/04/2024

Steenbok

06/04/2024

Springbok

06/04/2024

Waterbuck

06/04/2024

Sable

06/04/2024

Sable

Sable is another large species of antelope. Bearing a distinctive black body with white markings, and elongated horns, these striking creatures are a treat to see during a game drive. Sable antelopes live in mixed savanna woodlands, most visible in Pretoriuskop, Southern Kenya and South Africa
There is a strict hierarchy in their social structure with a dominant male leading the herd. Sables are aggressive when it comes to predators and the males exhibit warning signals by using their horns. Sable antelopes are known to charge opponents such as lions, wild dogs and cheetahs. Predators are reluctant to challenge these brave fighters.

Waterbuck

Robust and well-built, the most distinctive feature of the waterbuck is the white ring around their backsides. Safari guides joke that it looks as if they’ve sat on a freshly painted toilet seat. These massive animals can weigh up to 250 kg and reach a shoulder height of around 120 to 136 cm. Only the males have horns, which curve upwards.
Waterbuck are strong runners and often use water holes as a refuge when trying to escape predators. The waterbuck lives in areas that are close to water, such as savanna grasslands, forests and riverine woodlands. The colour of their shaggy coat may be an indicator of their age, as it darkens as they mature.

Springbok

Mostly found in South Africa, springbok are recognised by their striking body colour and small frame. They have light brown upper coats, white underparts and a dark brown stripe across their bodies.

Springboks are well-known for their leaping prowess. They can easily leap 4 meters into the air by bouncing with a rounded back and all four feet off the ground. The springbok is South Africa’s national animal as well as the symbol of our national rugby team.

Springboks are selective eaters that have a preference for young leaves, flowers and fresh grass. They prefer grazing after the rainy season when the grass is fresh and green.

Steenbok

One of the smaller antelope species in Southern Africa is the steenbok. These tiny mammals have a reddish-brown coat with white underparts and a y-shaped marking on their nose.
Unlike other antelope species, which stay together in groups, steenboks are mainly solitary browsers, which can sometimes be found in monogamous pairs. They live in the open savanna where they can find adequate cover in the form of tall grass and bushes.

Due to their selective eating habits, steenboks can survive without a freshwater source. When water is scarce, these animals meet their water requirements by eating moisture-rich plants and roots.

Common duiker

Duikers are slender animals with an arched back and glossy coat. They get their name from the Afrikaans word ‘duiker’ which means to dive.

Duikers are timid animals and have a habit of diving into bushes when they sense danger. These small antelopes are mostly active at night when they feed on grass, leaves and fruit, but are also known to eat small insects and even nestling birds.

Widely distributed throughout Southern Africa, duikers can be found in woodlands, desert regions and grasslands. Duikers are tiny animals with only the males having short horns. The adult males have a mass between 15-18 kg, while the females are between 16-21 kg.

Reedbuck

The reedbuck is a small, slender and shy antelope with a predominantly grey coat and a fluffy white tail. Reedbucks tend to rest in the grass beds during the day and graze during sunrise and sunset, or sometimes at night.

This species of antelope needs a sufficient supply of water to survive. They often occupy areas that are close to water sources. They usually live alone or in pairs, but can sometimes be seen in small herds of three to 10 animals. Reedbucks inhabit moist woodlands and tall grasslands with sufficient cover and water nearby.

Oryx

The oryx, also known as the gemsbok, is a large species of cow-like antelope with incredible endurance and strength. The oryx is at home in the vast shadeless desert or landscapes with near-desert conditions.
Their bodies have adapted to survive against the harsh African sun, and can survive without water for long periods. Even though they are deprived of drinking water in the desert, oryx feed on succulents, nutritious leaves and roots.

Both sexes of this species have been known to kill attacking predators by piercing them with their powerful horns.

Impala

Impalas are very athletic animals who are known for their leaping abilities. They can execute jumps of two meters high and can cover a distance of 10 meters. They have slender bodies and large horns that curve forwards.
Impalas are both grazers and browsers that feed on grass herbs, leaves, shoots and bulbs. Their natural habitat is in the woodlands and low grassland areas often near a source of water. During the dry season, impalas will gather in groups of hundreds to search for food. During this time, young impala get together in groups called creches, where they love to play and groom each other.

Kudu

Kudus are large antelope that can stand at 1.5 meters at the shoulder and weigh over 200 kg. Despite their size, kudus are slender and built to jump over high obstacles. Kudus can be recognised quickly thanks to their unique horns that twist upwards.
Kudus live in small herds which mainly consist of the females and their calves. When they flee from danger, their raised tails flash a white signal for the rest of the herd to follow. Kudus are known to use their horns as a defence when under attack.

Their preferred habitat includes thick woodlands, riverine forest areas, bush on lowlands, mountains and hills.

Bushbuck

Bushbuck are medium-sized antelope with a feisty temper and unusual coat. They have a deep chestnut brown coat with a few white spots and a crest of white hair running along their backs. They are solitary browsers that can usually be spotted between dense bushes or thorn thickets.
Unlike most antelope species who live on savanna plains and open grasslands, bushbucks are forest-dwelling. Bushbucks in different areas have versatile coat colours and eating habits. As a herbivore, their diet consists mainly of shrubs, buds, herbs, flowers and fruit.

Antelopes are graceful animals that live in a variety of regions throughout Southern Africa. On a safari game drive, you will likely encounter hundreds of antelopes during one single outings. Sometimes, you can even spot them in open grasslands in the city or on the side of the road close to the countryside.

06/04/2024

Eland

Elands are the largest species of antelope in the world. A full-grown adult eland can weigh up to 900kg, almost as much as the Cape Buffalo. There are two subspecies: the common eland, and the greater eland.

These cow-like animals are distinguished by their large shoulder hump and tightly spiralled horns. Although they are the largest and slowest of the antelope species, elands are fantastic jumpers, able to jump a 1.5-meter fence from a standstill.
Elands are found in savanna plains, semi-desert regions and mixed woodlands areas. They are one of the most gentle wild animals and will not charge even if cornered. Unfortunately, they have become one of the most endangered species of antelope due to illegal poaching and habitat loss

06/04/2024

Species of Antelope found in Southern Africa

Wildebeest

Wildebeest are famous for making their annual migration across the African plains. Each year, thousands of wildebeest, and other antelope species, trek from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara in search of fresh grazing grounds. This natural phenomenon is known as the Great Migration. During the Great Migration, a large number of wildebeest will drown while crossing the Mara River or are killed by predators lurking close by.

Wildebeest herd running across the Masai Mara in Kenya
There are two species of wildebeest in Southern African: the black and blue wildebeest.

The blue wildebeest species explore a variety of habitats, migrating over various places. They live in open grasslands, woodlands and desert areas.
The black wildebeest prefer to live in open grasslands and only migrate over short distances.

06/04/2024

What is an antelope?

It is rare to go on a game drive in Southern Africa and not see one of the most abundant fauna on the continent, the antelope.

Antelopes are a group of mammals that live in the vast plains of Africa. Each species of antelope varies in shape and size, but generally, all have a light figure with slender limbs, small cloven hooves and a short tail.

They are often distinguished by their horns, which may be straight, curved or twisted. In some species, only the male antelopes have horns.

Most antelope are social animals that live in groups called herds. The herds communicate with each other using a variety of sounds and scent signals. Sometimes, their scents can linger on for many days.

Antelope live in a wide range of habitats across Southern Africa including, open savanna, woodlands, marshes and even deserts. Most antelope species are herbivores that graze on grass or munch on buds, bulbs, fruits and leaves. They are intelligent animals that follow the rains to find fresh grass, as famously seen each year during the Great Migration.

Antelopes must always be on constant alert for danger as they are a target for predators such as cheetahs, lions, leopards and wild dogs. Their acute sense of hearing and sight, as well as their powerful horns, help to protect them in the face of predators.

06/04/2024

There are so many different antelope species living across Southern Africa, and it is sometimes a challenge to recognise all of them!

We’ve rounded up a list of the most common antelope species to help you identify these beautiful animals during your next game drive. From distinctive features, habitat types and more, we ‘ve shared some of the most interesting facts about Africa’s antelope.

If you love animals as much as we do, check out our collection of animal facts.

06/04/2024

Antelope Species of Southern Africa

05/03/2024

Discover the Magic of Victoria Falls! 🌈

Are you ready for an adventure of a lifetime? Book with us at Ibhubesi Travel Solutions for an unforgettable holiday at Victoria Falls! Witness the sheer majesty of the 'Smoke that Thunders' and feel the mist on your skin as rainbows arch over the cascading waters. 🌊

Swipe through our photos to see the joy and exhilaration of our guests as they explore the natural pools at the edge of the falls. Can you imagine yourself in their place, with the thunderous roar of water in your ears and the beauty of nature all around you? 🏊‍♂️

But that's not all! Embark on a safari and come face to face with the gentle giants of the land. Our majestic elephants await to make your acquaintance in their natural habitat. 🐘

Tell us in the comments which part of the Victoria Falls experience excites you the most! Is it the waterfalls, the wildlife, or perhaps the thrill of exploring one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World? Let's plan your dream holiday together! ✈️

11/02/2024

Mighty Victoria Falls on a clear blue sky February afternoon

15/01/2024

Nothing beats a holiday in the resort town of with a plush variety of activities tondo with your family. Book with us and expand your horizon

15/01/2024

Thinking of Traveling to for easter and need that luxurious feelnand comfort away from home. Look no further and book with Ibhubesi Travel Solutions for all your activities and accommodation.

26/09/2023

Southern ground hornbill

This enormous, sociable, ground-loving hornbill is easily recognized. The adult male has an extensive brilliant red face and throat wattles, while the adult female has purple-blue skin in the center of the red throat patch. The immature is scruffy with yellowish facial skin. In flight, this huge bird is black with extensive white wingtips. Family groups walk slowly through bushy savanna and grassland, foraging for large invertebrates and small vertebrates. In the early morning, dominant pairs duet with a deep-bass booming,

26/09/2023

Egyptian geese

These aren't true geese, they're members of the shelduck sub-family, Tadorninae. They are naturally found in Africa, in the Nile valley and south of the Sahara. They were introduced to Great Britain to be kept in wildfowl collections. Since then birds have escaped and established populations in the wild. They've also become established in other parts of Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and even the USA.

How to identify

A large and distinctive water bird, shaped like a small, stocky goose. It has a pale, creamy brown body with a dark brown smudge on the lower breast. The neck and head are silvery-brown, with a darker patch around the eye. The wings are dark brown with large white panels one the inner forewing - sometimes seen when at rest, but obvious in flight. It's legs and beak are pink.

16/09/2023

Helmeted Guineafowl

A large-bodied, small-headed, slaty-gray gamebird perfectly lined with rows of hundreds of white spots. The distinctive head sports a strange bone-like casque and naked warty facial skin, which is colored white, blue, or red depending on geographic location. Young birds are brown and are almost always found with adults. It is common throughout its range, and large flocks roam the savannas, digging for invertebrates and tubers. Guineafowl often behave like lunatics, charging around issuing a loud and distinctive “kek-kek-kek-kraaaaaaah” alarm. It also calls a distinctive, plaintive “kuuuh-keeerk”. Crested Guineafowl differ from Helmeted Guineafowl by being darker and having a plumed crest on top of the head.

16/09/2023

Kori bustards are the world's heaviest flying birds. They live in grasslands and savannas in eastern and southern Africa.

FUN FACTS

The kori bustard is one of the world's heaviest flying birds, however, it lives on the ground and is reluctant to fly unless in serious danger.
Kori bustards are one of the few species of birds that drink water using a sucking motion rather than scooping.
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KORI BUSTARD
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Otididae
Genus and Species: Ardeotis kori
KORIBUSTARD-001.JPG

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Kori bustard
Kori bustards are the world's heaviest flying birds. They live in grasslands and savannas in eastern and southern Africa.
FUN FACTS
The kori bustard is one of the world's heaviest flying birds, however, it lives on the ground and is reluctant to fly unless in serious danger.
Kori bustards are one of the few species of birds that drink water using a sucking motion rather than scooping.

Physical Description

Their upper plumage is buff and gray, finely barred with black, which allows them to blend in with their environment. The underparts may be pale buff, white or solid black. They have only three front toes, which are short, broad and well adapted for running. Males are more brightly colored than females.

Size
Male kori bustards range in weight from 24-42 pounds (11-19 kilograms), and females are roughly half the size of the males. They stand about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall.

Native Habitat

Kori bustards are distributed throughout eastern and southern Africa. They inhabit wide, open grasslands and lightly wooded savanna.

Food/Eating Habits

Kori bustards are omnivorous birds, although they tend to be more carnivorous than other species of bustards. Insects form a large portion of their diet, especially when they are chicks. They also eat a variety of small mammals, lizards, snakes, seeds and berries. They have been observed eating carrion.
Social Structure
Males often gather in loose, lek-like formations on top of low hilltops and display for females.

Reproduction and Development
A male kori bustard will mate with more than one female. Mating lasts no more than a few seconds and, once over, the male leaves and resumes displaying to attract another female. He plays no part in incubation or in the rearing of chicks. As with all bustards, the clutch of one to two eggs is laid on the ground in a shallow scrape the female has made.

13/09/2023

AFRICAN FINFOOT

A dark, elongated, duck-like, aquatic bird with neon orange bill and legs. The back and underparts are variably spotted and barred. The throat is gray in the male and white in the female. It swims slow and low in the water with its tail held on the surface. This secretive bird moves in pairs on perennial rivers, swamps, and quiet clear backwaters, foraging under overhanging cover for invertebrates, frogs, and fish. The short, thick neck and bright-colored bill and feet differentiate it from darters and cormorants.

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29/08/2023

Its a good afternoon in the jungle