pungwe

Revelling in the lushness

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 05:34:01 GMT

We're celebrating summer!

We're having a wonderful rainy season here in the Manyeleti Game Reserve - it's always a time of extraordinary transformation when summer puts on a magical, verdant and captivating show. Our landscapes have been rejuvenated by heavy rains, and the dry, golden plains of winter have given way to a lush sea of greenery. This seasonal shift heralds an explosion of life, with dramatic increases in biodiversity and opportunities to witness nature at its most dynamic.

The rains signal the start of the birthing season for many species, as the abundance of food and water creates ideal conditions for raising young. Impalas are among the first to give birth, with their breeding cycle perfectly timed to the seasonal rains, which were a little late this year.

Female impalas, pregnant for about six and a half months, give birth to a single lamb after seeking out secluded areas for safety. These lambs, often born within days of each other, are an incredible spectacle of nature's synchronicity. The strategy of mass birthing overwhelms predators and ensures the survival of a significant portion of the herd. Watching a newborn impala take its first shaky steps is a powerful reminder of the resilience and fragility of life in the wild.

Zebras also take advantage of the rains to give birth, their foals arriving with distinctive, fluffy, brownish coats that help them blend into the tall grasses. Unlike impalas, which rely on the timing of births to overwhelm predators, zebras use their strong herd dynamics to protect their young. Foals can stand and run within hours of birth, a critical survival adaptation in an environment where danger is never far away. Wildebeest follow a similar pattern, their calves appearing in large numbers during this verdant period. This synchronised birthing season provides ample food for predators, ensuring that the cycle of life continues uninterrupted.

The influx of new life is not limited to mammals. For bird enthusiasts, Manyeleti’s rainy season is a paradise. The arrival of migratory birds adds to the reserve’s already impressive avifauna. Species such as the southern carmine bee-eater, with its striking red plumage, and the woodland kingfisher, whose electric blue feathers and trilling calls are unmistakable, inject colour and vibrancy into the lush landscape. The Amur falcon, a long-distance migrant, also makes its presence known, travelling thousands of kilometres from Asia to grace the reserve with its aerial prowess.

Resident species are equally captivating during this time. The lilac-breasted roller, a bird often referred to as one of Africa’s most beautiful, becomes a common sight as it takes advantage of the insect boom brought about by the rains. African fish eagles patrol the waterholes and dams, their piercing calls echoing across the rejuvenated terrain.

Temporary wetlands and waterholes, formed by the seasonal downpours, attract waterbirds such as herons, storks, and ducks, further enhancing the diversity of sightings. The reserve becomes a cacophony of sound and movement, a testament to the richness of its ecosystem.

The rains breathe new life into the vegetation, with grasses, shrubs, and trees flourishing. Wildflowers bloom across the savannah, painting the reserve in hues of yellow, purple, and white. This burst of plant life supports the herbivores, whose grazing in turn supports the predators. Elephants revel in the abundance, using their trunks to pluck fresh shoots and strip bark from replenished trees. The younger elephants take full advantage of the plentiful mud, splashing and rolling in waterholes to cool off and protect their skin from parasites.

Lions and leopards find themselves well-fed during this period, as the glut of young prey offers numerous hunting opportunities. The abundance of food ensures that predator cubs, too, have a higher chance of survival. Hyenas and wild dogs also capitalise on the plentiful resources, their packs thriving during this time of plenty. It is a season of abundance, where the interconnectedness of the ecosystem becomes strikingly apparent.

The waterholes and rivers, replenished by the rains, become bustling hubs of activity. Hippos claim their aquatic domains, submerging themselves for hours to escape the heat, while crocodiles bask on riverbanks, waiting patiently for unwary prey. Smaller creatures, such as frogs and insects, also play vital roles in the rainy season’s ecological drama. The chorus of frogs at dusk is a hallmark of this time, their calls signalling both the health of the environment and the presence of predators keen to feast on them.

For photographers, the rainy season in Manyeleti is unparalleled. The dramatic skies, often filled with towering cumulonimbus clouds, provide a stunning backdrop for wildlife shots. The vibrant greens of the wet season’s foliage and the glistening waterholes add depth and texture to images, while the abundance of baby animals and rare bird species makes for captivating subjects. The softer light during overcast days eliminates harsh shadows, making this an ideal time for capturing the intricate details of wildlife and landscapes alike.

While the rains can make some roads challenging to navigate, the rewards far outweigh the inconveniences. Guided game drives are adapted to the conditions, ensuring visitors still have access to the most wildlife-rich areas. The sense of adventure is heightened as vehicles traverse muddy tracks and water crossings, bringing guests closer to the heart of the reserve’s thriving ecosystem.

Challenges aside, we love this time of year because it the resilience and beauty of nature. It is a time when life flourishes in abundance, and every moment offers a glimpse into the intricate tapestry of the wilderness around us, from the fragile first steps of a newborn impala to the dazzling flight of colourful birds and beyond.

For those seeking a deeper connection with the natural world, this is the without a doubt the best time to visit — so chat to us now about taking advantage of what summer and early autumn offer in terms of incredible experiences.

A tenacious little hunter

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 07:40:20 GMT

Small but clever, the black-backed jackal is an opportunist of note!

It's a small but important predator in the Manyeleti, playing a vital role in the local ecosystem and renowned for its adaptability, intelligence, and opportunistic hunting behaviour... Meet the black-backed jackal - a member of the dog family that plays a crucial role in controlling small mammal populations and scavenging for food. While not as large or imposing as other predators, the black-backed jackal contributes significantly to maintaining the balance of the reserve’s wildlife. Let's find out more about this engaging little canid...

Standing at around 40cm at the shoulder and weighing between six and 14kg, the black-backed jackal is easily recognised by its distinct colouring — shades of rusty orange and a distinctive black and silver strip along its back. Its build is slender but muscular, enabling it to chase down small mammals or scavenge the remains of larger predators’ kills.

It's well adapted to the Manyeleti's diverse landscape of mixed grasslands, open savannah, acacia thicket and riparian woodland. These areas provide ample opportunities for the jackals to hunt for rodents, birds, and the occasional small antelope like duiker and steenbok, all of which make up a large part of their diet.

Socially, the black-backed jackal is an intriguing species. Typically monogamous, jackals form long-lasting pair bonds that are often maintained for life. Packs, however, can be observed, particularly in areas with abundant resources. These packs typically consist of a breeding pair and their offspring, and co-operative hunting is common.

Unlike many canids, the black-backed jackal does not rely on pack dynamics for large game but hunts in a more solitary or small group fashion. Their agility and speed make them effective predators of smaller prey, such as birds and hares, although they are also adept scavengers, often seen picking at the edges of a lion or cheetah’s kill.

Black-backed jackals are known for their vocalisation, with a range of calls that includes high-pitched howls, which help maintain territory boundaries. These vocalisations are crucial in an environment like the Manyeleti, where territories can overlap with other carnivores, and maintaining clear demarcations is vital for survival. These yips, high-pitched barks and howls are often heard during the evening and early morning, contributing to the atmospheric symphony of sounds that define the African wilderness.

While black-backed jackals are highly adaptable, their survival is not without challenges. They are often in competition with larger predators like hyenas and lions, which sometimes lead to direct confrontations. However, the jackals’ intelligence and ability to exploit a wide range of food sources mean they can often avoid these larger predators when necessary, scavenging safely from the edges of a kill rather than confronting it directly.

An important ecological role of the black-backed jackal is its contribution to controlling rodent populations. By preying on small mammals, the jackals help to maintain a balance in the population of species like rats and mice, which might otherwise explode in number and disrupt the local plant life. This control also indirectly benefits the vegetation, as overgrazing by herbivores can be mitigated by a reduction in the number of smaller pests that damage crops and grasses.

In terms of reproduction, black-backed jackals have a relatively high reproductive rate for a carnivore of their size, with females giving birth to litters ranging from two to six pups. The pups are born blind and helpless, relying entirely on their mother for the first few weeks. As they grow, they become more independent but remain with their parents for up to a year, learning hunting techniques and survival strategies. These young jackals are often seen playing together, sharpening their skills before they strike out on their own.

Despite their cunning nature and essential ecological role, black-backed jackals are often misunderstood and, in some areas, persecuted by farmers who see them as a threat to livestock. However, in protected areas like the Manyeleti, the species flourishes. Here, they contribute to the dynamic food web, not as apex predators, but as the scavengers and opportunists that they are, ensuring the overall health and balance of the ecosystem.

Pungwe - A birding paradise

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:34:20 GMT

Discover the magic of the Manyeleti's feathered friends

When it comes to birding, the Manyeleti offers an extensive and scientifically valuable birdwatching experience, with a mix of common resident species and rare summer migrants. As part of the Greater Kruger area, the reserve’s diverse habitats range from savannah grasslands to acacia thicket and riparian woodland along drainage lines and around dams and support an impressive bird population. Bird enthusiasts can explore a variety of species that contribute to both the biodiversity and ecological balance of the region, with sightings year-round and exceptional during the breeding seasons of migratory visitors.

One of the keystone species in Manyeleti is the African fish eagle, a top predator often seen perched near waterholes and rivers. Indeed, its piercing call is one of the most iconic sounds in the Greater Kruger. Primarily preying on fish, this impressive eagle also takes waterfowl and other small animals when necessary. As a resident species, it remains in the reserve throughout the year, and its nesting behaviour — usually building large nests in tall trees near water — provides an essential contribution to the stability of riparian ecosystems.

Also present in the Manyeleti is the martial eagle, the largest eagle in Africa. With a wingspan reaching up to 2,6m, it dominates the skies and plays a crucial role in the food web. Martial eagles are known to prey on small mammals, birds, and reptiles, sometimes taking animals as large as young impala. They are solitary birds and are observed soaring at high altitudes, scanning for prey. Their presence in the Manyeleti is significant as they are classified as vulnerable due to habitat loss and persecution.

The bateleur eagle, another striking raptor, is frequently spotted in the reserve. Its distinctive short tail and characteristic colouration of black, chestnut, and white, along with its expert aerial abilities, make it a memorable sight for visitors.

Waterbirds are also a prominent feature of the Manyeleti landscape, particularly around the seasonal pans and dams. The Egyptian goose, a widespread resident, is commonly seen in pairs or small flocks around water sources. These birds feed primarily on aquatic plants and grasses but will also graze in open fields. Though abundant, their territorial behaviour and vocal presence make them a noticeable species in the reserve’s wetland areas.

One of the rarer waterbirds seen in Manyeleti is the saddle-bill stork. Standing over 1,5m tall, this stork is instantly recognisable by its striking red and black bill, with a distinctive yellow saddle-shaped shield at the base. Saddle-bill storks are usually seen in pairs, foraging along water bodies for fish, frogs, and small invertebrates. While not commonly observed in large numbers, the presence of this species in the Manyeleti is important because of the role in plays in the food chain, particularly in wetland habitats. Its population is threatened in some areas due to habitat degradation, making sightings of these birds significant from a conservation perspective.

The woodland kingfisher, a migrant from tropical Africa, arrives in the Manyeleti during the summer months, heralding the rainy season with its sharp trilling calls. Unlike the aquatic kingfishers, this species primarily feeds on insects, small reptiles, and amphibians. The woodland kingfisher’s bright blue plumage and rapid flight make it easy to spot as it darts between trees or perches conspicuously in open areas. Its arrival and breeding in the reserve are indicators of the onset of the wet season and the replenishment of the landscape’s water bodies.

Resident ground-dwelling species like Swainson’s and Natal spurfowl are also common throughout the reserve. These species can often be found foraging in thickets or along the edges of open areas, feeding on seeds, insects, and small invertebrates. Their loud, cackling calls at dawn and dusk help identify their presence. Both species are important for their role in controlling insect populations, and they serve as prey for larger predators in the ecosystem.

One of the reserve’s more charismatic residents is the southern ground hornbill. These large birds, with their black plumage and striking red facial skin, are often seen foraging in small family groups. Southern ground hornbills are opportunistic feeders, preying on insects, small reptiles, and mammals. They are classified as vulnerable due to habitat loss and the destruction of their large, cavity nests. Their deep, booming calls, audible over long distances, add to the distinctive soundscape of the Manyeleti, especially during the early mornings.

Other year-round residents include Burchell’s coucal, a ground-dwelling bird often seen skulking through dense vegetation. This species is known for its slow, deliberate movements and its haunting, bubbling call. Although Burchell’s coucal is commonly mistaken for a raptor due to its size and predatory habits, it primarily feeds on large insects, small mammals, and reptiles. Its behaviour of hiding in thick brush makes it difficult to spot, but it is an important part of the ecosystem’s predatory balance.

In addition to these species, the Manyeleti sees rare but notable migratory visitors during the summer months. The southern carmine bee-eater is a prime example. These birds, with their vivid pink and red plumage, migrate south from equatorial Africa to breed in the region. They are highly social, often seen in large flocks as they hunt for flying insects such as bees, dragonflies, and locusts. Their presence in the Manyeleti is seasonal, making sightings particularly special for birdwatchers during the summer.

The reserve’s grasslands and wetland margins occasionally host the crowned crane, although its sightings are relatively rare. These large birds, with their golden feathered crowns, are typically seen in pairs or small groups. They are known for their elaborate courtship dances, involving bowing, jumping, and wing flapping. The crowned crane is classified as vulnerable due to the loss of wetland habitats, and their appearance in the Manyeleti, though uncommon, adds significant value to the reserve’s birding records.

Among the hornbills, the southern yellow-billed hornbill is one of the most common residents. Often seen hopping along the ground in search of insects, small reptiles, and seeds, these birds are easily recognisable by their large, curved yellow beaks. They are important for their role in seed dispersal and pest control, contributing to the health of the ecosystem. Their noisy calls and active foraging make them a frequent sight in the reserve.

The lilac-breasted roller, with its striking mix of blue, purple, and green feathers, is another iconic species in the Manyeleti. Often perched conspicuously on trees or posts, this bird swoops down to catch insects, small reptiles, and amphibians. It is a resident species, seen year-round, and plays a role in controlling insect populations in the reserve.

The hamerkop, a unique wading bird, is often seen near the reserve’s water sources. Known for its distinctive hammer-shaped head and large, domed nests, which can weigh up to 50kg, the hamerkop feeds primarily on fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates. Its nests, often reused by other bird species, contribute to the biodiversity of the reserve.

The Manyeleti remains an important stronghold for these species, particularly as habitat loss and environmental changes continue to impact bird populations across Africa. Birdwatchers visiting the reserve contribute to ongoing conservation efforts by documenting sightings and supporting the protection of these vital ecosystems.

Waiting for rain

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:41:30 GMT

The spectacular green season is just around the corner...

With the arrival of the annual rains, the Manyeleti turns from every shade of brown to green, green, green and bursts with new life, offering exceptional safari experiences and phenomenal wildlife sightings. It's a fantastic time of year and one of the best times to be on safari at Pungwe. Here's why...

Make no mistake, we love the green season here at Pungwe. All of us are excited at the prospect of our annual rains putting an end to what has been a long and hard dry season. We've already had some lovely downpours already and are waiting in anticipation for the storms that will spur the Manyeleti to undergo its dramatic transformation from a dry, golden savannah to a lush, verdant paradise and signal the start of the green, or emerald season.

The onset of the green season brings life to this lesser-known gem of the Greater Kruger National Park. Manyeleti means “Place of Stars” in Shangaan, and at this time of year it becomes a sanctuary for wildlife and a unique destination for those seeking an immersive safari experience during these rejuvenating months.

Rain brings a vibrant renewal to the reserve. Grasses grow tall, and wildflowers blanket the plains, while the once-parched dams and waterholes fill rapidly, attracting an array of animals to drink and bathe. The thickening vegetation creates a striking contrast against the clear blue skies, offering visitors an unparalleled backdrop for game viewing and photography.

For safari-goers, the green season brings a different kind of magic. The reserve teems with life, as baby animals — most notably impala, wildebeest, and zebra — make their debut, drawing predators such as lions and leopards into closer proximity. The abundance of water allows wildlife to disperse, making sightings more unpredictable but all the more rewarding when encountered. This sense of wildness, combined with the vibrant landscape, gives a sense of exclusivity and intimacy and in our opinion makes this one of the best times of year to be at Pungwe.

Birdwatchers are particularly spoiled during this period. The rains attract migratory species, while resident birds display their often-colourful plumage against the verdant surroundings. You can expect to see saddle-billed storks at our dams and waterholes, adding a splash of striking red courtesy of their elongated bills. The cacophony of bird calls adds to the sensory richness of the reserve, making it a haven for those looking to experience the full spectrum of African wildlife.

One of the standout migrant species is the southern carmine bee-eater, which arrives in colourful flocks. These striking birds, with their vivid crimson feathers and blue-green underparts, are a delight for photographers. They are often seen perched on exposed branches or darting through the air, catching insects in the open plains. Their aerial acrobatics are a mesmerising sight.

Equally captivating is the woodland kingfisher, another common migrant during the green season. Recognisable by its bright blue and white plumage, this kingfisher is often heard before it is seen, with its distinctive, piercing call echoing through the bush. Woodland kingfishers favour areas near water, making the replenished rivers and waterholes prime spots to observe them hunting for fish and small invertebrates.

The green season also offers more temperate weather, with cooler mornings and evenings, making game drives comfortable. The increased moisture in the air softens the light, creating softer shadows and golden hues that enhance the landscape’s natural beauty. Photographers and nature enthusiasts alike relish this time for capturing the wildlife in a setting that feels almost cinematic.

While the wildlife is more spread out and the bush can be dense, the quieter, more intimate encounters with the animals in Manyeleti during the green season are worth the trade-off. For those seeking a safari experience filled with life, vibrancy, and the thrill of discovery, the rains bring a fresh perspective to this magical “Place of Stars” we call home.

Formidable, fearless and fabulous!

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 06:28:29 GMT

Meet the honey badger - the Manyeleti's fiercest mammal

With its legendary long claws, fearsome nature and reputation for being indestructible, the honey badger is an African icon and the one animal you really don't want to run into on a dark night! Irascible in the extreme, this tough little creature is also fiercely clever, with a problem-solving ability bar none! Let's find out more about this little warrior...

Revered for its incredible toughness, intelligence, and legendary fierceness, the honey badger is one of the most fearless animals in the wild. Known as the "ratel" in Afrikaans, this small yet ferocious carnivore is famous for its ability to hold its own against predators far larger and more powerful, such as lions, leopards, and hyenas. However, beneath its aggressive reputation lies a fascinating animal that plays a vital role in the complex ecosystems it inhabits.

Despite its modest size — generally weighing between 9kg and 14kg — the honey badger possesses an unusually stocky, muscular build and a range of remarkable physical adaptations that equip it for survival. Its most distinctive feature is its tough, loose skin, which can measure up to 6mm thick. This strong exterior provides essential protection from the bites and stings of both predators and prey. For instance, even if a larger predator like a lion manages to grab hold of a honey badger, the loose nature of the skin allows the badger to twist around and continue fighting back. This makes the honey badger an exceptionally difficult animal to subdue.

Additionally, their skin is highly resistant to sharp objects, which helps them survive attacks from snakes, thorns, and even the claws of large predators. This toughness, combined with a well-developed immune system that renders them highly resistant to venom, allows honey badgers to fearlessly hunt venomous snakes, such as puff adders, mambas and cobras, as part of their diet. Even if bitten, honey badgers can often survive and recover quickly, making them one of the few mammals with such a high tolerance for snake venom.

Honey badgers are opportunistic omnivores with an impressively varied diet. In addition to reptiles, they consume insects, birds, small mammals, and even the larvae of bees. Their infamous raids on beehives are facilitated not only by their physical resilience but also by their sharp claws and powerful jaws, which can crack open a hive with relative ease. Their thick skin prevents many bee stings from penetrating deeply enough to cause harm. This remarkable ability to break into hives has also led to a well-documented relationship with the greater honeyguide bird. These birds lead honey badgers to hives, benefiting from the badger’s destruction of the nest and feeding on the leftover wax and honeycomb.

Despite their solitary nature, honey badgers play a critical role in their ecosystems, particularly in controlling populations of smaller animals, insects, and even large venomous snakes. Their scavenging behaviour makes them an important part of the nutrient recycling process in the savannah, as they often consume carcasses that would otherwise attract diseases or parasites if left untouched. By feeding on carrion and leftover kills from apex predators like lions and leopards, honey badgers help to clean up the environment, preventing the spread of disease and ensuring that fewer carcasses rot in the sun.

Perhaps one of the honey badger’s most famous attributes is its aggressive and courageous demeanour, which has been widely documented in both scientific literature and popular media. Despite their relatively small size, they have been observed fearlessly challenging much larger predators, including lions and hyenas. This is often attributed to their combination of physical resilience, sharp claws, powerful jaws, and thick skin, all of which make them formidable opponents.

While many animals flee in the face of larger threats, honey badgers have been known to fight back tenaciously. There are several accounts of honey badgers fending off lions or hyenas by facing them head-on, delivering powerful bites and refusing to back down. This behaviour, coupled with their vocalisations—growling, hissing, and screaming and a very powerful anal gland which is released as a defence mechanism— makes them one of the most combative animals in the African wilderness.

Their ferocity is not just limited to their interactions with other animals. Honey badgers are also known for their fearlessness when encountering humans, though they generally avoid contact. If threatened, they are quick to defend themselves with aggressive displays, often standing their ground against potential threats. Lodges and camps like Pungwe have had to learn to live with honey badgers who often raid kitchens, targeting fridges, freezers and rubbish bins in particular! Making our little camp "badger-proof" is an ongoing challenge!

Despite their fearsome reputation, honey badgers are highly intelligent creatures. They are known to be excellent problem-solvers and are capable of using tools and advanced tactics to escape enclosures or access food. In captivity, honey badgers have been filmed stacking objects to reach higher ground, opening doors, and even using sticks and stones to manipulate locks. This intelligence also serves them well in the wild, where they exploit a wide range of food sources that might be inaccessible to less resourceful animals. Their ability to adapt to different environments and diets has made them a highly successful species across their range.

In areas like the Greater Kruger, conservation efforts are focused on preserving the habitats that support honey badgers and ensuring that they can continue to thrive in the wild. These efforts are part of a broader movement to protect the biodiversity of South Africa’s rich ecosystems, where species like the honey badger play key roles in maintaining ecological stability.

While we don't get that many sightings of these elusive creatures, we often find ourselves in situations where we're cleaning up after them, repairing the havoc they can wreak! But we love them in spite of their wrecking ball reputation and seeing them is always an absolute pleasure, putting a big fat smile on everyone's faces!

Meet our most iconic antelope

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 09:18:25 GMT

The kudu is one of the most impressive animals in the Manyeleti

As the rising sun casts long shadows over the golden grasslands and acacia thickets of the Manyeleti, a majestic figure strides gracefully along the treeline, standing tall with long, spiralling horns crowning its elegant head... There really is nothing to compete with the magnificence of a greater kudu bull - one of the most iconic of our antelope species that plays a critical role in keeping the Greater Kruger's ecosystems in balance. Let's find out more about this fascinating animal...

So much more than just a beautiful silhouette against the African sky – the kudu is a keystone species, embodying the intricate web of life that thrives in this corner of the African wilderness. From its striking horns to its pivotal role in the ecosystem, the kudu is renowned not only for its sheer size but also for its striking appearance.

A fully grown kudu bull can weigh up to 315kg and stand over 1.5m tall at the shoulder. Those trademark corkscrew horns can reach up to 1.8m in length and their weight requires a strong, muscular neck to keep the head upright. The horns, which twist elegantly upwards, achieving two to three twists, are used during tests of strength between competing bulls.

The horns do not begin to grow until the bull is between six months and a year old, twisting once at around two years-of-age and not reaching the full two-and-a-half to three twists until the age of six. They have long served different traditional communities, as both embellishment and musical instruments, the latter including the shofar, a Jewish ritual horn blown at Rosh Hashanah. Here in South Africa the kudu horn has been replicated into another kind of "ritual" instrument - a "kuduzela" - a version of the vuvuzela trumpet blown at soccer matches and sporting events.

Kudu cows, although smaller and hornless, are equally graceful as their male counterparts, with their sleek coats marked by thin white vertical stripes that provide excellent camouflage in the dappled light of the bush.

The greater kudu is most common in Southern Africa but smaller populations of three different subspecies occur in East Africa, the horn of Africa and southern Sahara. Its preferred habitat is lightly wooded savanna and rocky bush country, where it generally sticks to cover to avoid predators, which include lion, leopard, hyena and painted wolves (African wild dogs).

The kudu’s biology is well adapted to the diverse habitats of Manyeleti, from dense woodlands to open savannahs. Primarily browsers, they feed on a variety of leaves, shoots, and fruits, showing a preference for acacia trees and shrubs. This selective feeding makes them vital to the ecosystem, as they help control the growth of certain plant species, preventing overgrowth that could disrupt the habitat’s balance. The kudu’s browsing also aids in seed dispersal, contributing to the regeneration of the bush.

In terms of reproduction, the kudu follows a seasonal breeding pattern. Mating typically occurs towards the end of the rainy season, ensuring that calves are born when resources are most abundant. After a gestation period of approximately 240 days, females give birth to a single calf, which they hide in dense thickets for the first few weeks of life.

During this period, the mother visits her young only for brief nursing sessions, relying on the calf’s instinct to remain still and hidden to avoid detection by predators. Once the calf is strong enough, it joins the small family herd, gradually learning to navigate the complexities of the savannah.

Kudu are social creatures, with females and their young forming loose herds that provide safety in numbers. These herds are fluid, with members frequently joining or leaving, unlike the more structured social groups seen in other antelope species. Adult bulls tend to be more solitary, often only joining herds during the mating season.

Their behaviour reflects their cautious nature; kudu are known for their sharp hearing and ability to remain motionless in the presence of danger. When startled, they can leap gracefully over obstacles from a standing start, clearing heights of up to 2,5m. When they detect danger they usually give a hoarse alarm bark before fleeing, running with a distinctive, rocking-horse motion with bulls laying their horns back to avoid overhead obstructions.

Predation is a constant threat, shaping the kudu’s behaviour and life cycle. Despite this, they can live up to 15 years in the wild, although few reach this age due to the harsh realities of their environment. Calves face the highest mortality rates, with only a fraction surviving their first year. However, those that do mature into resilient adults play a crucial role in maintaining the health and diversity of the Manyeleti ecosystem.

The kudu’s significance extends beyond its role as a browser. As a prey species, it is essential in sustaining the predator populations that define the Manyeleti’s status as a top safari destination. Moreover, their feeding patterns influence the structure of vegetation, contributing to a balanced landscape that supports a variety of wildlife. Their presence also helps to sustain the reserve’s tourism industry, which is critical for the conservation of the area and the surrounding communities that depend on it.

Pungwe's top 10 experiences

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 09:35:09 GMT

Some of the things that make our camp so special

A visit to Pungwe Safari Camp is an African wilderness adventure par excellence, thanks to the camp's ethos of creating authentic safari experiences that completely immerse you in the wonderfully wild environment of the Manyeleti. Here are 10 of the top experiences that really make our little camp stand out...

1. Unfenced & authentic

Pungwe is completely open to the wilderness around it. There are no fences to keep animals out which means that we often have wildlife in and around camp. From elephants and buffalo to lions, hyena and leopard, the list of "visitors" is endless and creates a truly authentic camp environment where guests become part of the environment rather than separated from it. During the day you are free to move around camp but are advised to keep a wary eye out for wildlife. At night you are escorted to and from your tents by our staff.

2. Big cat encounters

The Manyeleti is renowned for its concentrations of predators like lion, leopard and cheetah, with frequent sightings across the reserve. Thanks to its position wedged between the Timbavati, Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand private game reserve, with no fences between any of them, the game viewing is usually excellent all year round. Most of our leopards and our lions are accustomed to safari vehicles, allowing for close encounters of the feline kind. While sightings of cheetah are less frequent, when we do see these wonderful creatures, they are relaxed enough to allow for stunning photographs.

3. Elephants

From large, lone bulls to breeding herds and bachelor groups, the Manyeleti is not short of elephant sightings. We often have a local bull in camp, browsing along the drainage line and generally exploring, which adds a lot of excitement to things! During the winter, the Manyeleti's dams and waterholes are prime locations for great elephant sightings, and in the green season the reserve is full of "ellies" feeding on the fantastic grasses and trees, with exceptional sightings in our open areas and around water. If you're lucky, you'll hear the unmistakable "rumble" of elephants passing through or close to camp at night.

4. Birding

Absolutely exceptional all year round, but off the charts in the emerald summer season, Pungwe is the place to be if you're a keen birder. Whether you're out on game activities, walking or even just sitting in camp close to our bird baths, you're sure to see a fantastic variety of birdlife, from small blue waxbills, firefinches and southern black tits to long-billed crombecs, red and yellow-billed hornbills, brown-hooded kingfishers and crested francolin. Spring and summer sees the skies filled with migrant species like Wahlberg's eagle, the woodland kingfisher (whose distinctive call welcomes in the rainy season of plenty) and southern carmine bee-eater. So don't forget your binoculars!

5. Walking

When conditions are favourable, we love to offer our guests the opportunity to do a guided morning walk, either heading off from camp or driving for a short while before getting off to explore further afield on foot. Walking allows you to see all of the small things you rarely notice on a game drive and immerses you in the wilderness, allowing you to really understand the way the Manyeleti's ecosystems work. Your guides explain about geology, grasses, tracks and signs, how they read the bush for clues as to what has passed by and when, and show you insects, trees and shrubs, explaining how everything is connected in the wonderful web that is Mother Nature.

6. The campfire

It's the heart of our camp, as every good hearth should be. It's also the gathering point for our guests, who come to it for morning coffee before heading off into the wilderness to explore, and return to it before breakfast, chatting to one another and Nandrick - our "fire master" and maintenance magician. It's the "welcome home" following an exciting afternoon/night drive where pre-dinner drinks are enjoyed around its dancing flames, and the perfect place for an after-dinner digestif before heading off to bed. It's also where we share stories of our adventures, the things we've seen and amazing encounters we've had, where lively conversations are the order of the day.

7. Amazing food

From home-baked cookies on your morning game drive and incredible breakfast spreads to sensational high teas, snack stops and sundowners during your afternoon/evening drive and fabulous dinners, you most definitely will not go hungry at Pungwe. We cater for all dietary requirements provided we are notified in advance of these, and our talented Chef Carol is an absolute genius when it comes to creating delicious dishes for all of our guests. We take the opportunity where possible to cook over our open campfire, infusing mealtime with a wonderful authenticity that's hard to recreate on a stove.

8. Game drives

Heading out just as the sun rises and again in the afternoon as it begins to dip towards the horizon, the excitement of climbing on to an open game vehicle never fades. It's fuelled by the anticipation of what you might see, and what's waiting around the next bend in the road... What will the eagle eyes of tracker Wonder Boy pick up that eyes used to cityscapes may miss? More than anything, game drives are about the incredible feeling you get being out in the wilderness of the Manyeleti, far from everything familiar, with the African sun on your face and the wind in your hair. No two drives are ever the same, which adds to the excitement.

9. Sleeping under canvas

Pungwe's en-suite tents offer all the mod cons and lots of space and comfort, but their superpower is allowing guests to hear everything that's going on around them, especially at night. The furtive rustles of civets as they forage close to the tents... The low rumble of elephants communicating as they pass by... The roaring of lions in the distance... The haunting call of the hyena... A scops owl's distinctive, repetitive frog-like "prrrup"... And what feels like a million crickets chirping in harmony... All of this makes staying at Pungwe pure safari magic.

10. Digital detox

We're off grid with no wifi! While you may get occasional signal from certain cellular providers (especially from the top of our camp termitarium) Pungwe is a place where you'll enjoy a complete digital detox, and we encourage you to use your phone to take photos and videos and nothing more. We've got enough solar power for you to charge your camera batteries and phone, but the rest is "au naturel" with lanterns for light in the evenings, wood-burning "donkey" boilers to create the hot water for your showers and the campfire and hot water bottles as needed for warmth. So enjoy the chance to forget social media, emails and WhatsApp!

There's no beating a safari under canvas...

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 07:06:21 GMT

Come and immerse yourself in the wilderness at Pungwe

If the idea of staying in a tented camp in wild Africa enthrals you - you've come to the right place! Why? Because we're about to maximise the excitement by sharing the magic of Pungwe's authentic, immersive wilderness experiences under canvas...

It's the small hours of the morning... You're sleeping in a gloriously comfortable king-size bed, snuggled beneath a duvet dressed in crisp cotton linen, with an ethereal mosquito net encompassing everything and creating an air of the exotic. Somewhere in the distance a hyena's haunting call echoes across the Manyeleti savannah and you wake, alert almost immediately. The hyena calls again, closer this time, and somewhere behind you a lion roars.

You wonder briefly what's going on and suddenly the realisation dawns on you - you're separated from the African wilderness only by canvas, allowing you to hear everything, from the faintest chirp of a cricket to the low rumbles of a passing elephant. Long-forgotten primal responses to the world around you kick in, heightening all of your senses and your ears seem to tingle with the act of actually listening.

You perceive the world in the way you were supposed to, aeons ago when staying in a tent would have been a luxury. Not that it isn't luxurious now, with lots of space and a positively capacious en-suite bathroom with flushing toilet and running water. In fact, it's more like a small, tented villa and about as far removed as it's possible to get from one of those flimsy, sneeze and they're gone, two-man dome tents you used on camping trips as a child.

Something moves in the undergrowth close by, rustling leaves and audibly snuffling as it goes. You slide out of bed, grabbing a torch, as you sidle up to a mesh tent window and shine a light through it into the enveloping darkness, revealing an unperturbed civet going about its business. You're at once amazed and unimpressed because in your mind it was 10 times bigger than that and should have been a leopard, at least.

Getting back into bed you check the time and discover there's a couple more hours to go until you have to get up for the morning game drive. Sleep beckons once more. As do dreams of Africa...

The alarm wakes you much more roughly than the hyena did, dragging you kicking and screaming from your slumber to tell you that dawn is imminent, so get a move on. There's a chill in the air, which is always coldest just before sunrise, as you hop across the cool tiled floor to the bathroom, emerging feeling somewhat more human and ready to face the day.

There's a verbal "knock knock" at the door as Nandrick the maintenance magician gives you the Pungwe version of an alarm call. By now he's gotten the fire going and the legendary iron kettle is perched over the flames and on the boil, ready for the first cup of coffee of a brand-new day. You pull on your clothes and grab your camera bag before heading out into the soft light of daybreak and the welcoming warmth of the campfire where Nandrick is now waiting with hot water and ground coffee, ready to perform alchemy, the result of which arrives moments later in a steaming mug.

Another day at Pungwe has begun, and as you take your first sip of liquid gold you reflect on how you survived your first night under canvas, marvelling at the experience and how much you LOVED every minute of it. All of which makes you wonder why you were so worried about it during planning your safari when the question of a tented camp experience first came up.

Heading out into the wilderness of the Manyeleti on a morning drive, with everyone around you chattering about their nighttime experiences, you feel somewhat changed... Grown, somehow. Different. In a really great way. You feel more connected to nature, more in tune with your surroundings. More real. Less afraid. In fact, you feel stronger and able to deal with anything life throws at you. You're out there sleeping with the lions and hyenas and hey, it's absolutely cool. Exceptionally cool, actually. And in retrospect the best night's sleep you've had in ages.

As the wilderness before you opens up and the sun pokes its head over the horizon, you suddenly feel small as you realise that your fears were unfounded and that tents are the only way to "do" a safari, because canvas walls don't separate you from the spirit of Africa, instead they immerse you more fully in everything that makes the African wilderness so incredible and transformative.

By now you're hooked. Pungwe has worked its spell, and you are looking forward to the coming night in your tent, and every night after that. And planning your next trip.

Tipping the scales...

Thu, 30 May 2024 14:26:59 GMT

Meet the ground pangolin and find out what makes it so special...

Images: Julien Regamey

It's one of our most elusive mammals, earning it the reputation as the "Holy Grail" of African wildlife, which makes spotting an endangered Temminck's pangolin a life-changing experience. Never heard of it? Don't worry because this scaly anteater is widespread but rarely seen and, sadly, is one of the most trafficked animals on Planet Earth. Let's find out more about this secretive resident of the Manyeleti...

In the early hours of the morning, a rustling in leaflitter around Pungwe could be anything... Porcupines digging for roots? Civets hunting for invertebrates? Genets foraging for rodents? Or perhaps something more exciting... A Temminck's or ground pangolin!

Resembling a cross between a pine-cone and a small dinosaur, this shy insectivore is covered in scales made from keratin - the same substance as our fingernails and rhino horn. Which is sadly why it has earned the reputation as the world's most trafficked mammal, because it's these scales that make it a target for poachers, thanks to demand in the Far East where it is prized as both food and a medicinal cure-all.

The name "pangolin" comes from the Malay word "penggulung," meaning "roller" - a fitting description of this creature's unique defence mechanism. When threatened, a pangolin curls into a tight, protective ball, covering its head with its front legs and tail, exposing its tough, scaly exterior to potential predators.

Pangolins are found across Africa and Asia, with four species inhabiting each continent. Africa is home to the black-bellied pangolin, white-bellied pangolin, giant ground pangolin, and Temminck's ground pangolin - which is the most widespread species that we are sometimes lucky enough to see here in the Greater Kruger. Meanwhile, Asia hosts the Indian pangolin, Philippine pangolin, Sunda pangolin, and Chinese pangolin, all of which have been hunted to virtual extinction.

All pangolin species are protected by national and international laws, yet they remain critically endangered. Over the past decade, it's estimated that more than a million pangolins have been poached from the wild. Their meat is considered a delicacy in certain Asian cultures, and their scales are used in traditional medicines believed to cure various ailments. Despite their scales' formidable protection against natural predators, they are powerless against human poachers who simply pick them up after they curl into a ball and pop them in a bag.

Pangolins play an essential role in maintaining the health of their ecosystems. The ground pangolin's range extends from northern South Africa to East Africa, into southern Sudan and Chad. As the second-largest pangolin species, individuals can weigh between seven and 12 kg, with some reaching up to 19kg. Their size varies geographically, with larger pangolins found in moist environments and smaller ones in semi-arid regions.

In the diverse landscapes of Greater Kruger, ground pangolins prefer savannah and woodland habitats. Although predominantly nocturnal, their activity patterns can shift depending on age and geography, with some regions observing diurnal activity during specific seasons.

Ground pangolins are perfectly adapted to terrestrial life. They walk on their hind legs, using their front limbs and muscular tails for balance. When climbing steep surfaces, they use their front limbs and tails for extra traction. Their robust tails also provide additional protection when curling up in a ball.

Rather than digging their own burrows, ground pangolins repurpose burrows made by other animals, such as aardvarks, porcupines, warthogs, and springhares. Their home ranges vary from 600ha to 1,400ha, with smaller ranges for younger animals. Males often share overlapping home ranges with several females, though some studies suggest that a single male and female may share nearly identical ranges. In the Kalahari, a typical home range is shared by an adult male, an adult female, the previous year's offspring, and young pangolin seeking territory.

Ground pangolins lead solitary lives, with males and females meeting only briefly to mate. They locate each other through scent trails left by the female. Courtship involves the male approaching the receptive female, eventually leading to mating in the female's den. After a gestation period of between 105 and 140 days, the female gives birth to a single pango pup, with twins being a rare occurrence.

The pup remains in the natal burrow for the first month, with the mother periodically returning to nurse and relocate it to different dens. After about a month, the pup begins accompanying the mother during foraging, riding on her back or foraging alongside her. The pup stays with the mother for about three months before becoming independent, though it may remain within the mother's home range for up to a year.

The diet of ground pangolins consists almost entirely of ants and termites, with ants making up 90-95% of their diet and termites the remaining 5-10%. They exhibit selectivity in their prey, targeting specific species rather than simply consuming the most abundant ones. In semi-arid South Africa, foraging digs are typically shallow, focusing on surface ant holes and old termite mounds. They may also feed on termites at active nests, especially if the mound has been breached by another animal like an aardvark.

Here in the Greater Kruger, conservation efforts are critical to protect these fascinating creatures. Conservationists and government agencies collaborate to enforce laws, raise awareness, and reduce the demand for pangolin products. There are also several NGOs rescuing and rehabilitating confiscated pangolins seized from poachers. The survival of pangolins hinges on global commitment to their protection, ensuring that future generations can marvel at these unique animals in their natural habitat.

With their endearing habit of rolling into balls and their vital role in controlling insect populations, ground pangolins are a true treasure of the Greater Kruger National Park. Efforts to safeguard them offer hope that these remarkable creatures will continue to thrive in the wild, enchanting all fortunate enough to encounter them.

Meet the Manyeleti's master of disguise

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:36:07 GMT

The flap-necked chameleon is a force to be reckoned with

The flap-necked chameleon isn't your average reptile. This charismatic creature, found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, boasts a dazzling array of adaptations that make it a true superstar of its environment. From its impressive vision and lightning-fast tongue to its surprising social life and dramatic threat displays, the flap-necked chameleon is a captivating resident of the Manyeleti...

While the ability to change colour is a well-known chameleon trait, the flap-necked chameleon's colour changes aren't just for camouflage. It can blend into its surroundings with a range of greens, yellows, and browns, but colour also plays a role in regulating body temperature and expressing mood.

At rest, the flap-necked chameleon's body colouration is usually light green, brown or yellow, with a light or dark stripe extending across the flanks. The flap-necked chameleon's body is marked with numerous dark spots, which become bright yellow or orange when it is excited or ready to mate. Two low crests formed from large conical scales run down the centre of the upper and lower surfaces of the body, with the lower crest beginning at the throat and continuing unbroken over the belly.

It's relatively easy to spot a flap-necked chameleon with a strong light at night whilst it's sleeping, as its body colour becomes a pale whitish green and this shows up rather easily. These fascinating reptiles also change colour to regulate body temperature, for example darkening the body to absorb more solar radiation. The shadow side remains paler.

This colour-changing ability is thanks to specialised cells called chromatophores, which lie beneath the chameleon's transparent skin. By manipulating these cells, the chameleon can alter its colour like an artist with a vast palette.

The flap-necked chameleon is perfectly built for an arboreal life. Reaching a maximum length of around 35cm, its long, prehensile tail acts like an extra limb, allowing it to grip branches and navigate the intricate world of the treetops with impressive agility. Their specially adapted feet, with five toes and prominent claws, also aid in their climbing abilities.

While it's usually found amongst the branches of trees and bushes, the flap-necked chameleon will occasionally descend to the ground in order to seek out new feeding grounds or a mate.

Like other chameleon species, the flap-necked chameleon has a number of special adaptations for hunting. Primarily insectivorous, feeding on invertebrates like grasshoppers, flies and beetles, its eyes are located on cone-shaped turrets, which can move independently, allowing it to look in two different directions simultaneously, while searching for its prey.

Once spotted, prey is caught by means of the chameleon's remarkable secret weapon - its impressive extensile tongue. The contraction of special muscles within the tongue rapidly propels it towards the prey, which is snared by a combination of the tongue's sticky mucous coating and a vacuum created by muscles in the tip.

The flap-necked chameleon isn't just a master of disguise and hunting; it's also a master of intimidation. When threatened, it presents a dramatic display, rocking from side-to-side, while raising its neck flaps, expanding its throat pouch and gaping its mouth.

Female flap-necked chameleons are larger than the males and outcompete them for the most favourable areas within their habitat, where prey is most abundant. The short mating season is the only time when females will allow males to approach them without conflict.

After a brief courtship ritual involving the male's throat pouch turning pale white, the female lays a clutch of up to 60 eggs which can take between nine and 12 months to hatch. After mating, the female once again becomes aggressive to males, turning black and butting heads with any that approach.

Sadly, despite being a common species, the flap-necked chameleon faces threats from habitat loss and the exotic pet trade. Their unique adaptations and vital role in the African ecosystem make them a true wonder of the natural world. So next time you're at Pungwe, keep an eye out for the flap-necked chameleon in action!

The latest updates on the Manyeleti's lions

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 11:28:57 GMT

A look at the current prides and their dynamics

A lot has changed since we last wrote about the various lion dynasties on the Manyeleti some three years ago. The Manyeleti is renowned for its lions, and watching their lives play out in this breathtaking, pristine wilderness of ours is always a privilege, in good times and in bad. Here, then, is an overview of the lion prides we are observing regularly at present...

It's the availability of prey species, especially large herbivores like buffalo and giraffe, that attract so many lions to the Manyeleti, which is filled with a rich diversity of wildlife all year round. The concentration of lions gives rise to a constant ebb and flow of dominance and territorial disputes that rivals the best TV dramas, featuring intertwined, complex, and often violent plot twists!

When it comes to male lions, gaining and retaining territory is the name of the game. It's a tough job being the pride male of a pride of lions and one that's often short-lived, exceptionally dangerous, and sometimes fatal.

"We've got seven lion groupings on the Manyeleti that we're watching with interest at the moment," says Pungwe manager, Michel Girardin. "In the central area around the main dam and moving towards the north of the reserve we have the Mbiri Pride which is made up of six adult lionesses, three cubs of around two years old and two sub-adults of around three years old," explains Michel.

"Then we have the Mbali Pride, so named after they were first seen around Mbali Camp in the neighbouring Kruger National Park, who move throughout the Manyeleti and are led by the Kruger Male. The Mbali's have five or so adult lionesses and three four-year-old sub-adult males."

Good news is that the Tintswalo Boys we wrote about in our previous lion blog are still around in the north-west and north-east of the reserve. This coalition of two brothers features Ncila (meaning "tail", because of his malformed tail) and Mandevu, which means "beard". They don't have a fixed pride at the moment.

Bad news is that the Mbali Male, leader of the Talamati pride and its subsequent breakaway prides, succumbed to a combination of injuries received from a buffalo and tuberculosis. There is still a Talamati breakaway grouping of one adult lioness (the sole survivor of three sisters) and two sub-adults - one male and one female, offspring of this legendary lion.

"We have two large prides on the Manyeleti at the moment," explains Michel. "The first is the Nharu Pride, found in the central area of the Manyeleti and around Pungwe and led by the dominant Red Road Male. It has seven adult lionesses, two sub-adult males of around three years old and two young cubs of around eight weeks old. Nharu is Shangaan for the number 13, so obviously this pride has lost a lion, because we currently have 12!

"The second large pride is the Nkhahuma Pride. Nkhahuma means 'brown ivory' in Shangaan. We see these lions around Pungwe occasionally, but they are predominantly found in the northern reaches of the neighbouring Sabi Sand private game reserve. The pride is led by an adult male named Mohawk, and features five sub-adult males (Mohawk's sons) who are around three years old, three adult lionesses and three sub-adult lionesses."

Michel explains that there is also a coalition of two brothers called the Black Dam Males, who are originally from Thornybushi Nature Reserve who are found in the southern Manyeleti occasionally, moving between this area and the northern Sabi Sand. They're five years old and have been seen with different prides and lone lionesses.

Blazing trails in sustainability

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 12:41:48 GMT

Pungwe is committed to the principles of responsible tourism

It may be small in size, but when it comes to heart, Pungwe's is as big as it gets. A champion of sustainable tourism, Pungwe's commitment to people and planet runs deep and true and is the pillar on which the Pungwe brand has been built. We understand that the key to protecting wilderness areas like the Manyeleti and the iconic species that call them home is harmony between conservation efforts, tourism, and the livelihoods of local communities...

At the heart of our ethos lies a deep-rooted belief in the interdependence between our safari business, the preservation of our precious natural heritage, and the well-being of the communities who call these lands home. For more than two decades Pungwe has worked tirelessly to cultivate, develop, and support the local villages that border the Manyeleti Nature Reserve, pioneering projects and programmes that uplift and empower local people, creating a bond between the work we do and their future.

One such project that exemplifies this dedication is the Pfukani Creche. Situated in Thorndale village, the first settlement just beyond Manyeleti’ s borders, this creche serves as a beacon of hope for the children of the Thorndale community. Spearheaded by Mary Mabunda, wife of Isaac Baloyi, Pungwe's esteemed Head Guide, the creche was built in 2004 and born out of a collective desire to provide quality early childhood education.

Mary, a qualified preschool educator and the Principal of Pfukani, approached Pungwe for assistance in building the creche. Recognising the importance of investing in the community's future, Pungwe wholeheartedly supported the initiative.

Since its inception some 20 years ago, we've remained steadfast in our commitment to Pfukani, providing daily meals for the 63 enrolled children, sponsoring their annual graduation ceremony, and rallying our guests to contribute resources to the school. Mary now has five local ladies helping her - three teaching assistants and two cooks.

Recently, we were delighted to receive donations of soccer balls, netballs, stationery, and clothing from our generous guests. Witnessing the joy on Mary and the children's faces as we delivered these gifts was a testament to the impact of collective action in fostering positive change.

Our commitment to sustainable practices extends to every aspect of our operations. We employ 90% of our staff from the nine local communities immediately adjoining the Manyeleti. Moreover, we champion initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and cultural heritage preservation. Whether it's through sponsoring annual Heritage Day celebrations or supporting projects like Wild Shots Outreach, which empowers youth through wildlife photography workshops, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering a deep appreciation for our natural and cultural heritage.

At Pungwe Safari Camp, we believe that true success lies not only in profit margins but in the positive impact we have on the land and people around us. By embracing the interconnectedness of conservation, tourism, and local communities, we pave the way for a future where wildlife thrives, cultures flourish, and communities prosper. Join us on this journey towards a more sustainable and harmonious world!

Fun with pint-sized pachyderms

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 10:37:49 GMT

Baby elephants are a joy to spend time watching

When you're spending your mornings, afternoon and evenings exploring the wilderness of the Manyeleti on Pungwe game drives, you may be lucky enough to come across the creatures that most often steal the safari limelight - baby elephants! These adorable bundles of joy, born after the world's longest gestation period, are as fascinating as they are endearing, and an absolute privilege to see in their natural habitat. Let's find out more about them...

When African elephants come into the world, they aren't exactly tiny. Weighing in at a whopping 90kg or more, these infants tip the scales in style, being heavier than most human adults. Despite their size, an elephant calf boasts a cuteness that rivals even the fluffiest of teddy bears, being covered in hair which gradually reduces as they grow.

Elephants are known for their tight-knit family units, and the birth of a baby elephant is a cause for celebration within the herd. Typically, a cow, gives birth to a single calf after a gestation period of 22 months. That's right - they're pregnant for nearly two years! Once born the baby will stay close to its mother but will be cared for by its extended family of related females and their young.

They are entirely dependent on their mother's milk for the first four to six months, when they finally begin to learn the art of using their trunks and develop the dexterity needed to pick grasses and leaves to supplement their diet. They are not completely weaned until they are around two years old, at which time they can weigh up to 900kg!

It's a lot of fun to watch baby elephants working out how to use their trunks. To begin with they wave them around a lot, and have little to no co-ordination, often smacking themselves in the face and tripping over it. It takes up to eight months for them to truly get to grip with the thousands of muscles and learn to operate this unique tool that's a hand, a nose, a drinking straw and a built-in snorkel.

During this time babies will often play with "toys" - picking up things they find in the bush, from dried dung to branches, and waving them in the air, throwing them and collecting them, moving them from trunk to mouth and back, and so on and so forth. This play helps them to hone their trunk co-ordination skills and is a joy to watch.

Just like human toddlers, elephant calves are playful and full of boundless energy. Their playtime includes running, chasing each other, and engaging in friendly wrestling matches. It's not only fun to watch but also a crucial part of their development, helping them hone essential skills for survival in the wild and establish familial bonds that will last a lifetime.

They also have a penchant for mud baths, revelling in the chance to roll around in wet, cool mud, turning their little bodies into a delightful mess. Not only is it an adorable sight, but it also serves as a natural sunscreen, protecting their delicate skin from the harsh African sun.

Baby elephants are not just cute faces; they are born into a world rich with tradition and wisdom and no small amount of intelligence. Within the close-knit family structure, older elephants, especially matriarchs, play a vital role in passing down knowledge about migration routes, food sources, and social dynamics. They are surrounded by wisdom which guides them through the nuances of elephant life.

They quickly learn the art of communication within the herd, using a variety of sounds from trumpets and rumbles to chirps and squeaks to convey their feelings and needs. It's a lively symphony that reflects the strong social bonds within the elephant family.

Getting the shot!

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:49:34 GMT

Why Pungwe is a photographer's dream destination

Image: Peter Maas Wildlife Photography

Whether you're a keen amateur, talented wannabe or seasoned professional, capturing Africa's iconic wildlife species on camera is invariably at the top of every discerning photographer's bucket list. Pungwe is fortunate to play host to regular photographic groups and guests who return again and again to flex their lenses, thanks to a team of staff who understand photographers' needs and the unbeatable beauty and biodiversity of the Manyeleti.

With the advent of the digital era, photography has become something that's accessible to almost anyone with a half-decent smartphone. Indeed, it's hard to keep up with the latest advances in phone cameras and capabilities and the ease with which you can edit and share photos and videos online.

By far the majority of our guests use their phones as cameras during game drives, capturing the highlights of their safari with us and the experiences they have in the Manyeleti for posterity. Even our regular professionally led photographic groups use their phones for quick videos and the odd extreme close-up!

So if you do come to Pungwe do not feel somewhat "less than" if you are using your phone to record lifetime memories in the making. We're more than thrilled to help you get the best shots possible. But if you want to get those superlatively crisp portrait shots of wildlife and sweeping landscapes, we do recommend you invest in a digital camera, whether it's a point-and-shoot, bridge camera or full digital SLR (DSLR).

If you go the DSLR route, then be sure to bring both a wide-angle and telephoto zoom lens (at least 300mm or higher) with you. And a beanbag, monopod or tripod for added stabilisation. We have a charging station in the lounge area at the bar for topping up batteries.

Guides Never and Isaac are very experienced at positioning the game vehicles for the best light and framing advantage, and if you tell them what you'd like to photograph they will go out of their way to help you get the shots you're after, aided by our skilled tracker and all-round wildlife enthusiast, Wonder Boy.

Today's technology has taken the experience of wildlife photography to new heights, with the latest mirrorless cameras taking the world by storm. As a result, taking great photographs has never been easier and more fun, especially when you're staying with us in what has to be one of the most highly regarded photographic safari destinations in South Africa.

The Manyeleti is a photographer's dream come true, especially here on the Pungwe concession where there is all the space you need to escape into one of the most prolific wildlife areas in the Greater Kruger National Park. Renowned for its lions and leopards, we're also blessed with regular cheetah and painted wolf (African wild dog) sightings, and lots of hyenas too.

During the summer months the Manyeleti is filled with colourful birdlife as summer migrants come south to enjoy the season of plenty. The light is exceptional at this time of year, especially during the famed golden hours in the early morning and late afternoon and after heavy rainfall when the air is crisp and clear and the skies brilliantly blue.

In the dry, winter season, the soft light and dust help create exceptional mood shots, especially around our dams where wildlife concentrates and there is constant action and interaction.

The proof of the pudding is obviously in the eating, so let's look at a selection of images that guests who are also keen (and talented) wildlife photographers have shared with us, all capturing incredible sightings and the brand of wonderful wildlife experiences that Pungwe has become famous for.

Enjoy!

Sally Lucas

Peter Maas

Brian Love

Kyra Girardin

Sharon Gilbert-Rivett

Summer - the time of birding plenty

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 10:09:09 GMT

Migrant and resident species add colour to the Manyeleti

Above: A little bee-eater. Top: A black-headed oriole. All images: Peter Maas Wildlife Photography

The Manyeleti is known for its grassy plains and mixed woodland, creating a variety of habitats that make it an excellent destination for birdwatching. The summer months, which typically span from November to February each year, are particularly interesting for birders, as this is the time when many migratory bird species arrive in the region...

Summer is the wet season, also known as the emerald season because the bush flourishes, becoming dense and verdant. It's breeding time for many species too, offering an excellent opportunity to observe courtship displays and nesting behaviours, as well as chicks. The lush greenery, a result of the annual rains, provides a vibrant backdrop for birdwatching, with increased bird activity particularly notable during the early morning and late afternoon.

Additionally, the rainy season brings about a proliferation of insects, creating a plentiful food source for birds, attracting species that specialise in insect consumption.

Here are some of the migrant bird species you are likely to encounter in Manyeleti Game Reserve during the summer months:

Woodland kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis)

Appearance: With its stunning blue and white plumage, the Woodland Kingfisher is a striking sight during the summer months.

Habitat: These kingfishers are often found in wooded areas, riverbanks, and open woodlands.

Behaviour: They are skilled hunters, diving from perches to catch insects, small vertebrates, and even reptiles.

Observation tips: Listen for their melodious calls and look for them perched on exposed branches. Their vibrant colours make them stand out against the greenery.

Yellow-billed kite (Milvus aegyptius)

Appearance: Easily recognisable by its yellow bill and forked tail, this kite is often seen gliding overhead during the summer months.

Habitat: Yellow-billed kites are adaptable and can be found in various habitats, including open landscapes and urban areas.

Behaviour: They are skilled scavengers, feeding on carrion and sometimes catching live prey like mongooses, rodents and small birds.

Observation tips: Watch for them soaring in the sky, particularly near areas with available food sources. They may also gather in groups especially when the grasses begin to seed and the seed-eating bird species are plentiful.

African paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis)

Appearance: An elegant long-tailed flycatcher, the African paradise flycatcher is known for its vibrant plumage and the stunning tail feathers that make up its breeding plumage.

Habitat: They are commonly found in wooded areas and riverine forests.

Behaviour: These flycatchers catch insects on the wing and are known for their acrobatic flights.

Observation tips: Look for their distinctive long tails and listen for their melodious calls. They often perch in trees and bushes and are very territorial, so constantly chirp and call to advertise their presence.

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)

Appearance: This migratory raptor is characterised by its size, dark plumage, and distinctive flight silhouette.

Habitat: Steppe eagles are commonly seen in open savannahs and grasslands during the summer months.

Behaviour: They soar, using thermal currents, and may also be observed perched on elevated vantage points.

Observation tips: Look for Steppe Eagles during the day, soaring in wide circles. Binoculars can help identify them at a distance.

Here are some of the colourful resident bird species that you can see all year round in the Maneyelti, including in and around Pungwe Safari Camp:

Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus)

Appearance: A striking-looking bird with a bright yellow body and contrasting black head and wings, it also has a distinctive black eye stripe.

Habitat: These orioles are often found in woodlands, riverine forests, and savannahs. They are arboreal and are frequently seen perched on tree branches.

Behaviour: Black-headed orioles are known for their melodious and flute-like calls. They are generally vocal and can be heard before they are seen. They feed on insects, fruits, and nectar.

Observation tips: Look and listen for these orioles in the canopy of trees. They may be more active during the early morning and late afternoon.

Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus)

Appearance: Little Bee-eaters are small, colourful birds with a combination of green, blue, and chestnut plumage. They have a distinctive black stripe on their face and throat.

Habitat: These bee-eaters are often found in open woodlands, savannahs, and areas with scattered trees. They are known for perching on branches and wires.

Behaviour: As the name suggests, little bee-eaters primarily feed on bees and other flying insects. They are highly agile in flight, catching their prey with impressive aerial manoeuvres.

Observation tips: Watch for them perched on exposed branches where they scan for insects. They may also use elevated perches to spot and catch their prey.

Bateleur Eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus)

Appearance: The bateleur is a medium-sized eagle with distinctive plumage. Adults have a black body, chestnut-coloured wings, and a bare, red facial skin. They have a short tail that makes them exceptionally aerodynamic.

Habitat: Bateleurs prefer open savannahs and woodland areas. They are often seen soaring in the sky or perched on prominent trees.

Behaviour: These eagles are known for their acrobatic flight and are capable of flying at low altitudes and tumbling. They are opportunistic hunters, feeding on a variety of prey, including small mammals and birds.

Observation tips: Look for one or more bateleurs soaring in the sky. They are often seen gliding on thermal currents. They may also perch on high vantage points, providing excellent opportunities for observation. They are renowned for flying in close formation, and have been known to locking talons and tumble together during the mating season.

Lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus)

Appearance: A stunning and exceptionally colourful resident bird often perched prominently on tree branches.

Habitat: Lilac-breasted rollers are commonly found in open woodlands and savannahs.

Behaviour: They perch on exposed branches, scanning for prey, and are known for their aerial acrobatics and rolling flight during courtship displays.

Observation tips: Look for them on high perches where their distinctive colours make them easy to spot.

The Manyeleti's most overlooked mammal

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 07:49:08 GMT

There's more to the impala than meets the eye!

It's usually the first animal you see when you go on your first safari and at first is an exciting, but when you get to your 100th impala, interest in this beautiful antelope can begin to wane, which is sad because while it's one of the most numerous animals in the African bush, it's also one of the most interesting.

This medium-sized herbivore is native to the expansive landscapes of sub-Saharan Africa. Characterised by elegant physical attributes, the impala's slender frame makes it athletic and nimble and able to jump mid-run to confuse and evade predators. They can leap up to 3m in the air and cover distances of over 9m in a single bound.

We all know about the distinctive black stripes adorning the impala's hindquarters that some think reminds them of a certain fast-food outlet, but the impala is so much more than just food for everything with teeth and claws. For a start, they're highly adaptable and capable of thriving in various habitats, including savannas, woodlands, and grasslands. This adaptability has contributed to their widespread distribution in Africa.

They also employ various strategies to avoid predators, such as forming large herds, using their keen senses of sight and smell to detect threats, and making alarm calls to alert the group to danger. Impalas are known for their wide range of vocalisations, including snorts, grunts, and alarm calls. These vocalisations serve different communication purposes, including warning the herd of danger and maintaining social cohesion.

Sexual dimorphism in impalas is evident, as the males, commonly referred to as rams, sport long, lyre-shaped horns that can reach impressive lengths of up to 91cm. In stark contrast, female impalas, known as ewes, are devoid of these imposing horns.

Impalas are inherently social creatures and live largely in herds, ranging from small clusters to sizable congregations of several dozen individuals. These herds are not without hierarchy, with dominant rams assuming the role of primary protectors for their harem of females and their young.

While male impalas compete for dominance and access to females during the annual breeding season - also known as the rut - it is the females that take on a leadership role and make decisions for the herd's movements. During this time, usually between April and May each year, rams engage in competitive displays and vocalisations to vie for the attention of receptive females.

Ewes give birth to a single offspring following a gestation period averaging around 200 days, timing the birth of lambs to coincide with the start of the rains when grazing and browsing is more abundant. To safeguard their vulnerable young from predators, newborns are concealed and vigilantly guarded for the initial weeks of life.

An impala's diet is fairly adaptable and includes grasses, leaves, and tender shoots. Ecologically, their feeding behaviour contributes to the management of grassland habitats, modulating plant growth and sustaining the overall health of these ecosystems.

Helping make Chef Carol's dreams come true

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 09:16:40 GMT

Cooking up a storm in the Manyeleti!

Being a chef was not in Carol Sibuyi's plans. Her dream was to be a teacher. Her father, a farmworker, suggested she go to chef school after she matriculated from school with the idea that she could earn money as a chef with which to pay for university and her teacher's qualification.

That she has fallen in love with cooking along the way is a happy accident, she says! She has also fallen in love with the Manyeleti and the African wilderness and all of the amazing wild animals that call it home.

Born and raised in the village of Kashorty near Hluvukani, Carol is just 22 years old. She was 20 when she started at Pungwe in 2021 and has impressed us with her incredible work ethic and considerable culinary talent.

"At first I was very afraid of working here," she laughs. "I thought the wild animals were going to kill me. But I have learned and now I am much braver, even when there are elephants and lions in camp," she giggles, confessing that she used to run from hyenas hanging around the kitchen.

She loves interacting with Pungwe's guests and gets a real buzz out of preparing fabulous food for them. "My favourite to make is carrot cake and I also love making individual crustless vegetable quiches, but I also like the fact that I get to cook around the campfire a lot and chat to the guests when I present their meals to them."

Working in tourism has impressed Carol, especially in the way that it benefits the local communities around the Manyeleti. "This camp is doing very good work for the local people here," she says. "Not just with the jobs, but also with the conservation and the creche, and also the schools it worked with especially during COVID19," she adds.

"All of us here at Pungwe come from around here, close to the Manyeleti. Before I came to work here, I had not been to the Manyeleti and I did not know anything about wildlife, conservation or how important it is that we protect this land. Now I understand," she says, nodding her head wisely.

Carol was planning on starting a teaching course in the new year, but her love of Pungwe has tugged at her heartstrings and she has made an important life decision, electing to stay with us indefinitely and focus on her culinary skills.

"Pungwe is a wonderful place. It's very cool and we are all like a family here. In fact, this is my second home and my second family, and it will always be a special place for me. It has given me a big opportunity as well, and I want to see where that takes me, learning as much as I can and continuing to apply myself to being the best chef I can be," she says.

Falling in love with leopards

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 06:08:39 GMT

Meet one of the Manyeleti's stealthiest hunters...

Images: Peter Maas Wildlife Photography

Widely regarded as the most charismatic of Africa's big cats, the leopard is also adaptable, opportunistic, and extremely photogenic. The Manyeleti is blessed with one of the healthiest populations of this fabulous feline in the Greater Kruger, making Pungwe a hot "spot" for cat lovers!

Renowned for being secretive and using the cover of darkness for their hunting forays, leopards regularly top the list of the animal our guests most want to see during their stay at Pungwe. Of course, while we can never guarantee anything, we are fortunate to be in an area of the Manyeleti, and, indeed the Greater Kruger, that's known for its regular leopard sightings

Located as we are between the Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sand private game reserve, the Manyeleti plays a pivotal role in one of the largest conservation areas in Southern Africa that's renowned for its biodiversity. It has a healthy population of leopards, the territories of which often overlap with our illustrious neighbours.

Our resident leopards are generally extremely relaxed around safari vehicles, giving us the opportunity to view them at close quarters without disturbing them or negatively affecting their natural behaviour. Over the years we have gotten to know many leopards intimately, forming relationships with them and having the privilege of watching their lives unfold, year on year.

Leopards are extremely adaptable big cats and thrive in a range of diverse habitats, from savannah grasslands to acacia woodlands and riparian forests, all of which can be found on the Manyeleti. Their diet is as broad as their range and they are known to hunt and consume a variety of animals from antelopes like impala, bushbuck and duiker to smaller mammals, birds and even reptiles.

Their strength is legendary and adult leopards are capable of carrying prey twice their own body weight up into trees to protect kills from scavengers like hyena and other predators. Climbing is their super-power and they spend a good deal of time in trees, using them as vantage points, larders in which to store their kills and resting places where they can escape the heat of the day and annoying, biting insects.

Their distinctive coat is not actually spotted. It's covered in what's known as rosettes - clusters of spot-like markings forming a rose-like pattern - providing excellent camouflage, especially in the dappled shade of riverine woodlands and swaying savannah grasses.

Leopards have one of the widest geographic ranges of any big cat species. They can be found across Africa and parts of Asia, including countries like India, China, and Russia. They are primarily solitary animals, coming together for mating. Females hold their own territories and the males' territories will often cover that of several different females.

They mark their territories by spraying urine on shrubs and trees. Leopards communicate using a variety of vocalisations, including growls, roars, grunts, and even meows. Their calls play a role in establishing territories and attracting mates.

Females give birth to one or two cubs after a gestation period of between 88 and 112 days. The cubs are born under-developed, and their eyes do not open for the first week or so. They stay with their mother for some two years, until they are able to hunt for themselves with ease.

As apex predators, leopards play a critical role in the health of ecosystems, helping to regulate herbivore populations and shape the behaviour of other key species. Sadly, populations of leopards are in decline across their range, largely due to a loss of habitat caused by human expansion. Poaching also plays a role in their drop in numbers, as does human-wildlife conflict.

Ensuring their survival in reserves like the Manyeleti involves efforts to protect their habitat, mitigate conflicts, reduce poaching and raise awareness about their importance.

Enraptured by raptors!

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 05:39:01 GMT

Meet some of the Manyeleti's charismatic birds of prey...

Top: Amur falcon. Above: Adult bateleur. Images: Peter Maas Wildlife Photography

With well over 300 bird species recorded in the Manyeleti, it's a bird-lover's paradise, especially where birds of prey are concerned. The avian equivalent of celebrated terrestrial hunters like lion, leopard, cheetah and painted wolves (African wild dogs), our raptors are many and varied, from Africa's largest eagle to the most diminutive of owls. Here are a few we see regularly that have been captured on camera by our guests...

Martial eagle: The Martial Eagle is one of the largest and most powerful eagles in Africa. With a wingspan of up to 2,6m and weighing in at up to 6,2kg, it is an impressive sight to behold, both while perching and in flight. With its predominantly dark-brown plumage, distinctive white chest spotted with black, and piercing golden eyes, this is an avian predator par excellence with a diet consisting of medium to large prey including birds like guineafowl and stork as well as rabbits, reptiles and even small antelopes like duiker and steenbok.

African fish eagle: This iconic eagle is well-known for its distinctive call, which sounds like a loud, haunting cry, which is both a territorial declaration and a love song to mates! They form monogomous pairs and build large stick nests in tall trees close to water, often using the same nest year after year.

As their name suggests, the African fish eagle primarily feeds on fish, caught from rivers, lakes and dams. They use their keen eyesight to spot fish from high perches or while soaring in the air. When they locate a suitable target, they swoop down and use their sharp talons to grasp the fish and carry it to a nearby perch to eat.

Bateleur: The bateleur is a striking raptor known for its aerial acrobatics, black, brown and grey plumage and the striking red face and feet that mark the completion of its journey to adulthood. Juvenile bateleurs are altogether more plain, with brown plumage and pale grey faces, legs and feet, leading to them often being confused with other brown eagles!

Bateleurs are renowned for their stunning aerial displays while hunting, they are consummate gliders with their distinctive, short tails making them exceptionally energy efficient and aerodynamic. During the breeding season they can often be seen displaying, performing the trademark in-flight somersaults, twists and tumbles that led French naturalist Francois Levaillant to give them their name. A bateleur is a street or circus performer and juggler in the French vernacular.

They are known for scavenging but mainly hunt small mammals, reptiles and other birds.

Brown snake eagle: As the name implies, this eagle specialises in hunting snakes, but also consumes other reptiles and small mammals. With its predominantly brown plumage, adult brown eagles have a distinctive short crest and large, yellow eyes as well as yellow legs and feet.

They have evolved specific adaptation to deal with their primary prey, with legs covered in thick scales to help protect against snake bites and long, slender toes that allow it to get a better grip on smooth snakeskin.

You'll typically see them perched on a tree branch scanning the ground for a potential meal. When a snake is spotted, they descend quickly and silently, seizing it in their talons before delivering a series of forceful strikes to dispatch it.

Tawny eagle: The Tawny eagle is a particularly enigmatic bird of prey, often seen perched on trees or telephone poles, scanning the surroundings for potential prey like rodents and small birds.

As its name implies, its colouration is generally a sandy brown, but there are several "morphs" or forms to this eagle's plumage that can deliver both cream and dark brown alternatives, sometimes making it harder to identify.

Tawny eagles feed mostly on small to medium-sized mammals like rodents, scrub hares but also eat other birds, reptiles and even carrion.

Amur falcon: The Amur falcon is one of our most interesting summer migrant raptors, mostly because of its incredibly long migratory journey that makes it one of the most remarkable avian travellers in the world.

Named after the Amur River that flows through parts of China, Mongolia and southeastern Siberia, where they were first described and observed, they migrate thousands of kilometres to spend their winter, non-breeding months here in Southern Africa's balmy summer.

This is one of the longest migratory journeys of any bird species.

Black-shouldered kite: With its striking red eyes, predominantly white plumage and dark grey to black wingtips, this small yet graceful raptor is mostly found in areas of open grassland and along the fringes of wetlands.

You'll often see this resident kite in the savannah regions of the Manyeleti, hovering in mid-air as it scans the ground for small mammals, insects and the occasional small bird.

Pearl spotted owlet: One of the smallest owls in Africa, this tiny but beautiful little bird of prey weighs in at just 100g for females, and 65g for males! With its cinnamon-coloured feathers broken up by pale, creamy white spots and bars, this little winged hunter also has a striking pair of false, feather "eyes" at the back of its head to ward off would-be assassins.

Known for its distinctive, ascending call that starts with a series of shrill short whistles and ends in a cascading "peeuu", you'll hear the pearl spotted owlet both day and night, especially during the breeding season.

Wrap up warm!

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 09:25:44 GMT

A safari in the winter can be a chilly affair...

Despite Africa's legendary sun-filled days in South Africa's winter months, from June to September, a safari can get more than a bit nippy and require some warm clothing, especially in the early mornings and evenings.

Our guests sometimes get caught out by South Africa's winter. While the days are sunny and warm with average mid-day temperatures as high as 28 deg C, at night it can be 10 deg C! Add a couple of degrees less for the fact that Pungwe is located in a slight depression alongside a drainage line, and you begin to understand the need for hot water bottles at this time of year!

While those lower temperatures may not seem unusual for our European and American visitors, when you head out into the wilderness each morning as the sun comes up in an open safari vehicle the wind-chill factor can make things feel chilly. Don't worry, though, because by 09h00 the sun finally warms things up nicely. However, as it begins to set at around 17h00, the temperature can drop quite drastically.

Which makes packing for a safari during the winter months quite challenging. Don't panic, though, because the secret of a successful African adventure at this time of year is layers.

Thanks to technology and the advent of lightweight thermally efficient clothing, keeping warm isn't the issue it used to be. So, a set of thermals (top and long bottoms) won't take up much room in your bag and will feel like a second skin under your clothes. They're invaluable on a winter safari, so a definite "must pack" item.

Woolly socks are an absolute must, as are closed shoes like trainers or hiking boots, long pants, long-sleeved tops, jerseys or sweaters. A puffer jacket is the icing on the cake as it's light as a feather and folds up to next-to-nothing but is incredibly warm. Add a warm beanie, a scarf and gloves and you're set.

The key to packing for a winter safari is to go for comfort and practicality and clothes that aren't so form-fitting that they prevent the layering process.

In the mornings, put the clothes you want to end up in towards the end of the safari on first and add your layers accordingly. On your afternoon/evening game drive the process is reversed as you set off in cooler clothing and add the layers on as you go. This makes a backpack a useful item on your game drives as this is where you put the clothes you take off in the mornings and carry the clothes you're going to need in the afternoon/evenings.

At Pungwe you've got the added advantage of wonderful, warm blankets on the open safari vehicle and, if you'd like one, a hot water bottle for the early morning game drives! Sunglasses are another lifesaver in the winter as they stop the early morning chill from making your eyes water too much!

Of course, in between game activities it's shorts and T-shirts time, so don't forget to bring some. And a pair of flip-flops or sandals. When you return to camp for dinner of an evening you're already prepared for the chill and have the added advantage of the campfire to keep you feeling warm.

Turning in for the night is a pleasure in the winter months when there are fewer insects, and you can snuggle down under the wonderful fluffy duvet with additional warm blankets if they're needed. As you pop your feet into bed they'll be greeted by a hot water bottle that's already warmed things up for you!

The grumpy old bulls of the Manyeleti...

Tue, 23 May 2023 06:32:43 GMT

A celebration of our "dugga boys"

Image: Peter Maas Wildlife Photography

When it comes to the Cape buffalo, Pungwe is blessed to be literally surrounded by them, with regular sightings of huge herds of these legendary Big Five members. Possibly the most underrated of this famous grouping of African mammals, the buffalo is also the most unpredictable and temperamental, especially in the case of the old, mud-covered bulls we refer to as "dugga boys".

The word dugga comes from the Shona word for mud which is apt because these old bulls are usually covered in it, spending their days wallowing as much as they can, loving the protection it offers from biting insects and the African sun. You'll often see groups of dugga boys together, apart from the main herd, sharing mud pools.

The largest and most widespread of the four buffalo sub-species found in Africa, the Cape buffalo is found throughout East and Southern Africa, they congregate in huge herds that can often exceed 1000 animals. Renowned for their unpredictability and ill temper, they spend most of their days eating mainly grass, although they do browse on the odd occasion.

Distinguished from buffalo cows by their large horns which meet in the middle of their foreheads in a solid, helmet-like structure known as a boss, the life of a bull is all about establishing dominance and sparring with other bulls. When they get too old to compete with the younger, stronger bulls they move away from the main herd and either opt for a solitary existence or team up with two or three other old bulls to form dugga boy groups.

Their eyesight isn't great, and their hearing isn't fabulous either, but their sense of smell is exceptionally well developed. They love water and are great swimmers but are more often seen wallowing in the shallows to cool off and loving the mud along the edges of waterholes and dams, accompanied invariably by red-billed and occasionally yellow-billed oxpeckers. These noisy birds are on parasite duty, keeping the number of ticks and other pesky biting insects to a minimum. You'll also see egrets moving in and around buffalo herds and dugga boy groups, feeding on insects and other creatures disturbed as they graze.

Buffalos play a critical role in the ecology of African wilderness areas like the Manyeleti as they help to maintain grasslands by turning the sod as herds move through an area and through their grazing habits. Buffalo area food source for lions and hyenas. In spite of their fearsome reputation, they are revered by many African cultures for their strength and resilience.

Dugga boys may be past their prime, but they are still a force to be reckoned with and will readily attack predators like lion and hyena and will randomly charge any perceived threat, heads down and horns at the ready. Weighing in at as much as 850kg with a shoulder height of up to 1,6m and a top speed of 50km an hour, this is an adversary you don't want to be on the receiving end of.

So, when you next come to visit us at Pungwe and we come across a few of these "grumpy old men" you'll have a with new respect for them, even when they look at you as Robert Ruark said, “as if you owe them money”!

Gentle Giants of the Manyeleti

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 06:29:12 GMT

A glimpse of what makes the African elephant so special...

It's one of Africa's most iconic creatures, renowned for its impressive size and remarkable intelligence, revered in traditional folklore for its strength, wisdom, loyalty and incredible memory... Meet the African elephant, Loxodonta Africana, the world's largest terrestrial animal.

The stats speak for themselves where elephants are concerned, with adult bulls weighing in at more than six tonnes and standing up to 4m tall at the shoulders. Both bulls and cows have tusks - modified teeth which keep growing throughout their lives, reaching lengths of up to 2,5m. Their molars, which they replace up to six times throughout their lives, can weigh up to 5kg. They have exceptional longevity, reaching up to 70 years old, often dying of starvation after their last set of teeth wear out. They also have the longest gestation period of all mammals at a whopping 22 months.

Here in South Africa, we have over 30 000 elephants, the bulk of which of which are found in and around the Greater Kruger National Park, which, of course, includes the Manyeleti. Africa's entire population of elephants is estimated at just over 400,000, spread across the continent. Of this, 70% (around 293,000) are found in Southern Africa.

In truth, we could fill a blog with amazing elephant facts and figures, but there is so much more to them than mere statistics. When we see elephants here at Pungwe, we make a point of switching off the game viewer and just watching them from a polite distance, especially where breeding herds are concerned.

By spending time safely observing them without disturbing them, we learn the most about their complex social structures and behaviours and get to understand what makes elephants so special.

Elephants are not naturally aggressive, in spite of their exceptional power. In fact, they are mostly gentle giants and give plenty of warning through body language when they are not comfortable. Our guides "speak" elephant body language so know how to read the mood and when it's appropriate to give them space and move on.

Elephants are highly social animals, living in family groups led by a single cow or matriarch. She is the one who makes important decisions about where to feed, using her knowledge of the territory around her to move her family to the best areas that offer easy access to food and water.

Elephants communicate through a variety of vocalisations and body language, using very low frequency rumbles to stay in touch with one another over huge distances. These rumbles are detected by soft, gel-filled pads on the soles of the elephants' feet and enable extended families and related groups to maintain contact and pass messages.

They are also critically important ecosystem engineers, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their environment, creating and maintaining waterholes, clearing vegetation and preventing encroachment and dispersing seeds through their dung as they move across vast landscapes.

Over countless millennia, elephants have carved pathways between water sources across the sub-continent, these have been used by other animal species, including our own, with many of modern Africa's road systems forged on ancient elephant "highways".

Put into perspective, humans have a lot to thank elephants for, but sadly, the spread of human habitation and conflict with humans over access to resources is threatening elephants' future, along with a demand for their tusks which has decimated populations over the last 50 years. It's estimated that we lose an elephant every 15 minutes to poaching in Africa. That's 100 elephants a day.

Here in the Greater Kruger, one of the biggest threats to elephants is land use, with pressure from agriculture and mining to take more and more habitat away from conservation as the demand for resources increases.

Elephants require vast areas of wilderness to meet their needs and as habitats shrink, they are forced into closer proximity with humans, leading to conflict and sometimes deadly encounters. Conservation efforts therefore rely on working with local communities and commercial interests alike, to promote coexistence, educate and inform and encourage sustainable use of natural resources.

We can only hope that the status quo we have here in the Greater Kruger is maintained and that our elephants remain protected for generations to come. It just would not be Africa without these gentle giants.

All images: Sharon Gilbert-Rivett

Meet the Manyeleti's speed freak

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 11:35:45 GMT

The cheetah is streaks ahead of its predator rivals

The beautiful landscapes of the Manyeleti include wonderful open areas of grassland and typical African savannah that make it the perfect territory for what is perhaps the most enigmatic and smallest of Africa's big cats - the cheetah.

The name cheetah comes from the Hindi word "chita" meaning "spotted one". They used to range across Africa and parts of the Middle East and Asia, as far as central India. Today, they are considered vulnerable with only an estimated 10,000 remaining in the wild in sub-Saharan Africa.

These beautiful cats feature heavily in ancient history. In Egypt they were worshipped and countless pharaohs and noblemen used them as hunting companions, hand-raising them, cherishing them and adorning the walls of their tombs with depictions of them.

The cheetah is, of course, renowned for its super speed, with an impressive acceleration rate that rivals that of an F1 car. With a top speed of 112km/h which it can reach in just three seconds, the cheetah is the fastest land animal on the planet. It's a sprinter, built to maintain its speed for up to a minute, taking three strides a second and covering 7m with each of those strides. All of which is phenomenal, all things considered.

The downside of being a sprinter is that the cheetah literally runs out of gas very quickly so it has become specialist at running its prey down as quickly as possible, giving it the highest successful kill rate after the black-footed cat, at 58%. Leopards follow it on 38% and lions lag behind on 25%. Sadly, while it may make more kills, it also loses those kills more often to the likes of hyena, so it has to eat as fast as possible, bolting its food down.

Running so fast and eating so quickly takes its toll on the cheetah's energy levels, so they are generally only active for around 12% of each day, resting, sleeping and digesting the rest of the time.

Speed is very much part of the cheetah's DNA. It's literally built to go fast. With exceptional eyesight that can lock on prospective prey at long distances, this cat is a daylight hunter so it can see better at high speed. When you run that fast it pays to have enough light to see where you're going to avoid unnecessary injuries! Being diurnal also reduces the competition with nocturnal predators like lion and leopard.

Each of the cheetah's feet is tipped with non-retractable claws that give it extreme grip at speed over rough terrain. The cheetah's long, broad tail works like a rudder to help it make the twists and turns often needed in high speed pursuits.

Stealth is the cheetah's other superpower, creeping up on its prey before launching into an all-out sprint as close as possible to its target. They literally run their prey down as quickly as possible, knocking them over with a swipe of a powerful paw and suffocating them with a bite to the throat.

Cheetahs are mostly solitary cats, although you do see coalitions of related males living and hunting together. They are territorial and females give birth to between two and five cubs at a time, raising them alone. Cubs become independent at around 16 months, moving off to find their own territories.

We're fortunate enough to have regular sightings of cheetah here in our region of the Manyeleti, but it's a tough life for them, competing as they do against a robust lion and leopard population, and plenty of hyena. So "spotting" this spotted beauty is a privilege all of its own.

All images: Peter Maas Wildlife Photography

Wet, wet, wet!

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 06:52:48 GMT

The late rains have been both a challenge and a blessing

The Manyeleti has been reborn of late, thanks to the torrential rains we have experienced here in South Africa's Lowveld. While

parts of the region have been hit by heavy flooding as a result, the rainfall has come at an opportune moment for the wild

fauna and flora around us.

Of course, it's been challenging too, with 291mm falling between 9 and 14 February. That's 11,6 inches for our friends in the USA! We managed to stay afloat (no pun intended) and even though navigating some of our roads was an adventure all of its own! To put things in perspective, our total annual rainfall average is between 480mm and 500mm. February is traditionally our wettest month with an average of 97mm. We had almost four times that amount in just five days!

There is an upside to all of this, though. We've not seen or heard the African bullfrog for more than two years here at Pungwe. Suddenly, as the rain drenched the soil, within an hour we suddenly began hearing them and witnessing them emerging from the ground, where they spend most of the year hibernating.

Pungwe's Michel Girardin explains...

"When talking about the African bullfrog I always quote a friend of mine, who said 'Imagine a predator that can weigh over 2kg (almost 5lbs), spends most of the year underground cocooned in layers of dry skin but emerges after heavy rain to breed, and then carefully looks after its babies when they hatch, but occasionally resorts to eating the self same offspring'. It sounds like something from a sci-fi tale but it's not, and it's amazing to actually see them and hear their incredibly loud calls at night.

"They are able to reduce their metabolism to a level where they hibernate until sufficient rainfall. They are fossorial (a burrowing animal) and only emerge from their burrows when it substantially rains.

"Other frogs that we have encountered are the painted reed frog; striped stream frog; bubbling cassinas; banded rubber frog, gutteral toad and raucous toad."

Michel explains that in spite of the rain, game viewing in and around Pungwe has not really been affected.

"The flushing of the shorter grasses has seen large concentrations of zebra and wildebeest moving on to these areas. However, all the grass species are flushing and all are highly palatable at this stage of their growth. Predators have been seen a lot more on the roads and tracks...

"Being mammals like us, they also do not like walking through wet grass! One interesting individual has been Thavangumi, a relaxed male leopard who has been seen outside Chelele tent twice in recent days... He even scent-marked the chairs on the verandah of Chelele, leaving the distinctive smell that resembles hot popcorn behind him," says Michel.

"The elephants have been making huge footsteps everywhere they go making them easy to track," laughs Michel. "And the frog chorus of an evening, over and above the baritones of the African bullfrog, has been phenomenal.

"With the extremely wet weather we have been seeing raptors sitting atop trees, not having the updraft or thermals they need to soar into the skies. So we saw lots of vultures and eagles just perching."

The rains mean that all of the Manyeleti's dams are replenished and the myriad wallows and pans are full to the brim. This augurs well for both the winter months ahead and should stand the reserve in good stead for the next couple of years.

Michel explains that the grasses will seed twice or even three times this year as a result of the rains. "They had already seed once by the end of November and the rainfall we've had now will ensure more verdant growth," he says. "All species in an environment like this adapt exceptionally well to the ups and downs of rainfall."

It's a wonderful time to be in the Manyeleti now with it looking fantastically green and lush and set to look this way for a good few months ahead. So please get in touch to chat to us about coming to visit!

Discover the African wilderness on foot!

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 10:20:59 GMT

Walking is a fabulous way to learn more about the bush

Make no mistake about it, we love game drives. Ranging across the wide expanse of magnificent wilderness that is the Manyeleti Game Reserve in an open safari vehicle is a thrill that never gets old. No two game drives are alike, and you get to explore vastly different regions and biomes on drives, but if it's a deeply immersive and entirely different bush experience you're after, it's hard to beat walking.

At Pungwe we offer bush walks, subject to conditions, in the early mornings as this is the best time to explore on foot, when the heat of the day has yet to build up and it's more comfortable to head out into the wide green yonder.

We say "subject to conditions" because sometimes in summer, when the grasses get high and the bush is really thick, it's not easy, and t safety could be an issue. Of course, the weather plays a role too, so when you arrive for your stay, our manager and guides will chat to you about what you'd like to do and let you know whether walking is possible.

If a walk or two is on the cards, then it's an activity not to be missed. Walking gets you access to the things you miss on a game drive - the small, often overlooked but hugely fascinating plants and animals that play critical roles in maintaining the eco-systems of the reserve and contribute to the rich biodiversity around us.

Walking is thrilling because you feel very different about the African wilderness when you're navigating it on foot, suddenly becoming very aware of everything around you, with your senses becoming finely tuned to the smallest of sounds and unusual smells you miss on a vehicle. Your guide will introduce you to amazing plants , stopping to explain interesting facts about them and sharing traditional uses that have been passed down over the generations.

You'll also learn about unique symbiotic and mutually beneficial relationships between plants and animals and the adaptations both make to live in an often challenging environment that's prone to extremes of temperature and drought.

One of the best things about walking is learning to identify animal spoor and what tracks tell us about animal behaviour. You'll also find out how fascinating dung is and what information can be gathered from it (as well as what lives in it and depends on it!) Getting to know more about the insect world and how important insects are in a healthy eco-system is also a bonus of walking.

Walking helps you to piece together the puzzle of how the African wilderness actually works as you get the chance to delve deeper into the operational systems of an eco-system and get a glimpse of the wonderful way everything is connected and interwoven and mutually dependent.

Of course, it's also wonderful exercise and gives you the chance to burn off some of the amazing breakfasts, indulgent afternoon teas and wonderful three-course dinners you'll be treated to during your stay!

So please chat to us if you'd like to do a walk during your stay! If it's possible, it's a real bucket list experience!

Pungwe's food, glorious food!

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:02:38 GMT

You're not going to go hungry here in the Manyeleti!

There's one unspoken rule at Pungwe Safari Camp that we urge guests to follow... Come hungry! We might be a small, remote little camp in the middle of the Manyeleti wilderness but when it comes to food, we like to go large and spoil our guests with a wealth of tastebud-tantalising, homecooked dishes...

Our ethos of authenticity is extended to our little bush kitchen, where head chef Carol Sibuyi has free rein to create cullinary magic and a range of dishes that have become Pungwe staples and firm guest favourites, all loving prepared with fresh ingredients that are as locally sourced as possible.

It all begins as dawn breaks and you gather for coffee and rusks around the camp fire before heading off on your morning game drive, stopping en-route for a break when you'll dig into home-made muffins or cookies designed to get your tummy ready for the feast that awaits on your return to camp.

Breakfasts at Pungwe have become something of a local legend and kick off with fresh fruits, yoghurts and cereals, accompanied by cold meats and cheeses and preserves before baskets of hot toast and a stunning cooked breakfast are delivered to the table. There's piping hot tea and coffee on tap (thanks to our "always on" fire) and a range of fresh fruit juices to boot.

We then give you a break until afternoon tea, served before you embark on your second game drive of the day and designed to keep tummies from rumbling until dinner is served. This is when Carol puts together a spread featuring a celebrated savoury option and fabulous sweet accompaniment that pays homage to the high tea traditions of old.

Chicken mayo wraps and freshly baked Lamington balls... Oven-warm pesto pies and home-made banana loaf... Chocolate fudge slices and biltong bruschetta... These are just some of the heart-warming, flavour packed favourites that have guests raving.

Of course, sundowners in the bush are always complemented by some nibbles because we know what hard work it is out there in the African wilderness looking for amazing wildlife and we don't want you to fade away before dinner is served under a canopy of twinkling stars!

When you return from the evening part of your afternoon/evening game drive, the table has been set up next to the crackling fire. In the summer, rain may force us to move things under cover "inside" in the thatched dining area but the result is always the same, no matter the venue - a sumptuous three-course meal of fabulous, home-cooked food.

Starters range from a home-made hearty soup and freshly baked rolls to a Caprese salad, all served at the table - just enough to get tastebuds tingling in anticipation for what comes next... The buffet table lit with oil lanterns is then filled with the main course which can be anything from a traditional braai (barbecue) prepared over the hot coals (steak, lamb chops, beef sausage called "boerwors", veggie skewers, etc) to a hearty stew or a roast with all the trimmings.

Then comes dessert, with firm favourites like malva pudding (a traditional sponge pudding), poached pears, apple crumble and panacotta going down a treat. Wind everything up with a glass of our local liqueur - Amarula - made from the fruit of the marula tree.

Vegetarian or gluten intolerant? Don't worry. Chef Carol creates a range of options for all dietary requirements, so please let us know well ahead of time what your preferences and requirements are so that we can source and stock the ingredients we need to make sure you don't go hungry!

We're more than happy to plan a menu to suit your needs, but remember - letting us know what you eat and don't eat is really important as we can't just pop out to get something last-minute! The nearest supermarket is a couple of hours away!

Summer - Pungwe's best-kept secret

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 11:47:55 GMT

A green season safari in the Manyeleti is unbeatable!

Image: Tim Cowell

There's a long-held belief that African summer and safaris do not mix. We've never understood this because for us, summer in the Manyeleti is absolutely one of the best seasons to experience our wonderful wilderness. This is the time of plenty, when there's an abundance of new life around every bend in the road, from baby animals to lush, verdant pastures of fresh grass and truly spectacular birding.

Like every season here in Southern Africa, summer comes with its pros and cons but there's a reason we call it the "secret season" - largely because those who do take the plunge and indulge in a summer safari get to see the African bush in a thrilling new light and invariably have their socks blown off by the experience.

So let's have a look at the plusses and minuses of coming to visit Pungwe in the summer with some simple Q and A's...

Doesn't it get hot in summer?

Yes. It does. And a little on the sticky side as humidity levels rise. Average daytime temperatures sit at around 32°C (around 89°F) but can climb to the high 30s, especially in late afternoons during build-up to storms. Is it a problem? We don't think so, because your body quickly adjusts to the heat and as long as you stay hydrated and take advantage of the shade provided by our wonderful lounge area and your spacious and airy tents (complete with fans run off our solar power, if you need them), comfort levels are easily managed.

On game drives you absolutely need a hat and lots of sunscreen. A good tip is to bring a soft, lightweight scarf or sarong to drape across shoulders as protection from the sun. If you wet it before a game drive and wring it out till damp, putting it around your neck will keep you marvellously cool! You can also take advantage of this clever cooling trick at night!

What about the rain?

Even though it's called the rainy season, we rarely have rain all day or for days on end. We have spectacular summer storms that build up during the course of the day and then break in the evenings, providing a welcome downpour that cools everything down. There can be some heavy deluges, but it's all part of the experience of being immersed in nature in all its magnificent glory, and witnessing an African storm in the wilderness is an amazing experience.

We have excellent waterproof ponchos on our game vehicles in case of showers that cover you and your personal belongings/camera gear as well. It's always a good idea to bring a waterproof jacket with you in the summer. A pair of lightweight long pants and closed shoes are also recommended as the temperature can sometimes drop quite a few degrees during and after a storm!

What's the game viewing like?

As with any season in the African bush, game viewing is never guaranteed. The general consensus is that the dry season is better for game viewing because the bush is less thick and animals gather around water more regularly. In truth, the game viewing can be just as spectacular in the summer months, and even more so because the reserve looks so beautiful.

While there is more water, animals still need to drink so dams and waterholes are still great places to stop and watch awhile. We do find that megafauna like elephants disperse more in the summer months as there is more to eat and drink, but we still have regular sightings during the green season, especially of big bulls. Predators may be harder to spot as they relax in the shade but there is so much food for them at this time of year that we have regular sightings on fresh kills.

For our plains game this is the time for babies. Impala, wildebeest and zebra all tend to give birth at around the same time, shortly after the rains arrive and the grass begins to grow, along with warthogs, mongooses and most of the antelope species.

The birding in the summer months is off the charts. This is when the summer migrants are here in numbers and breeding. Carmine bee-eaters, paradise flycatchers, woodland kingfishers, Wahlberg's eagle, yellow-billed kites, European rollers, red-billed queleas, yellow-billed storks... The list is impressive and extensive. So bring cameras and binoculars!

What about insects?

Summer is the time when insects breed too, so yes, there are going to be quite a few bugs around! So if you are averse to insects, arachnids and other creepy, crawly things, you need to be aware that this is peak season for them. But if you find nature fascinating in all its various aspects and are willing to learn more about our six-legged (as well as eight-legged and multi-legged) friends then you'll have a fascinating experience.

Learning about things like rhino and dung beetles, scorpions, baboon spiders, dragonflies and cicadas can be fun, we promise!

Of course, this is also mosquito breeding time and the peak of the "biting" season, so you need to prepare to cover up and use lots of insect repellant as soon as dusk begins to fall. And we absolutely recommend malaria prophylaxis, so chat to your doctor about this before coming on safari in the summer. Our tents all have mosquito nets and we spray regularly to keep them at bay, but it's always better to be safe and take the necessary precautions.

And snakes?

Yes, this is peak snake season too! Summer is absolutely the busiest time for the animal and plant kingdoms as everything moves into reproduction mode thanks to the abundance of food. As with insects, we always tell our guests that by learning about snakes any fear of them tends to subside, replaced by a healthy respect for these amazing reptiles.

For every dangerous, venomous snake we have here in the Manyeleti, there are three or four harmless ones. And no snake will go out of its way to approach you or threaten you - they are more afraid of us and will try to find the quickest way to escape. So yes, be aware, but don't be afraid. If you do have a snake in or around your tent, we are fully equipped to deal with it and safely remove it.

Ask your guide to go through the snakes you are most likely to see at this time of year and study their habits - we recommend an app developed by the African Snakebite Institute which is a fabulous way to learn more about the snakes in our region, as well as scorpions and spiders! Check it out here: https://www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com/app/

Can we walk in summer?

That's at the discretion of your guide. When the grasses are high and the bush is thick, we don't recommend walking for obvious reasons - we can't see what may be hiding! Walking is always best in the mornings, and that's when rain and heavy dew make grass and the undergrowth wet, so it's not pleasant to walk through it in any event. But chat to us in any event, as it may still be possible to use our network of roads to walk along, safely.

So summer is great, then?

Yes. It is. And absolutely worth experiencing on a safari with us. Please get in touch and let's put together a wonderful summer safari for you. And take advantage of our current festive/holiday season special where you can pay for three nights and get an extra night free!

Introducing a tiny hunter extraordinaire!

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 12:47:57 GMT

In the Manyeleti, great things really do come in small packages!

It's Africa's smallest carnivore and one of the most overlooked and underrated of the Manyeleti's resident mammals... Meet the dwarf mongoose - a pint-sized predator with a supersized personality. Impossibly cute, extremely entertaining to watch and with an intelligence that belies their petite stature, you'll often see them foraging in camp and around our tents.

Dwarf mongooses are social creatures and live in groups - called a "business" or a "rush" - with as many as 30 members retaining a territory of around three square kilometres. They belong to the same mammalian family as meerkats and are cousins to the larger banded mongoose, white-tailed mongoose and slender mongoose, which you can also see in the Manyeleti.

A dwarf mongoose business is presided over by a dominant or alpha female and her consort male. It's this couple that will reproduce, mating in the late winter months with up to five babies born almost two months later in mid-spring, timed to coincide with the arrival of the first rains. Occasionally the second highest-ranked female will also have babies, but depending on group dynamics, the dominant female may kills these.

It takes the whole group to raise baby dwarf mongooses and sadly the success rate is not high. These little predators are on the prey list of competing small carnivores like African wild cats and jackals as well as raptors (eagles, vultures, owls etc), snakes and monitor lizards. Marabou storks have also been known to kill and eat them. So in spite of constant baby-sitting, the watchful eyes of the whole business and great maternal instincts, only around one in five dwarf mongoose babies survives its first year.

Dwarf mongooses are long-lived, reaching up to 18 years old, but with so many other animals and the often harsh conditions of life in the African wilderness posing a threat, it's rare that a wild "dwarfie" will reach that milestone. They spend their days foraging for food, eating insects, spiders, scorpions, reptiles, small rodents and occasionally birds.

They move as a cohesive group through the undergrowth, keeping in touch with one another with constant chirps and peeps, sounding the alarm call in the case of a possible threat, whereupon they rush for cover. Their vocabulary is very wide and they have different alarm calls for each threat, as well as a range of growls, screeches, purrs and almost bird-like trills.

As dusk falls dwarf mongooses retreat to one of a series of dens they use throughout their territory. These can be vacated termite mounds, hollow tree trunks or a series of tunnels they excavate themselves to provide bolt-holes and cover. They are excellent climbers and masterful diggers, with their front paws tipped with long, sharp claws that can handle even the hardest and most compacted soil.

The dwarf mongoose's social hierarchy is developed and maintained through mutual grooming and when they are not foraging the business will find a shady spot and indulge in grooming sessions, sleeping curled up together with just a lookout on duty. If a lookout performs well it is rewarded with extra grooming. All of this fur cleaning and maintenance ensures that dwarf mongooses are very clean and that pesky parasites like ticks are kept to a minimum.

Grooming is taken to an extreme when the dominant female is challenged for the right to mate. She and her challenger will engage in an extended mutual licking session and whoever licks longest wears the crown and has the babies! Males fight for dominance and will often inflict painful wounds on one another in the process. It's not unusual to see toes and eyes lost in such bouts, thanks to their needle sharp teeth and slashing claws.

Their fighting prowess is needed when other businesses invade their territory as they work together to see the infiltrators off. It's a last resort after a lot of posturing and threat displays but scuffles can be dramatic and, sometimes, lethal, especially if the business has babies.

The flip side of fighting is playing, and when it comes to recreation, dwarf mongooses definitely know how to have fun! You'll often see them near their den site relaxing and sparring with one another, standing upright and wrestling with their arms around each other. They chase with glee and ambush readily, jumping high into the air and pouncing on one another. Hide and seek is a favourite pastime and watching them at play is truly special.

So the next time you come across dwarf mongooses, whether in camp or out on a game drive, pause a while and sit quietly to watch their behaviour. They soon settle down if you stay quiet and keep a respectful distance and the joy of observing their natural behaviour is more than worth the time!

All images: Sharon Gilbert-Rivett

Magic in the Manyeleti

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 11:24:41 GMT

The Pungwe safari experience explained!

What makes a great safari? Is it outstanding game viewing? Exceptional accommodation? Wonderful food? Fantastic hospitality? The luxury of solitude and exclusivity? With so many different game reserves, private and public alike, each packed with a plethora of lodges, camps and retreats, what makes Pungwe special and why should you choose it for your next safari?

Pungwe takes you back to a time when an African safari was simpler, more connected with the environment around it and more authentic, with the focus firmly on the experience of being in the middle of a remote wilderness, surrounded by incredible wild animals. We've forgone the temptation to focus on frills, choosing to keep our lovely little camp firmly in the realm of comfort rather than luxury.

The focus is on a holistic, hands-on safari experience which is just as much about Pungwe's amazing people as it is the incredible wilderness of the Manyeleti Game Reserve. A Pungwe safari goes to the very heart of the core traditions and culture of Africa, immersing guests into a slower, quieter way of life, one that's in complete harmony with nature and follows the natural rhythms of the bush.

Luxury done differently

We offer a different form of luxury - one where you get to relax, switch off from the world, digitally detox and reboot body, mind and soul. With no fences between us and wild Africa, you're invited to experience the thrill of being somewhere truly untamed, where anything can happen, and wild animals can (and do) walk through camp.

There's little to beat sitting back on one of our cozy couches in our cool, shady lounge area and watching elephants quietly making their way across our "lawn"! Or one of our local nyala bulls browsing alongside the camp path. This is how wild Africa should be experienced, with no barriers. Unplugged, so to speak!

Our four tents are spacious, airy and practical, with cool, tiled floors, large en-suite bathrooms, exceptionally comfortable beds and gorgeous cotton linen. Like the whole camp, they are off grid, with solar power sufficient to run a fan. You won't be able to use a hairdryer. Or straightener. Or recharge any of your devices in your tent. We have a specific recharging station in the lounge area for this.

At night, lighting is provided by paraffin lanterns and rechargeable camping lights. Hot water is supplied through a "donkey boiler" - a traditional system which uses the dead wood we find in and around camp to heat our borehole water and fill your tent's hot water tank.

A warm heart

Our hearth is the heart of the camp. It's where a large kettle rests over the embers, ensuring there's always hot water for tea or coffee, no matter what the time of day. You'll have a cup of something warm and wonderful here before departing for your morning game drive or walk, along with some tasty rusks for added early morning energy. In the cooler, winter months you'll enjoy the warmth of the fire as you prepare for the day ahead.

You'll also eat a wonderful, home-cooked dinner alongside the fire when you return from your evening game drive, weather permitting, of course! In the late spring and summer, African storms can often prevent starlit dinners, and we have to adjourn to the undercover dining area with its huge, custom-made table perfect for bringing guests together to recount the tales of the day's adventures.

The advantage of having such a small, intimate camp is that you get to make it your own, finding the perfect spot to curl up with a good book or a pair of binoculars in between activities, whether it's in the lovely lounge area or in our hammock under the trees. Or back in your tent, with the wilderness all around you. Siestas are also a good way of recharging, and we never mind you taking a nap!

Special people

Most of all, during your stay you become part of the Pungwe family, welcomed with warm smiles wherever you go, with nothing being too much trouble. Our people make Pungwe truly special. Most have been with us for many, many years and now consider Pungwe their home-from-home. You can read about their stories elsewhere in our blog pages - all are inspiring and heart-warming.

These, then, are just a few of the things that make a Pungwe safari stand out from the crowd. The final piece of the safari experience puzzle, though, is the Manyeleti itself. One of South Africa's best-kept safari secrets, this magnificent game reserve is filled with an abundance of life and forms one of the most critically important game corridors in the Greater Kruger National Park.

Pungwe's location in the remote southern reaches of the Manyeleti places it in the realms of an exclusive safari because you will so rarely see any other safari vehicles when out on your game drives. This gives you the feeling of having the place all to yourself - a luxury that', like Pungwe itself, is hard to beat!

Masters of the air...

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 12:18:02 GMT

Meet the vultures of the Manyeleti!

You'll frequently see them soaring on invisible thermals, climbing high into the impossibly blue skies above the Manyeleti as they search for the dying and the dead. Vultures are the aerial monarchs of the Greater Kruger with incredible vision that defies belief and the unsavory but critically important job of helping to dispose of carcasses, stripping meat from bone.

Africa's vultures are what's known as Old World vultures and belong to the same family as eagles, buzzards, kites and hawks. The three species we see in the Manyeleti are the white-backed vulture, hooded vulture and lappet-faced vulture, each of which perform different aspects of carrion clean-up. All of them have bald heads and necks, thought to prevent the matting of feathers with dried blood although recent research suggests the baldness also helps with thermoregulation.

Big and brawny

The lappet-faced vulture is the biggest and ugliest of the three and is often referred to as the can-opener of the bush, thanks to its large and powerful hooked beak that can slice through even the toughest hide. When vultures descend on a carcass the lappet-faced vulture is the dominant bird thanks to its size and its ability to tear it open, allowing other vultures like the white-backed vulture to feed. The smaller hooded vulture usually waits for the scraps left behind by its bigger, meaner-looking cousins.

With its wingspan of up to 2,9m, the lappet-faced vulture is Africa's largest vulture. Also known as the Nubian vulture, it's listed as endangered with only around 350 mature individuals in South Africa and an estimated 8,500 across its entire range. They breed atop tall thorny trees, with the female laying a single egg which hatches between 54 and 56 days later. Chicks fledge at around 135 days old.

Our most common species

The white-backed vulture is the most widespread species, with an estimated 270,000 across sub-Saharan Africa. Even so, its numbers are in rapid decline with a loss of more than 90% throughout its range over the last 10 years. It's a lowland species, preferring wooded savannah and acacia thornveld. The white-backed vulture is a very social species, roosting in loose colonies of anywhere between two to 15 birds, but it's not uncommon to see bigger numbers soaring together and sitting in tall trees when the weather's not great for flying.

Like the lappet-faced vulture, female white-backed vultures lay a single egg which is incubated for around 56 days. The single chick fledges between 120 and 130 days after hatching and is cared for by both parents.

Small and shy

The diminutive and somewhat scruffy looking hooded vulture is listed as critically endangered with just a couple of hundred mature individuals in South Africa and around 200,000 across its sub-Saharan range. It's a rarer sighting in the Manyeleti and the Greater Kruger lowveld is pretty much its last remaining South African home.

Shy by nature, hooded vultures feed on insects as well as carrion and are often seen in human settlements as well as in the wooded savannah that's their preferred habitat. Females, which are larger than the males, lay a single egg which hatches between 46 and 54 days later, with fledging taking place anywhere between 80 and 130 days after hatching.

Fast facts

All vultures have exceptionally strong stomach acid that's also very corrosive, allowing them to feed on rotting carcasses that can be infected with often dangerous bacteria. It's this ability to consume meat that would be toxic to other animals that makes them so effective in cleaning up the ecosystem and preventing the spread of disease.

Vultures urinate on their legs and feet to help stay cool when the African sun is at its hottest. This process, called urohydrosis, also keeps bacteria and parasites at bay because when you spend your time wading through carcasses and perching on dead animals hygiene is important!

Their eyesight is spectacular compared to ours. With a much thicker retina than humans have and larger eyes in proportion to their head size, they also have a higher density of rods and cones giving them the ability to spot small carcasses from kilometres away. Vultures also see movement and detail better than we do and because their eyes are set much further apart than ours, they have a wider field of vision. They also have an inner eyelid to protect and clean their eyes.

Vultures have relatively weak feet and legs which means they don't carry food back to their nests in their talons. This is why they gorge at a carcass, eating as much as they can and storing it in their crops to regurgitate later for their young.

When it comes to collective nouns for vultures, they're special in that they have three! When in flight with others, a group of vultures is called a "kettle"! At rest in trees, they're known as a committee and when they're in the thick of feeding on a carcass, that's called a wake!

Meet the Manyeleti's clean-up crew...

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 05:15:29 GMT

Spotted hyenas are one of Africa's most successful carnivores

When it comes to the bad guys of the bush, the spotted hyena is the invariably cast in the leading role. Invariably portrayed as a cowardly, sneaky and downright untrustworthy scavenger (think Shenzi in Disney's "The Lion King") it has developed an entirely undeserved reputation, based largely on its odd looks and feeding habits!

The poor spotted hyena has even been lumped into the "Ugly Five" - a loose grouping of Africa's five most unsavoury looking animals, alongside the marabou stork, warthog, blue wildebeest and vulture!

The truth is about as far removed from the myths of popular culture as it's possible to get...

Disposal expert

The hyena is a critical component of the African wilderness and performs one of the most important jobs in any eco-system - cleaning up after other predators. With its powerful jaws (it has a bite force of around 1,100psi - more than a lion) it's able to crush the bones of large mammals like giraffe with ease and tear through tough skin and hide. Its rugged digestive tract allows it to obtain nutrients from the parts no other carnivore can handle, like skin and bone.

This ability to dispose efficiently of carcasses helps to prevent disease and genuinely keeps the wilderness clean and tidy. It works for humans too... In the ancient walled city of Harrar in Ethiopia, hyenas are revered and for thousands of years have been encouraged to patrol the streets of the city at night, removing refuse and offal from butcheries. Special hyena portals were built into the city walls to allow them unlimited access and to this day man and hyena live in a peaceful, symbiotic relationship. The city stays clean and disease free and the hyenas have a permanent source of food.

Clever hunter

While it does have a penchant for stealing kills from lion, leopard and cheetah (and does so frequently), the spotted hyena is a successful hunter in its own right and hyenas kill between 60% and 90% of what they eat themselves. They run their prey down and are able to cruise easily at speeds up 60km per hour for huge distances and are capable of bringing down huge buffalo and giraffe! Studies have also found that lions are more likely to steal from hyenas more than hyenas from lions, thanks to the hyena's greater success rate as a hunter!

Their success as hunters is down to their intelligence. Hyena's are canny, perceptive and exceptionally clever. With their complex social structure and social behaviours, their brains have developed specifically for collective problem solving. They are curious and inquisitive and will spend time observing their prey and surroundings, strategising.

Girl power!

Hyena clans are presided over by a matriarch, a single dominant female - an unusual structure for large carnivores. They are extraordinarily complex groups featuring strategic friendships and political alliances and can number up to 100 individuals in some cases. However, clans are rarely together all at once and tend to spend their days either alone or in smaller groups, meeting up only occasionally with the entire clan.

Clans are mostly made up of related females, their pups and immigrant males. It's often hard to identify the males though because the females have pseudopenises and pseudoscrotums. Females urinate, copulate and give birth through their pseudopenis which is actually a clitoris that has evolved to mimic male sexual organs.

Hyenas are great mothers, too. They give birth to one to three pups (early naturalists called them cubs are they thought they resembled baby bears) who are jet black when born. They're born with their eyes open, teeth ready for action and muscles ready to go.

The voice

Spotted hyenas are also known as laughing hyenas because of the laughing, giggling sound they make when anxious. They possess a wide range of vocalisations from the distinctive and haunting whoop that you usually hear at night to low whines, grunts and groans.

Groans are usually part of a greeting ceremony when wandering hyenas meet up or around a den which they use when they have small cubs. Grunts are a threatening sound made to warn off unwelcome visitors or miscreant clan members.

Whoops are used to gather the troops when hunting or to signal a fight between clans but can just as easily be used for no apparent reason - just a hyena vocalising because it can!

Conservation

As with all our predators here on the Manyeleti, we constantly monitor our hyena population. Indeed, we were involved in helping to save a hyena from a nasty snare wound recently.

"Our game vehicles had spotted a hyena with a snare wound and possible snare still inside it on one of our game drives, so we arranged for a vet and the setting up of what's known as a 'call-up' station," explain Pungwe managers Wesley Hill and Tracie Walker.

"A call-up station is where a piece of fresh bait it hung in a tree to attract hyenas into the area so that wildlife officers can search for a snared animal." The call-up attracted a female hyena with a nasty wound on her neck and she was darted so that vets could intervene. No snare was found in the wound, which was treated by the vet before the hyena was revived and sent on her way and hopefully a full recovery.

While the hyena was anaesthetised, hair and tick samples were taken for research purposes and Wesley and Tracie got the chance to take some great photos which you can see below.

Why the dry season is the high season!

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 09:33:37 GMT

South Africa's winter months are prime time for game viewing

The lush greens of the Manyeleti are fading fast as mid-winter draws in here in South Africa. Late rains have kept the reserve greener for longer, but even so, the dry season is well under way and over the next few months brown and all of its various shades will become the overwhelming colour of the bush.

Which is why some people are surprised to learn that this is the most popular time to be on safari here in Southern Africa, offering superlative game viewing and spectacular wildlife encounters. Why is this time of year so special when it comes to a safari?

For starters the bush is becoming a lot more sparse, making game viewing a lot easier. With less cover predators like lion and leopard are more easily sighted, as are their prey species! Painted wolves will also be on the move more regularly now as their pups are old enough to keep up with the pack. This means lots of puppy action when they are spotted, which is always a treat for guests.

As it gets drier, animals of all species begin to congregate more regularly around water of any kind, be it the camp birdbath and pond (which we keep filled) or local waterholes and dams. While the level of the dams tends to drop quite significantly between now and the start of the rainy season (usually around the end of October/beginning of November) there is generally enough water to suffice and keep the Manyeleti's wildlife thirst-free.

With more animals gravitating to waterholes on a regular basis to drink and bathe, this makes water a prized spot for predator ambushes. Lions love to laze in the shade on the edge of our large dams, hidden from view as they keep an eye on the comings and goings, waiting for an opportunity to pounce on unsuspecting prey. This makes antelope like impala particularly wary when drinking - you'll see their ears constantly scanning for sounds of danger and their bodies tense, ready to run for their lives if they have to!\

Water is a huge drawcard for elephant at this time of year. These iconic creatures need to drink twice a day and usually take the opportunity to have a dip and play in the mud at the edge of the dams and waterholes. This makes for fantastic photographic and video opportunities, as you can see by our recent YouTube videos of a mega elephant encounter at Dixie Dam.

Grazing and browsing becomes a challenge as the dry season progresses and grasses die back and leaves are more scarce, so plains game like antelope, zebra and giraffe spend more time in the open searching for food. This also makes them targets for our ever-hungry lion population. When they do kill, the carcasses quickly become the focus of attention for scavengers like hyena and jackal, as well as vultures who find it a lot easier to locate kills with the lack of cover provided by the bush.

While the game viewing is off the charts at this time of year, there is a downside to winter in the wilderness - it gets exceptionally cold! Yes, South African winters can be bone-chilling, especially when you are in a drainage line like Pungwe is. So if you are coming on safari over the next couple of months, please remember to pack warm clothing, including thermals, a beanie hat and scarf, gloves and a good jacket (a warm fleece or puffer jacket is recommended).

The best way to beat the cold winter mornings and early evenings on an open game vehicle is to dress in layers. Start off in the mornings with lots of them which you can peel off as the temperature rises. Add them in the afternoon as the sun begins to set and the mercury begins to drop with it. We give you warm blankets on game drives at this time of year to help fend off the cold. And we also have hot water bottles if you need them!

In your tent we've got lovely fluffy duvets and warm blankets and when you turn in there will be a hot water bottle in your bed ready for you! So grab a hot shower before bed and snuggle down in your PJs to the sounds of the African night. There's nothing like it!

Elephants have some fun in Dixie Dam

Wed, 25 May 2022 07:34:51 GMT

Swimming and wrestling was order of the day for these young bulls

For Pungwe guests Milly and Gary Howard, the highlight of their recent three-night stay at Pungwe was not, as one might expect, magical leopard sightings or superlative lion encounters, even though they had both of these experiences in abundance! It was a chance sighting of a breeding herd of elephants at Dixie Dam on their last morning that soon developed into something really special...

"We'd been up to Dixie Koppie to admire the view and take some photos of the sun rising over the Manyeleti, which was magical in itself," says Gary, an ex-pat Brit now living in Qatar with wife Milly. "When our guide, Never, drove us down, we noticed a breeding herd pulling in to Dixie Dam and parked close to the water to watch them drink. We never imagined that 45 minutes later we'd still be there watching these incredible animals!"

Shortly after Never strategically parked his vehicle to afford Gary and Milly the best shots possible for these keen photographers, two young bulls decided to brave the early morning chill and go into the dam for a swim. They were soon followed by a third, and then fourth, older bull. Eventually a group of bulls took to the water, wrestling and "boxing" with one another, ducking and diving, rolling, splashing and trumpeting loudly in their excitement.

Elephants and water are a dynamite combination where wildlife photography is concerned, so all you could hear for the first few minutes of the encounter and thereafter was the burst of shutters as cameras lapped up the action before cellphones were picked up to video what was turning into the sighting of a lifetime.

As more and more bulls became involved in the water fight, the elephants continued to emerge from the surrounding treeline and soon the vehicle was surrounded by almost 100 elephants of all sizes. Most chose to drink as quietly and calmly as possible on the banks of the dam, but some selected the dam wall as a good point of entry, even though it seemed very steep for the babies.

In the dam itself, the bulls were literally having a ball, turning it into their own personal water park as they enjoyed the sport of "who dunked who" and "mud diving", coming up with tusks covered in thick, soggy gray clay. As the excitement mounted, so did the trumpeting, with mock charges and stand-offs in the water leaving Gary and Milly breathless with laughter.

"It was just so incredible to see them interacting and playing and really enjoying themselves," says Milly. "To see animals express joy and have fun together like this is truly special and we were absolutely spoiled to see so many elephants enjoying themselves so much. We were completely in awe of them."

"We didn't know where to look there was so much action going on," explains Gary. One minute a young bull was ducking his friend and the next two were climbing up the dam wall with one stopping to scratch his bottom on the muddy bank! It was pure gold for any self-respecting safari fan!

"We've travelled widely in Africa, but this was probably one of the best sightings we've ever seen," adds Milly. "It certainly was the high point of what has been a wonderful stay at Pungwe, even with us seeing the Big Five twice over in our short stay! We'll never forget it."

So sit back and enjoy some of the amazing videos and images that came out of this incredible sighting... And feel free to share them by copying the link!

To watch more videos of the elephants, visit our YouTube channel, here!

Meet the lovely ladies of Pungwe...

Tue, 24 May 2022 12:33:39 GMT

For our "do it all" housekeepers, our little camp is a home-from-home

They're the behind-the-scenes stars of Pungwe's show, keeping the camp looking spick and span, creating perfection in each guest tent and generally helping out wherever they are needed on a day-to-day basis... Meet our "housekeepers" - the lovely ladies who do so much more than just keep house!

For Patience Mathebula, Lucky Seya, Emmah Mathebula and Salphina Khosa, Pungwe is not just somewhere they work - it's their home-from-home, where they spend the majority of their time with their Pungwe family, helping to support their families in the process.

Their jobs in camp have changed their lives for the better, and each and every guest who comes to stay at Pungwe has a direct, positive impact on each of these amazing women, especially now that tourism is recovering from the scourge of the COVID19 pandemic and is once again making significant contributions to the communities on the borders of the Manyeleti.

Although housekeeping is their core role in camp, the ladies also help in the kitchen and serve food at mealtimes, working as a tight, well-oiled team of dedicated "do it alls"!

Patience has been at Pungwe for eight years. She wasn't working before she joined the team and had been struggling to support her 12-year-old son and mother who live with her at home in the small village of Gothenburg, just outside the Manyeleti's main gates.

"I am very lucky that I managed to get a job at Pungwe," she says. "I love my work and take enormous pride in making the rooms look lovely and making sure guests have a wonderful time," she says.

Lucky is also from Gothenburg and has been a member of the Pungwe team for nine years, providing for her two children, aged 18 and 12. Being at Pungwe has changed her life, she says. "I was unemployed before I came here. I was afraid of what would happen to us, but now I can support my family and my children have a bright future - my oldest wants to be a teacher and the youngest wants to become a safari guide."

For Emmah, Pungwe means everything. "I am married to Pungwe," she laughs! "Pungwe is my husband and is very, very good to me!" She's the head of housekeeping and has been at camp since 1998. She's from the nearby village of Hluvukani where her family of four boys and "lots" of grandchildren live. She's put all of them through school thanks to Pungwe. Now they all have good jobs.

Salphina Khosa came to Pungwe in 1992. She's also from Hluvukani. It's her first job, and, she says, she'll never leave. She provides for her five children and two grandchildren and is happy to stay where she is until she retires. "I wouldn't be anywhere else. I love it here and love working in the bush. It's my home," she says.

"Tourism is very valuable to all of us," says Salphina. "This virus has been very bad for all of us, but we are a strong family and take care of one another here at Pungwe." Now that guests are once more filling this wonderful little bush camp, the ladies are confident that the future is looking bright and that Pungwe will go from strength to strength.

How to pack for Pungwe!

sharon@safaricollective.co.za (Sharon Gilbert-Rivett) — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 10:40:07 GMT

Some hot tips on what to bring and what to leave behind!

Packing the perfect safari bag is an art form - one that many guests need help with, so us to dip into our well of packing experience and share some valuable nuggets of advice with you on what you'll need while in camp and what to expect from the elements out here in the Manyeleti...

Rule Number One - the bag maketh the safari! No matter whether you're flying across the world to come and visit us or making the short drive from Johannesburg, choosing a lightweight yet hardy travel bag that offers enough space without weighing a ton is the way to go. Get the bag right, and the rest falls nicely into place.

We generally recommend duffel bags as the shape of choice. They're practical and easy to carry and most importantly, they are soft sided and able to squeeze into small spaces.

What to pack

So, you have your bag - now it's time to put stuff in it! When it comes to clothing there are some easy guidelines to follow...

Let's start with colours... opt for neutral, earth tones like khaki, beige, brown and grey as these blend in effortlessly when you're out on our open safari vehicles. You can add in some muted blues and pastels but try to stay away from white as much as possible, even though it looks amazing it makes you stand out while on game activities.

Whatever you bring, make sure it's comfortable and fit for purpose. We don't care if you're not the most sartorially elegant traveller in the world - as long as you feel at home and can relax and enjoy the adventure. Remember you'll be climbing on and off safari vehicles, going on exciting walks in the wilderness and enjoying morning coffee and sundowners out in the wild... So high heels and haute couture can be left at home!

What's the weather like?

The seasons here are the opposite of what many are used to in the northern hemisphere. Spring runs from September to November, summer from December to February, autumn from March to May and winter from June to August.

Autumn and winter are the driest months, with the annual rains arriving usually around October and November. This is when the heat builds up. Once the rains arrive, it gets hot and humid, with spectacular storms that have to be seen to be believed!

If you're visiting in our summer months (December to February), the temperatures are at their peak. This doesn't mean it doesn't get cold, though, especially when it rains. So, it's always best to bring a lightweight, weather-proof windbreaker-type jacket and a sweater or two. We have rainproof ponchos on our vehicles for added protection in the event of rain!

In winter the early mornings and evenings are cold - sometimes bone-chillingly so. So you're going to need protection on game activities in the form of a beanie-style hat, gloves and a scarf, as well as a fleece or puffer-style jacket, long pants and closed shoes or boots. Thermals are a good idea too.

In autumn and winter the days are wonderfully warm and sunny, so you'll have the strange experience of putting everything you brought with you on for the morning drive, taking it off layer by layer as you go and then needing to change into shorts and sandals from mid morning to mid afternoon, before layering up for the afternoon/evening drive and dinner under the stars!

Mix up the layers

The mix and match, layered approach really works. Choose items of clothing that offer a variety of outfits and that can be easily layered to add warmth where necessary. Even in the peak of summer it can get chilly in the early mornings, so make sure you have a lightweight sweater or jacket on hand. Long-sleeved shirts are also a great idea as they offer protection from the sun and biting insects too, and add warmth under a top layer.

Here's a rough guide of clothing items to include in your packing list:

Any time of year:

Three of four tee-shirts

A couple of long-sleeved shirts

Two or three pairs of shorts and/or cargo pants

Two pairs of long pants

A lightweight wind-breaker or weatherproof jacket

A couple of lightweight sweaters

Hat

Sunglasses

Thongs/flipflops

Closed walking shoes

Rugged sandals/open walking shoes

Autumn/winter

Fleece or puffer jacket

Beanie hat, scarf and gloves

Thermal under garments

Warm socks

Walking boots

On winter mornings and evenings we give you blankets on game drives to help keep you warm, and at night there will be hot water bottles in your beds to keep the cold at bay and lots of extra, super fluffy blankets!

Cosmetics, toiletries and personal items

We have basic amenities like soap, shampoo and conditioner, as well as insect repellent, which means you can keep your toiletries bag to a minimum. You'll need sun screen and a good moisturiser as well as any medicines you will need during your trip. It's always a good idea to make copies of any prescriptions just in case you are asked about any scheduled medicines you may have.

Getting it in the bag...

Everyone has their own way of packing, but there are some universal hacks that are perfect for getting your gear into your safari bag with room to spare.

First of all - it's a good idea to lay out everything you want to pack on a flat surface like a dining table or your bed and have a good, hard look at it. Ask yourself if you absolutely need every single thing you have earmarked for packing and do a last-minute "purge" of unnecessary items.

Then it's time to start packing. You can put shoes in plastic Ziploc-style bags (or recycled shopping bags) to keep them separate from clothing. It's up to you how you fold your clothing. We love rolling items as it helps with space and also reduces creasing to a minimum.

Sometimes it's a good idea to either double bag or wrap your toiletries bag in a recycled shopping bag to prevent any possible chance of leakages. When you're flying, remember that baggage handlers don't always treat bags with the respect they deserve!

Camera gear and other essentials

Try to find carry-on bags and day bags that are practical, roomy and easy to carry, with easy to access compartments for your travel documents, devices and personal items. Backpacks can be a good option in this regard and are great for taking on game activities with essentials like additional clothing/jackets, water bottles, hats etc.

Don't forget your camera, and a good pair of binoculars is always a good idea! A torch is always useful too.

We have a bank of plugs in our lounge area for recharging, but it's always sensible to pack your own adaptors and all the charging gear you need for cameras and your digital devices/smartphones.

If there's anything you're not sure of, we're always on hand to answer questions and help solve problems, so just pick up the phone or drop us an email.

Happy packing!

Pungwe's tallest story...

sharon@safaricollective.co.za (Sharon Gilbert-Rivett) — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 06:55:24 GMT

Meet the giraffe - the super model of the Manyeleti!

There's no doubting the giraffe's credentials. It's the world's tallest terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant. It's long neck and legs give it the elegance of a super model and its distinctive patterned hide make it instantly recognisable and a firm favourite of guests at Pungwe Safari Camp.

Bull giraffes can reach almost 6m in height, with the females clocking in slightly shorter at just over 5m. It's odd shape is deceptive, because while its body is short from front to back and appears to dip towards the rear, its front and rear legs are the same length, providing the giraffe with only two gaits - walking and galloping.

When they walk, they move the front and rear legs on one side together, in the same way that camels do - they are distantly related, sharing a common ancestor. Curiously, the giraffe's nearest living relative is the okapi, which is found in the forests of the Congo basin.

Long legs aside, it's the giraffe's elongated neck that makes it one of the most iconic animals in the world. At around 1,8m long, it has exactly the same number of vertebrae as other mammals - just seven - the difference being that each vertebra is around 28cm long!

Atop the giraffe's head are two prominent "horns" called ossicones, that are actually made from ossified cartilage. In females, the ossicones are slender and tufted with hear on top. In the bulls, they are thicker and bald on top, making it easy to differentiate between the two from a distance.

When they are born, a baby giraffe's ossicones are flattened backwards to avoid damaging the mother's birth canal. As the giraffe grows they become more upright and eventually fuse to the skull.

Bulls develop other ossifications on their heads as they grow older, adding weight to their skull and aiding in "necking" - the swinging blows delivered by the heads and necks of combatting males during their constant battle for dominance and mating rights.

Recent research has categorised four distinct species of giraffe and several sub-species. The four species are the Masai giraffe, northern giraffe, reticulated giraffe and southern.

The Thornicroft's giraffe is a sub species of the Masai giraffe, while the Angolan giraffe and South African giraffe (the Manyeleti's giraffe) are sub species of the southern giraffe. The Northern giraffe has three sub-species - the Kordofan (with its distinctive, prominent third ossicone) and Nubian/Rothschild's (both of which are critically endangered) and the West African giraffe.

Sadly, giraffe numbers are dropping drastically across Africa with an estimated loss of more than 40% of the continent's giraffe population over the last three decades. There's an estimated 97,000 giraffes left across Africa.

Habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, civil unrest and poaching for bush meat, skins and tails are some of the reasons for the giraffe's dramatic decline.

An interesting fact about the giraffe is that the myth of it being "voiceless" and being without vocal cords has been busted! A few years ago, researchers discovered that giraffes actually hum, mostly at night, and at very low frequencies (around 92HZ), right at the lower end of the human hearing spectrum.

So what does a giraffe hum sound like? Check it out here!

Meet safari guide "Clever" Never!

sharon@safaricollective.co.za (Sharon Gilbert-Rivett) — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 11:23:03 GMT

He's a proud ambassador of Pungwe and the Manyeleti!

For Pungwe safari guide Never Mathebula, the day he started working at Pungwe gave him not just a job but a whole new family and a purpose to his life.

The affable 39-year-old had almost lost hope when he got the chance to join the Pungwe team back in 2009 as a tracker. Born and raised in the nearby village of Gothenburg, Never left school in 2002 and did what many local youngsters do when fledging the nest, heading to the bright lights of Johannesburg to find work.

He didn't find what he was looking for in the concrete jungle and in 2004, disillusioned with city life, he returned home.

"I decided to invest in myself and passed my drivers' test and got my licence and did a tracker's training course at a leading tented safari camp in the Kruger National Park," says Never. "Sadly, I still couldn't find work, so stayed at home, losing hope, for the next two years. In 2006 I went back to Johannesburg and got some work but in 2008 decided I did not like being away from home so came back to Gothenburg, determined to find work as a tracker and pursue my desire to work in the Manyeleti."

Never's father had been working in the reserve since the early 1980s as part of the anti-poaching unit and constantly encouraged his son not to give up hope. "He was my role model, growing up. I learned so much about the bush from him," says a wistful Never.

"As a young boy I would tend to his livestock and just loved being out in the wilderness, discovering things and learning all I could about the environment we live in here," explains Never. "We Shangaan people have a very close relationship to this area and to the wilderness," he says. "So it's natural for us to feel at home here, close to nature."

His father's support paid off when, in 2009, Never got the chance to become a tracker at Pungwe. "I was so happy on that day and my father was so proud," smiles Never. "I worked hard and soon Pungwe's founder, Loot Schultz, soon gave me the nickname 'Clever Never', which stuck! He insisted that I train to be a guide and that's exactly what I did, passing my guide's exams and joining Isaac Baloyi on the guiding team."

Never loves being in the bush and could never see himself returning to an urban environment. "It's just a wonderful thing for me to be so blessed as to work here, in this beautiful reserve, so close to my home," he says. "I am so proud to be following in my father's footsteps. He passed away in 2018 and every day I am thankful for his wisdom and for all he taught me."

Being a tracker first has made him a better guide, says Never, especially when it comes to his favourite game activity - walking. "I love walking because it's then that I get to teach our guests how amazing it is to be here in the Manyeleti, especially when we get to approach animals like rhino and elephant on foot," he says.

"Some guests have never walked in the bush before, so it's a privilege to show them the animals, as well as the small things. Tracks, footprints, trees - sharing my knowledge of what my forefathers have shared with us about their medicinal uses. I am proud of my Shangaan heritage and the wisdom my father taught me about what the bush provides for us and I love to share it with them."

Passing on that incredible wealth of knowledge to the young people in his community also motivates Never, who considers himself an ambassador both of Pungwe and of the Manyeleti.

"The local communities here have a really good relationship with Pungwe and the Manyeleti so it's important for us to share our love of the bush and our understanding of it with them," he says. "They know and appreciate the benefit that tourism brings to this area and how important it is to look after our wildlife and keep them safe from poaching."

What makes Pungwe special for Never? "I love that it's a small, intimate camp that allows us to really share a special safari experience with our guests," he says. "With no fences the wildlife come through the camp and provide amazing experiences. It's like a family here. All of my colleagues are like my family," he explains. "I spend so much of my time here and am very happy here. It's home to me."

Bring on the big green!

sharon@safaricollective.co.za (Sharon Gilbert-Rivett) — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 11:19:30 GMT

Summer has arrived in the Manyeleti!

Just one look around the Manyeleti at the moment and you begin to understand why this time of year in the Greater Kruger is known as the "emerald season". This is the time of the "big green" when life-bringing rains turn the African wilderness into a verdant sea of grasses, shrubs and trees that's filled with life in all its myriad shapes and forms.

Summer really is the season of plenty and we've been lucky enough to have had some good rain thus far, with the promise of more to come as the season progesses. Our storms are legendary, with spectacular lightning shows and phenomenal deluges that fill our dams and waterholes and make the long, hard dry season just a distant memory.

With so much water everywhere, food is plentiful for the animals of the Manyeleti, the majority of which have babies at heel. The baby boom coincides with the start of the rains when the impala ewes drop their lambs. They manage to all give birth within a couple of weeks of each other, swelling the ranks of their creches with each passing day.

Wildebeest and other antelope species also give birth at this time of year, as do zebra, with lots of new foals on display. You'll also see lots of warthog piglets and tiny dwarf mongoose babies if you're lucky!

With all of this increase in the number of prey species, of course the predators are going to benefit! So we always expect great big cat sightings at this time of year, along with painted wolves and hyenas. While it's sometimes more difficult to spot game with the bush being so lush and dense, we always have incredible interactions with lion and leopard in the area around Pungwe and kills are the order of the day at the moment.

The other wonderful thing about the emerald season is the phenomenal birding it provides. The Manyeleti is filled with summer migrants and the air is filled with the calls of the woodland kingfisher, Levaillant's and Jacobin cuckoos and the distinctive chirps and songs of the beautiful African paradise flycatcher. There are bee-eaters in abundance, so watch out for their colourful plumage and deft aerial displays!

There really is no better time to be in the bush, so we hope to see you very soon!

Pungwe survives devastating bush fires

sharon@safaricollective.co.za (Sharon Gilbert-Rivett) — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 10:19:20 GMT

Out of the ashes, a greener Manyeleti is born...

The end of October and start of November have seen the Manyeleti ravaged by bush fires that swept through the reserve and its immediate neighbours and on into the Kruger National Park.

Fed by tinder-dry bush filled with the dead grasses and parched trees and bushes we expect at the end of the dry season and driven by high winds, the fires left swathes of land blackened and covered in ash, laying waste to large portions of the reserve.

The fires were finally extinguished by the arrival of the rains, and two spectacular storms that soaked the dusty land, and in true phoenix fashion, the mixture of rain with the carbon and ash from the blazes has soaked into the soil, nourishing it and boosting new growth of fresh, green grass.

While we have sadly lost some animals - mostly smaller species like tortoises and rodents - the rebirth of the Manyeleti in the wake of the conflagration is already in full swing and every day sees new life springing forth, with trees and shrubs that have weathered the flames sprouting buds that will quickly transform into leaves.

One of the blazes almost took our wonderful little camp, but miraculously, all we lost was our welcome sign and wooden footbridge at the entrance to camp - both falling victim to the flames. Our tents and lounge areas were filled with smoke, but the fire was stopped short of the buildings themselves, to our great relief.

We closed for a week to clean camp, washing all of the linen and softs, going through the tents thoroughly (ash tends to get everywhere!) and replacing the footbridge and welcome board. It was a close call but we're back to full operational strength and have had a full camp over the last week or so.

The game viewing has quickly returned to normal as the animals adjust very quickly to what is part of the natural world. Fire plays a key role in eco-systems like ours, disrupting its structure and composition in a natural and beneficial way. It also opens up space for new bushes and trees and areas of grass.

So while it may seem devastating to onlookers, bush fires breathe new life into the soil, replenishing it with valuable nutrients and minerals. The fresh growth that follows in the wake of a fire is somehow greener for it.

Birds and mammals are well equipped and adapted to outrun fire and move away from its path. Plants need a different approach, though, and evolution has toughened many of them for the task of surviving fires. For example, we have what we call "resprouters" - plants that can tolerate most of the damage caused by fire by using their roots or bulbs to resprout and bounce back.

Then there are "reseeders" which rapidly germinate following fire to take advantage of the space provided by the blaze. Some of these seeds can be dormant in the soil and are "woken up" by the heat of the fire or even the smell of the smoke!

When you learn about amazing adaptations like these, you begin to realise just how incredible nature is.

Meet Isaac - Pungwe's passionate head guide

sharon@safaricollective.co.za (Sharon Gilbert-Rivett) — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 10:22:17 GMT

Sharing his love of the Manyeleti is what keeps him going...

When Pungwe guide Isaac Baloyi jumps out of his safari vehicle and says "Come, let's walk for a while" you know you are going to learn something mind-blowing about the African wilderness. Sure enough, after a few short paces he's found something fascinating to show everyone - a piece of discarded water pipe thrown apparently randomly into a dense thicket. Pollution? No. The answer to the pipe is much more interesting...

"An elephant threw it here," Isaac announces. "Elephants love digging up water pipes and picking up things that have been put in place by humans and taking them away, far into the bush, where they leave them," he explains. No one knows why they do it, but they often carry the things they find for kilometres before discarding them in places where they are hard to find.

Isaac laughs along with his guests, thoroughly enjoying telling the tale and the amazement that greets it.

The 49-year-old Isaac has come a long way since he left school in the local village of Thorndale, where he was born and raised, and decided to go into guiding.

"My father was a guide and worked in the Kruger National Park from 1972 to his death a few years ago," says Isaac. "It's from him that I learned to love the wilderness and nature and discovered how to live in harmony with wildlife," he says wistfully. The road to becoming a professional guide was long and winding in Isaac's case, but in 2001 he came to Pungwe as part of his training and has never looked back.

"When I got my guiding license in 2004, I was offered a permanent job here. So it's the only place I have ever worked and has become a second home to me, here with my second family - my Pungwe family," he explains.

Isaac loves every day of his job and still enjoys guiding as much as he did as a young trainee, all those years ago. "Walking is my favourite thing," he says. "It's when you walk that you really connect with nature and I am very passionate about exploring the Manyeleti on foot," he adds.

While he loves all of the inhabitants of the Manyeleti, whether long in tooth and claw or small and with hooves, his favourite is, curiously, the humble impala.

"They are like friends to me," he explains. "I love seeing my friends every day which is why I love impala, because they are always around. The other animals are friends that I don't see so often, which makes me sad! But impala always cheer me up because they always show up!"

A father to four sons aged 23, 16, seven and 18 months (his self-confessed "lockdown baby"!) Isaac is very much a role model for his family and his community. "I like to share my love of the wilderness and teach people about the importance of conservation and tourism," says Isaac.

"Towards the end of last year I started going to a local primary school to teach children about how they can become guides and learn about nature. My wife works with a local creche, supported by Pungwe, and they are learning all about the rhino and the importance of protecting this amazing creature.

"By sharing my experience as a guide, I can make a difference. My children have learned to pick up rubbish and put it in the dustbin and are sharing this with their friends. So, I am trying to lead by example," he says.

"The pandemic has been very difficult for our community, but they understand just how important tourism is and the critical role conservation plays. My community wants to help protect the wilderness so that more tourists come to visit us. And that is my hope for the future. I want to continue to be a good guide and share my knowledge and passion with guests from all over the world and with my community. That way I am helping to secure the future of this place for my children and their children."

Dynasties - the intricate dynamics of the Manyeleti lions

sharon@safaricollective.co.za (Sharon Gilbert-Rivett) — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 10:17:37 GMT

What does the future hold for these incredible apex predators?

The Mbali Male. Image: Sharon Gilbert-Rivett

Forget Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad and Peaky Blinders, because when it comes to mesmerising ensemble casts, superlative action, incredible plots, sub-plots and plot twists it doesn't get much better than "real life" and the lion prides of the Manyeleti.

Talking to Pungwe Manager Tim Cowell about the lion dynamics in the area is like asking someone to explain a convoluted soap opera in its umpteenth season...

"When I arrived at Pungwe just before lockdown started in 2020 there were seven prides that would move between the Manyeleti, Sabi Sands, Kruger National Park and the Timbavati, moving in and out as their territories overlapped," Tim explains.

"Here on Pungwe in the south of the Manyeleti the pride we most often see is the Talamati Pride, consisting of 15 lions and run by the Avoca male (known as Black Mane or Dark Mane). There's also the Nkuhuma Pride which infrequently moves through the area," says Tim.

In the north of the Manyeleti, around the Main Dam area, is the Naru Pride which is overseen by the striking Red Road Male. In the north-east is the legendary Birmingham Pride with its two white lions that regularly cross into the Manyeleti from the Timbavati.

In the north-west is the Mbiri Pride which used to be ruled by the Orpen Males - a coalition of two brothers. The Orpen Males also ran the Orpen Pride and the Koppies Pride, but one brother then killed a Koppies female and her cub and cannibalised them before moving to the Naru Pride and onto the neighbouring Sabi Sands reserve where he died of a suspected snake bite.

The remaining Orpen Male died just a few short weeks later and this coalition fell, opening up the door for dramatic change in lion dynamics in the region.

"This change is what we're seeing now," says Tim. "The original Mbiri males (who ran the Mbiri Pride before the Orpen males took over) had already left before I arrived at Pungwe but were seen often around the Orpen area of the Kruger National Park. Then, a few months ago, they came back and mated with three Mbiri females for a few days.

"When the Orpen Males died there were no males in the north. The Mbiri Pride had four sub-adult males. One disappeared and the remaining three, called the Tintswalo Boys, now oversee the pride. The Orpen and Koppies prides have moved into Kruger most likely as they have not been seen for a while," explains Tim.

During lockdown a new pride was found in the south-east of the Manyeleti - the Mbali Pride, with 21 members and just one impressive male - the Mbali Male.

Fast forward a couple of months… The Talamati Pride has now split - the Avoca Male that had been with them was injured and fell behind in his leadership role. He's been seen recently in the Sabi Sands. The Mbali Male has now been seen mating with three Talamati females. Indeed, the Talamati Pride now consists of sub-adults and two of its original adult females with no male at the helm.

"The big question now is who will take over the Talamati pride? The Mbali Male is the most likely candidate," says Tim. "That will put him in charge of the southern area of the Manyeleti. He's in great shape and is looking good and will potentially now sire a new generation of cubs which may lead to a new pride or the three females he's mated with may return to the Talamati Pride to rejuvenate and refresh them."

If you want to keep up with all things leonine, we'll be keeping you updated on things as they unfold in this never-ending saga of the Manyeleti lions! In the meantime, the plot thickens!

Meet Wonder Boy - Pungwe's "super hero" tracker!

sharon@safaricollective.co.za (Sharon Gilbert-Rivett) — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 06:54:09 GMT

Leaving the city and returning home gave him an exciting new career...

When 47-year-old Wonder Boy Sibuyi left school he did what most young men raised in far-flung rural villages do... He headed for the bright lights of the big city, in this case Johannesburg.

Born in the small village of Thorndale, not far from the Manyeleti, "Wonder" (as he is affectionately known) took up a trade as a builder, working as a contractor for seven years in the distant Highveld with his cousin, who's based there. "I then moved into plastering and spent another two years doing that in and around the Randburg and Honeydew area," says the cheerful and happy-go-lucky Wonder.

"I wasn't happy and decided to come home to Thorndale. I had many friends and family members working in the Sabi Sand at safari lodges and became interested in learning about tracking," explains Wonder. "I got the chance to go to Londolozi to train as a tracker, so spent seven months there before getting my certificate. During that time, I found I absolutely loved the bush and especially tracking."

For Wonder, discovering his "superpower" as a tracker opened up a whole new career horizon for him and he soon found himself "temping" at Pungwe as a tracker, coming into the camp on as needed basis. After four years as a temporary tracker, he became a permanent member of the Pungwe team.

"It was a wonderful day, the day I started working here full-time," says Wonder. "It was like discovering a big new family I didn't know I had. I love the bush so much, and just love being in it every day for my work. It's a blessing, and one I am very grateful for."

Wonder gets up at 05h30 every day to prepare the game viewing vehicle for guests, putting blankets on seats in the winter and rain ponchos in the seat pouches in summer, making sure everything is ready for the morning game drive. He then waits for guests and helps with morning coffee around the fire before heading out into his beloved Manyeleti to track and find elusive big cats and other incredible wildlife. "After the morning drive I clean the vehicle and then have a rest until 14h30 when I start the process again for the afternoon/evening drive," he explains.

At home in Thorndale, Wonder is father to two daughters aged 19 and five and two sons aged 11 and 3 months. His job at Pungwe has secured his family's future and he's very happy that he left the concrete jungle to return to his roots in South Africa's beautiful Greater Kruger.

"When I think about it now, Johannesburg is another world and very far away from where I am now," says Wonder. "Every day in the bush is another chance for me to learn. You are always learning as a tracker, always discovering new things. I would love to train to be a guide some day, but for now I love being in the 'hot seat' on the front of the vehicle, looking for tracks."

Wonder's favourite thing in the Manyeleti is birding. "Even when there are no mammals around, there are always birds," he laughs. "My favourite bird is the pearl-spotted owlet - I can do it's call very well! And my favourite mammal is the painted wolf (African wild dog) - I love how clever they are and how successful they are as hunters."

Now that lockdown restrictions are easing and more and more guests are returning to Pungwe, Wonder and the rest of the Pungwe team are more relaxed and looking forward to what the future brings. "It was hard during lockdown, we didn't know what was going to happen and if tourism was going to open up again," he says solemnly. "Tourism is very important to us in the communities around here, so thank goodness our guests are coming back now, because we have missed them very much."

The Manyeleti makes a meal of it for local learners

sharon@safaricollective.co.za (Sharon Gilbert-Rivett) — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 06:44:27 GMT

Community schools say "thank you" to operators for monthly food drop

Manyeleti operator representatives from (L-R) Pungwe, Tintswalo Safari Lodge and Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps at the ceremony at Manyangana High School

The COVID-19 lockdown has had a devastating impact on the community schools that surround the Manyeleti, not the least in terms of leaving many learners hungry as the meals schools provide for learners are often the only food they eat during the day.

Thankfully, Pungwe and other Manyeleti operators Tintswalo Safari Lodge and Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps came to the rescue when lockdown hit hard and joined together to create a way to raise money that would allow them to buy bags of mealie meal (ground maize) to donate to local schools.

Former Pungwe manager Michel Girardin came up with the idea of running a raffle offering a fantastic six-night safari package to the winner made up of two nights each at Tintswalo, Honeyguide and Pungwe, selling tickets for R600 to start the ball rolling. Participants could buy as many tickets as they wanted.

The raffle was launched and worked a treat, raising almost R50,000, with additional funding coming in as former guests across the world came on board wanting to help. Working with Thomas Khosa - the regional representative from the department of education - and Professor EK Siwela Mathebula, headmaster of Manyangana High School in nearby Hluvukani - the operators established a drop-off point at Manyangana High School where they would deliver the bags of mealie meal for distribution to 26 schools in the area.

More than 100 bags of meal have been bought since the programme began with drops being made once or twice a month at Manyangana High School. The last drop was made on 14 September when representatives of the operators were thanked during a ceremony hosted by Prof Mathebula, Mr Khosa and the principals and deputy principals of all the schools that have benefitted from the programme.

"Never underestimate what you have done here with your gesture," said Prof Mathebula to the operator representatives - Pungwe manager Tim Cowell, Tintswalo Safari Lodge general manager Alistair Leuner and Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps general manager Kevin Pearson.

"Hunger is a very real barrier to learning and thanks to the generosity of your lodges and camps and the funding you have managed to raise, you have managed to make an incredible difference to the lives of countless learners on our school circuit," Prof Mathebula added. "It is heartwarming to see the Manyeleti's lodges and camps reaching out to the communities and working with them to build a better future for all of us."

Mr Khosa added that the learners who have benefitted from the mealie meal drop will be personally emailing the operators to thank them for their efforts and to tell them what a huge difference they have made in their lives. We hope to be sharing some of those emails on our social media platforms very soon!

We are also working with our friends at Tintswalo Safari Lodge and Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps, Mr Khosa and Prof Mathebula to continue the feeding programme into the foreseeable future, so if you would like to donate and help us make a difference in the lives of our schoolchildren, please get in touch!

Pungwe - the little camp with a big heart

sharon@safaricollective.co.za (Sharon Gilbert-Rivett) — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 07:29:29 GMT

It's the perfect place to immerse yourself completely in wild Africa

The fire crackles as new wood is added to it, spreading the warmth on a chilly winter's evening. Around it a camp-full of guests sit and share the day's adventures as the staff busy themselves with preparing dinner.

The table is set beautifully a short distance away, under a canopy of twinkling stars. Tilly lamps flicker on the table and around the buffet area adding to the romance of the place and its undeniable charm. A lion calls close to camp. Everyone stops to listen, mesmerised by it... Pungwe is truly special.

The word "authentic" is much used but rarely correctly. When it comes to safari experiences, it's convenient to label them authentic without actually understanding what it means. To be truly authentic means that no part has been copied. It's originality in all its glory. In that, Pungwe wins hands down as South Africa's most authentic safari camp.

For a start, little has changed in the 30 years since the camp started. It has retained its quiet, unassuming character and genuine bush camp vibe. The furnishings are modern, but the ethos is cemented back in a time where the African wilderness was not something to be tamed or kept at arm's length, but embraced and adapted to. So you won't find fences at Pungwe... Nothing to keep the wild away from you. Instead, you have to adapt to living (even if just for a few days) alongside wildlife, accepting that you are in the wilderness and that in order for it to be a wilderness it has to be untamed.

Yes, elephants do come through camp. As do buffalo. And lion, hyena, leopard... It's what safari is all about - complete immersion into a wilderness region. You'll be walked to and from your tent after dark (and at every other time if you wish), but you soon relax and take it in your stride, welcoming the thrill of the unexpected and the chance to really experience "wild".

Then there's the off-grid experience. With no electricity and wifi, Pungwe is the perfect detox for daily life. It's where you go to switch off, unwind, relax and remember the time when cellphones were not invented and the word "camp" didn't involve air-conditioning or hair-dryers. Hot water is provided by donkey boilers, light by oil lamps (with a concession being LED reading lights in your tents) and food being cooked mostly over an open fire.

This does not mean there's no comfort - far from it. With cosy couches and chairs in the lounge area where you can curl up with a good book or a great chat and some of the most sleep-friendly beds in the bush in your spacious, tiled and thatched tents (complete with full en-suite bathrooms with both showers and baths!), Pungwe more than delivers.

It delivers in the culinary department as well, with chef Sharon dishing up a range of delicious breakfasts, high teas and dinners using what seems like only a magic wand and fairy dust! Whether it's a first-class braai (barbecue), full English, chocolate brownies or nibbles out in the bush for sundowners, there's no way a stay at Pungwe will leave you hungry!

However, all of this pales in comparison to Pungwe's location. Deep in the heart of the Manyeleti, with no fences between you and the Kruger National Park and neighbouring Sabi Sand, the camp sits in one of South Africa's most game-rich areas, making game drives and walking safaris extremely rewarding.

With regular sightings of the "Big Five" - buffalo, rhino, lion, elephant and leopard - as well as painted wolves (African wild dogs) and cheetah, a safari at Pungwe holds the promise of incredible wildlife encounters. And some grand stories around the fire - the beating heart of the camp.

Add to the mix the wonderful team of people who make Pungwe the happy, welcoming and marvellously hospitable place it is and you begin to really understand what makes this camp tick.

A safari at Pungwe is as much about people as it is about wildlife. It's about arriving as a stranger and leaving as part of the greater Pungwe family, thanks to the wide smiles and warm hearts of everyone involved. It's a small camp, with just four tents sleeping eight guests, but it's heart is big and boundless, and extends out into the communities around the Manyeleti. Making a difference to whoever it touches.

Now that's what we call authentic!

Meet Nandrick - Pungwe's "backstage" magician

sharon@safaricollective.co.za (Sharon Gilbert-Rivett) — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 07:27:33 GMT

The strong sense of family at Pungwe makes all the difference, he says!

Every morning at 4am, long before guests wake up and Pungwe comes to life, the fireplace is prepared, a fire lit, the famous Pungwe kettle filled and the camp swept clean. This magical transformation happens thanks to the dedication of Pungwe's maintenance manager, 51-year-old Nandrick Mthabine.

Nandrick is the behind-the-scenes man - the mysterious figure who flits silently between tents lighting the donkey boilers that provide piping hot water for showers and baths, the genius who patiently repairs water pipes dug up by the elephants he so loves and the friendly face guests see as he does his "rounds" through camp, checking that everything is where it should be and working perfectly.

He's been at Pungwe for five years now and still loves every day he spends here, but it's been a long journey getting here... Born in Gothenburg village just outside Bushbuckridge, Nandrick left home after finishing high school to work in Gauteng province, far from his family and his roots.

"I trained as a boilermaker," he explains. "I worked in Vanderbijlpark - a busy industrial city on the Vaal River southwest of Johannesburg. I did my apprenticeship and worked for seven years there." When the opportunity came for Nandrick to move to Midrand to work for car manufacturer BMW, he took it, spending another five years away from home building up his experience.

"City life was hard and I always missed my home," he says. "So eventually I had had enough of urban life and decided to move back home to be with my family," says the father of three. After a period of no work whatsoever, fate eventually caught up with Nandrick and he got the opportunity to take on the maintenance role at Pungwe.

"I immediately felt like I was coming home," he says. "There is such a strong sense of family here at Pungwe, everyone supports each other and we all work together very well," he adds. He does admit that working in the bush has its challenges... "The elephants do love the water pipes," he laughs. "They keep me busy but it's fine, because they are my favourite animals. I have had to adjust to working in a place where there are wild animals, but I love it and would not change it for anything," he adds.

Of course, the last 18 months or so have added new challenges for both Nandick and all of the staff at Pungwe. "COVID-19 has been very hard for all of us," Nandick says with a sigh. "But we are still here, carrying on, and now we are beginning to see guests again which is good. Without tourism, we suffer and our communities suffer, so I hope that tourism will begin to grow again."

Would he go anywhere else if he could? "No. I love Pungwe. This is where I will stay. It's like home to me."

Meet the Manyeleti's best friend!

sharon@safaricollective.co.za (Sharon Gilbert-Rivett) — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 09:43:59 GMT

When it comes to apex predators, the painted wolf reigns supreme

It's Africa's most efficient hunter with a kill rate that puts big cats to shame... Meet the beautiful painted wolf (African wild dog) - a master of the chase and one of the Manyeleti's most alluring species.

Believe it or not, but this clever and engaging canid is one of the continent's most threatened species as a result of habitat loss and because it's heavily stigmatised by humans, with both formal and informal livestock farmers across Africa treating it as a pest.

The name "painted wolf" is a literal translation from its latin name - lycaon pictus and comes no doubt from their spectacular, multicoloured coats. Like a fingerprint, each of the striking mottled, spotted patterns is unique, enabling easy identification for other pack members. Large, round ears allow for exceptionally acute hearing that can pick up the calls of other pack members over long distances.

More than a dog, but not quite a wolf, in times gone by the painted wolf was persecuted here in South Africa, with the government offering considerable rewards for each dead animal delivered. Those days are long gone, thank goodness, and today painted wolf research has revealed to us the critical role these creatures play in the ecosystems they inhabit.

Painted wolves have an intricate and highly complex social system. They live together in packs and are one of the few species to have been recorded actively caring for their sick and old. The pack's role is to look after its alpha male and female - the breeding pair who are the core of pack society. They are "understudied" by a beta male and female who are literally on standby should anything happen to the alpha pair.

Packs can be large, consisting of as many as 30 animals, and the bonds between them are strong. While the alpha female is usually the only one to produce puppies, although in certain conditions the beta female will also have pups which will then be raised by the alpha. It's a strict hierarchy that works well, driving off potential new alphas and betas who split to form their own packs or join others. Curiously, it's the females that generally leave to start afresh, with the males largely staying with their family pack.

Painted wolves cover an enormous range - up to 1500km in some instances, only staying in one place when they den to have pups. In human terms that means that a huge, sprawling metropolitan area such as New York City would only be able to support a couple of packs of painted wolves! So seeing them here on the Manyeleti is always a privilege.

They breed generally in the dry season when the hunting conditions are at their best. As soon as the pups are able to eat solid food they are allowed to eat first when the pack makes a kill so they grow quickly, enabling them to keep up with the pack and leave the den site where they are vulnerable as soon as they can.

We are lucky enough to have regular sightings of painted wolves here at Pungwe, and in the summer we see them often thanks to the plentiful prey species across the Manyeleti. Seeing them always depends on the levels of other predator activity - generally, if we are seeing a lot of lion and hyena, the chances of seeing painted wolves becomes less likely.

When it comes to hunting, a wide diversity on species are on the painted wolf menu, from warthog, impala and scrub hares to kudu, nyala and even buffalo calves. They are renowned for their exceptional intelligence and clever hunting strategies that are effortlessly coreographed, with some pack members taking up ambush positions and others flanking prey to drive them to the ambush site.

Images: Kyra Girardin