Amakhosi Safari Lodge

Bush Beat (November 2008)

15 November 2008

It never seizes to amaze me how resilient nature can be in times of drought but even more remarkable is nature's ability to not only recover but explode with new life immediately after that first heavy downpour. We have been through a particularly long dry season and quite a lot of the grass dependent game was showing strain as they had to wander further and further between the drinking spots and their grazing. Pickings was easy for the predators and from time to time one could not help but feel sorry for the game as they sometimes just seem to accept their fate. But alas good things come to those who wait and the waiting was over on the 11th of November as the heavens opened for the first time in many months, the excitement was impossible to describe for both man and beast.

The Mkuze River turned from a trickle to a thundering giant, taking massive tree stumps down in its wake. The drought is broken and nature is rebuilding itself with vigor, both big and small. We have already noticed the first impala lambs and within days the rest will follow making it easier for the whole herd to only adapt once to the young as opposed to the young getting born over several months and as a result the herd being more exposed to predation. Needles to say the frogs are back in full force, pans and water holes that was bone dry and littered with the odd skeleton as little as 3 weeks ago are now full of water bursting with amphibians. Frogs have very little time to feed, find a mate and breed so they are extremely rushed and even impatient as they go about their lifecycles, to witness their behavior and calls is a treat for any true nature lover.

Also very exiting news is the birth of another 5 lion cubs from our Northern or wetland pride which means that there is now 9 new cubs in the group and it does make for very entertaining viewing on drives. There is also unconfirmed reports of another female from the southern side of the reserve with cubs but we still need to locate them and confirm.

For those of you who are longing for the bush come and join us her at Amakhosi as we explore both big and small during this special period in what we regard as paradise.

Alwyn Wentzel
General Manager and Guide

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