Monday April 7, 2025

A warm, but still overcast morning as we set out on safari excursion #4 - the objective this morning is to track lions as well as the Water Buffalo.  Since we found the male lions last evening, the confidence was high that lions were in the area.  The team of Jamiel and Louis decided traveling south toward the Sabi River provided the best opportunity to find both lions and ultimately water buffalo.  Not twenty minutes into the excursion, we came upon the Southern Pride of lions - led by a 9 year-old lioness, the pride numbered 10 lions, including three young males.  According to Jamiel, this is an elusive pride of lions that are not easy to track and really do not like to be seen - fortunately, they were all lounging with full bellies from a feeding kill that must have happened yesterday.  It is simply incredible to see these majestic, powerful and beautiful creatures free and not stressed in the Sabi Sabi preserve - what a treat!  

Upon leaving the Southern Pride, we traveled further south, past the airstrip that we landed on Saturday, still moving toward the river.  As we left the airstrip area and reentered the bush area, we happened upon three white rhino's that were awakening from the overnight sleep - one full-grown male and two female rhino's.  These animals are very endangered and poached for the large horn on their snout - it is sold in markets throughout Asia for medicinal purposes.  These animals are protected in Sabi Sabi, but if they migrate into the Kruger National Park, many are still poached despite significant government intervention initiatives to prevent this slaughter.  These rhino's were absolutely "chill" and let us observe them for quite sometime.  Just down the path from the Rhino's we saw a unique plant - Tree Euphorbia - it looks like a cactus, but is a tree with a white sap that if rubbed into ones eyes will lead to blindness - ugh!!

We traveled to the banks of the Sabi River in search of the water buffalo - lots of tracks, etc..  However, as the normally migrate, they had crossed the river into the Kruger National Park for no other reason than they can.  So, for today, no water buffalo sighting for us - perhaps tomorrow.  The trip south was then highlighted by a quick rest stop to enjoy fresh ground coffee, tea and snacks overlooking the Sabi River.  

As we ventured back toward the Earth Lodge, the safari sightings did not disappoint - a male Waterbuck with impressive antlers.  Finally, the morning adventure was capped off with a sighting of two adult hippos and an infant hippo lounging in a pond near Earth Lodge - magnificent.  Each safari excursion keeps getting better and better with our great guide - Jamiel & tracker - Louis.  Hope the images paint a picture for each of you how special Sabi Sabi is and the incredible animal sightings along the way.  More to follow.