This is always one of my favorite blogs to write – my year in pictures. It allows me a chance to go back in time and relive the magical moments I shared with our guests – from honeymooners to multigenerational families; first-time safari-goers to those who return time and time again – at Tanda Tula over the past 12 months.
As usual, it feels like 2024 has whizzed by until I glance through some of the images and have to double-check that they were actually taken this year! We spent our first full year in our new camp, and it was incredible to see our highest levels of occupancy since pre-COVID. We welcomed so many guests, and the best part was that they all loved it! Which, if I may be a little biased, is not hard to do. A glamorous camp, smiling staff, delectable food, fine wines – all nestled in the heart of the timeless Timbavati. The area’s wildlife also more than played its part in creating lifelong memories. Best of all, we didn’t even have to travel far to enjoy it!
Throughout the year – particularly in the middle of the dry season (the driest in eight years) – we had constant activity at the camp’s waterhole. From a resident hippo to parades of elephants, bathing buffalo, nyala, bushbuck, wildebeest, zebras, and even visits from lions and wild dogs, it was always a hive of activity. The highlight? Likely when the Sark Breakaway Pride brought down three buffalo opposite camp after breakfast one day and feasted on them for days!
Despite all the excitement at camp, the most memorable moments were encountered while traversing our magical slice of this landscape. So, sit back, make yourself comfortable, and enjoy some highlights from the year that was 2024.
A Year of Lion Cubs
One thing is for sure: 2024 was the year of lions, particularly lion cubs. We were spoiled with two of our resident prides raising several litters in our traversing area – with varying degrees of success – leaving us with tough choices about which lions to visit on many occasions. The Sark Breakaway Pride briefly grew to 18 members (excluding pride males) when six little bundles of joy joined the pride early in the year.
The River Pride – Mixed Fortunes
The River Pride experienced a year of mixed fortunes. They successfully raised all three cubs born in June last year and added five more cubs mid-year. While they raised four of these cubs to year-end, challenges arose as the year closed. The pride vacated their territorial core after five months in the same area but returned battered and bruised, with one lioness suffering a broken leg. Her fate remains uncertain, setting up 2025 as a challenging year for the pride.
Coming of Age
Last year, we spoke about Nyeleti’s daughters as the future of our leopard population in central Timbavati. Dzindza has stepped up, aggressively chasing Nyeleti from her territory and taking over as queen of the central Timbavati. She has grown in size, strength, and confidence, becoming completely at ease with vehicles and offering us regular sightings of her beauty. Her sister, Rihati, is still a work in progress but has settled in an area adjacent to Dzindza.
A Distant Memory
After one of the driest winters in years, the lush greens and abundance of life from last summer feel like a distant memory. Fortunately, despite the dry winter, decent rains fell toward the end of 2024, with hopes for even more in early 2025.
Playful Dogs
It was an up-and-down year for wild dogs. A few smaller packs moved through the area, and our big pack denned in the eastern Timbavati for a change, leading to regular sightings during the denning season as they hunted around Tanda Tula. Once the pups were old enough, they moved north, only returning at the end of the year with nine youngsters in tow. We look forward to a great summer of wild dog viewing.
A Summer of Cheetahs
The start of the year was exceptional for cheetah sightings – eight different individuals traversed our eastern sections! Among them were two males, a mother and her young daughter, and a second female (all the way from Mozambique!) with her two cubs. As summer ended, only the two males remained as regular visitors, but cheetah sightings every few weeks were far better than usual. Toward year-end, the female and her now almost-adult daughter returned. We hope they spend the upcoming summer with us too!
Wondrous Waterholes
As we anticipated a dry year, we knew the waterholes would be hotspots – and they didn’t disappoint! Throughout winter and early summer, the best viewing spots were around the few remaining water sources. Elephants, rhinos, buffalo, lions, impalas, zebras, giraffes – they were all there, most days, offering fantastic viewing opportunities, as you’ll see in the pictures.
Timeless Timbavati
This year, I was fortunate to join one of our guests on a Timbavati Anti-Poaching Patrol Flight. Not only did it contribute to valuable conservation work, but it also offered a stunning view of this ancient landscape from the air. It was a wonderful reminder of just how vast this wilderness we call home truly is.
Vuyela Dominance
The Vuyela males, our five dominant lions, continued to grow in both size and dominance this year. Despite their apparent dislike for each other – as they are rarely seen together – their strategy of splitting up has allowed them to control multiple prides. They stabilized the River Pride and strengthened the Sark Breakaways into a powerhouse. Not stopping there, the Vuyelas ousted the Birmingham Breakaway Males from the Mayambula Pride and spent the latter half of 2024 mating with its adult females. They also mated with the “River” pride from Klaserie, with new cubs seen just last week – likely sired by them.
Happy Hyenas
Our local hyena den had a fantastic year, with eight cubs growing up around a series of mounds near Tanda Tula. Sadly, the lion activity toward year-end reduced this number to seven, but the remaining cubs are thriving.
Gentle Giant
No year in review would be complete without mentioning Apollo, the magnificent elephant. He spent another winter around Tanda Tula, and as always, we marvel at his presence. Each time he disappears, we wonder if he’ll return the next year. I have a good feeling we’ll see him again!
The Rise and Fall of Xiwumbane
For years, Xiwumbane male was the largest leopard I had ever seen and one of the most impressive. After beginning to relax around vehicles, we enjoyed remarkable sightings of him, including a few encounters when he was mating with Nyeleti. Tragically, by late spring, he had become a skinny, emaciated shadow of his former self. Finding Ntsongwaan male feeding on his remains days later brought bittersweet closure – at least he was no longer suffering.
The Decline of Ntsongwaan – and a New Contender
Ntsongwaan male followed a similar decline to Xiwumbane this year. While he is still alive, he has become nomadic and is visibly struggling, avoiding stronger, younger rivals. One such rival is his younger brother, Mondzweni, who reappeared after years of absence. Initially mistaken for Ntsongwaan due to his size and demeanor, Mondzweni soon made his presence clear, showing up in the Nhlaralumi area near Tanda Tula. Time will tell if Mondzweni becomes the new dominant male of the region. He’ll face competition from Ndzuti, Marula’s first son, who also returned this year.
Feathered Fights
The Timbavati wouldn’t be the same without its smaller inhabitants, like these two crested francolins engaging in a feisty duel – a fascinating reminder of nature’s diversity.
Misty Mornings
Although misty mornings were rare this winter, they created a magical atmosphere when they appeared, especially when wildlife, like ostriches, emerged from the dense clouds. This year, we enjoyed excellent ostrich viewing, with several males and females staying in the area. Unfortunately, the clutch of 18 eggs we were monitoring didn’t make it, as the River Pride found the nest just before the chicks hatched.
Nkaya Dam Female – A Rising Star
The Nkaya Dam female leopard has been around for years but remained elusive and nervous. That changed when she had a cub, earning her a name and a reputation as the “go-to” leopard in the west. Over the year, she provided many special moments, and her cub is growing up fast. We hope she continues to populate the region with her beauty.
Mayambula Uncertainty
With the Mayambula Pride undergoing its second takeover in just over a year, the future of its subadults remains uncertain. This year, we occasionally saw the pride – sometimes the adults, sometimes the subadults, and sometimes a mix. Reports suggest that ten subadults have formed a breakaway pride, seeking safety in the southwest. Meanwhile, the adult females seem to be stabilizing under the Vuyela males in their old territory.
Nova
Our beloved African wild cat, Nova, has grown up and begun expanding his territory. Despite wandering far and wide, he always returns home to Tanda Tula. Nova remains as picture-perfect as ever, and it’s a privilege to share our space with this stunning little predator.
A Year of Little Ones
Baby animals never fail to steal the show, whether it’s confident elephant calves or adorable lion cubs like the Sark Breakaway Pride’s youngsters. One surprise this year was the late arrival of baby impalas, far later than we’ve ever seen before.
Osteophagia
Yes, that’s a giraffe eating a bone! During this dry year, food – and its associated nutrients – became scarce. Giraffes turned to chewing bones to supplement their diets with much-needed phosphorus.
Dazzling Zebras
One of my favorite moments was watching zebra herds parade to the nearest water source on crisp late winter mornings. The sight is quintessentially African and never fails to amaze.
Spring
Despite the harsh winter, spring eventually arrived, bringing new life and delighting the birds. The black-headed oriole, in particular, added a splash of colour and melody to the bush.
A Muddy Mess
One Birmingham Breakaway male found himself covered in mud after catching and killing a desperate young hippo trapped in a drying dam. This coalition of five males was ousted by the Vuyela males but now seems to have settled in the west. They are currently challenging the Giraffe Pride, ensuring a period of uncertainty before a new chapter begins with the arrival of cubs.
Marabou Madness
The drying dams didn’t just attract predators like lions. Marabou storks flocked to the area in droves, feasting on stranded catfish in the shrinking mud puddles. Nature’s resourcefulness was on full display.
Golden Mornings
Winter provided some incredible game viewing, especially during the golden light of early mornings. One standout subject was a magnificent kudu bull, bathed in warm sunlight, embodying the beauty of the bush.
Shake It Off
Dusty winter scenes might make it hard to remember the rains of a few months earlier, but the sight of wet lions shaking off rainwater reminded us of nature’s ever-changing cycles. Soon, the rains will return, and we’ll be back to watching drenched lions!
Aerial Acrobat
Rain or shine, lilac-breasted rollers never fail to amaze with their vibrant colors and aerial acrobatics. They’re a true joy to watch and photograph.
Killing Machine
The Sark Breakaway Pride truly lived up to their reputation as efficient hunters. With fifteen mouths to feed, they developed an uncanny skill for preying on buffalo herds, many of which were weakened by the harsh end-of-winter conditions.
Dreamy Days
Dzindza ended the year with a delightful new habit – climbing into a large tree at the end of each morning safari and lounging in the branches. Finding her in this dreamy pose became a cherished way to close our drives.
Perfect Endings
There’s no such thing as a bad day in Africa, especially not at Tanda Tula. When the days end with sunsets like this, who could argue?
Racing Into 2025
And with that, we close our chapter on 2024 – a year filled with incredible moments, wildlife encounters, and memories to last a lifetime. As we race into 2025, we want to thank every one of you for being part of this journey, whether you joined us in person or followed along virtually.
We wish you a blessed festive season, a joyful end to the year, and a prosperous 2025.
Until next year!
Cheers,
Chad
