And just like that, 2022 is nearly at an end, and boy what a year it has been for us! After the 2 year pause due to the pandemic, our guides were rearing to go this season and have had some phenomenal wildlife encounters along the way. Thanks to smart phones and some sporadic internet, our guides on the ground were able to share some of these moments with us, so we too could experience the magic of the wilderness through their videos and pictures. Here are some highlights from the year
Perry Nyama is a guide at Nkwali Camp as well as our top contributor and throughout the year he has seen everything from newly born hyena cubs (WATCH), to intense scenes between hyenas and wild dogs fighting over a kill (WATCH), but none were quite as special as his special sundowners with a pride of lions, which he rates as the best sighting of his life (this far)!
Perry and his guests were just about finishing their sundowners by the Luangwa River when he noticed a pride of lions coming towards the river, probably for a drink. Leaving the sundowner drinks to pack up later, he quickly got everyone back into the vehicle so they could safely watch the lions. They had other plans though and made a beeline for the drinks table! See what happens next: WATCH – Cheeky lions at sunset.
Over at Tena Tena, camp manager Bertrame who’s been guiding in the South Luangwa for over a decade also witnessed something he had never come across before. While out on a walking safari with guests, they came across a most peculiar scene: a wild dog and hyena sharing a carcass! Bertie could not believe his eyes and still is quite baffled till today about it. Take a look for yourself: WATCH – Wild Dog & Hyena share a meal.
Luangwa River Camp manager and RPS veteran Daudi Njobvu was also a regular contributor and shared a very enjoyable video of a hyena stealing a kill off a pair of unsuspecting leopards. The two leopards returned to find their breakfast gone and no trace of the perpetrator: WATCH – Hyena steals kill.
On the subject of leopards, Willie Shuma, Nsefu Camp manager was able to catch a this short but sweet footage of Olimba, the ‘celebrity leopard’ with her breakfast, which was a rather plump scrub hare: WATCH – Scrub Hare for breakfast.
Scrub hares seemed to be quite in demand, just ask Ed Selfe! While out on one of his Photographic Safaris got this fantastic action shot of a scrub hare trying to make a quick getaway from a hungry pack of wild dog.
Over in Malawi the team were also enthusiastically sharing their encounters with us. Kuthengo Camp guide Stanford Sinyangwe had a wonderful sighting of some lion cubs while out on a drive and had his camera at the ready to capture the tender moment: WATCH – Liwonde lion cubs.
Another memorable moment at Kuthengo Camp was coming across this leucistic hippo, a first for Stanford, in all his many years of guiding. Too in awe of it, there was no video evidence but thankfully camp manager Mike Wendel managed to get a few shots of this unusual creature. Mike has had some incredible highlights while at Kuthengo including the below images which are phenomenal but also a stark reminder of the circle of life in the wilderness.
Down in Mana Pools, Mark Van Zuydum, the head guide at John’s Camp had a hard time quantifying the best moments for him of the season as it had been such an amazing one with so many ‘Wow’ moments. If he had to choose one of those ‘wow’ moments, it would have to be the interaction between two wild dogs and a strapping buffalo. The young dogs had no hope of pulling the buffalo down but pirouetted around it with deep playful barks. A totally futile exercise but one done just for the pure devilment and enjoyment of it: WATCH – Wild dogs mock charge a buffalo.
You can watch all these videos and more on our YouTube Channel via our Guide Cam series, which is a collection of these wonderful wildlife moments that our guides have witness this season. The raw and unedited footage perfectly encapsulates what lies in store for your clients when on a safari with us!
For those interested in honing their filming skills, don;t forget about our Wildlife Filming Week safari which is the perfect way to capture these amazing encounters forever!
You clients will spend a week in the South Luangwa National Park with Emmy nominee & multiple award-winning wildlife filmmakers, Will & Lianne Steenkamp, and learn what it takes to make the most of their own wildlife videos.
Happy Selling!
The RPS Team