In the wild, survival hangs on the thinnest of threads. One minor injury can become infected quickly or hamper an animal enough to land it in the jaws of a hungry predator. A dulled sense can slow reaction time ever…
It’s been an interesting couple of weeks in Thornybush, particularly with regards to the lions that call the reserve home. Our resident Northern Pride has lost 1 youngster leaving a total of 8 young, 5 adult females and the majestic…
One early spring morning we headed out with our guests on game drive with the goal of finding either a lion or a leopard. This having been said, both are quite hard to locate if you have no evidence to…
Over the last few months we have discovered something very unique in the reserve, something that one doesn’t see all that often…. A white buffalo. Whilst recently viewing a mega herd of buffalos (200+ individuals) we were alarmed to find…
One morning we set out on game drive, eager to see what was waiting for us, in the mist. The mist gave off an eerie feel as the first rays of sun kissed the horizon. The guests were eager for…
We often find leopards in trees here in Thornybush and it is a wonderful thing to see. However, we tend to overlook what has been standing much longer than the leopard – the very tree the leopard is lying in!…
Lions are a key ingredient in every guest’s experience in Africa and, especially with our international guests, lions remain the most sought-after animal for most of them. Seeing lions is a privilege that we as rangers have day in and…
Last week whilst on an afternoon drive, we got word of a large herd of buffalo at Leopard Dam lying in the water. As is the case whenever this occurs, we immediately responded and made our way there. The opportunity…
In March 2017 the fences were officially dropped between Thornybush Private Nature Reserve and the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, creating one enormous park running all the way to the Kruger National Park. Before the fences were dropped, there was a…
Disaster at the Southern White-Crowned Shrike nest site… This week we witnessed how cruel and unforgiving the bush can be. Interactions between animals big and small take place every day with sometimes fatal consequences. Upon our return to the nest…