leopard

Ever wondered why lions have manes or why leopards seem to spend so much time in trees? Maybe you’ve found yourself questioning how guides know a track is fresh, or why some animals are spotlighted at night while others are left in the dark.

Our guides hear these questions all the time - usually somewhere between a coffee stop and a sighting! So, we thought it was time to put guides James and Khutso from Misava, and JV and Lola of Amani, to the test. In this new Ask Our Guides series, they tackle some of the wildlife questions guests ask most often and share a little insight into the fascinating world of the African bush.

It started as a tracking conundrum. Though we often see leopard tracks following familiar routes as they cross the winding roads of the Klaserie, they rarely stay in one place for long - unless there’s a kill nearby. Every now and then, however, something doesn’t quite add up. A glitch in the pattern. That was the case one morning in mid-March. Little did Guide James know that he was about to stumble upon something quietly extraordinary.

Sometimes, you’re just in the right place at exactly the right time. That was the case on one unforgettable morning at Klaserie Drift—an experience that will stay with both our guides and guests forever. Keep reading to get the full story!

As summer slowly gives way to the first signs of winter, March has proven to be wildly drier this year than last. The grass is already withered to hues of yellow and gold and the once raging Klaserie river now slowly ebbs and winds through the reserve. The forecast of an ‘El Niño’ drought is ringing truer than ever…. However, it is no secret here at Klaserie Drift that our prime location alongside the river is particularly favoured by local wildlife in such times. With a bumper series of sightings this month, we could hardly disagree. Here are a few of our favourite moments over the last few weeks…

Big cats hold a special place in our imagination, with lions and leopards often being the most sought-after sightings on safari. Revered for their incredible beauty and ferocious power, it’s no wonder that we are fascinated with them. Yet, as much as we dream of the perfect lion sighting or a bucket-list leopard in a tree, we rarely dare to think of seeing both at once.