Tanda Tula - pangolin in South Africa
< Back to all

Three months of lockdown in pictures

Chad Cocking | A Week In Pictures

Greetings World!  And welcome to another week of photo highlights from the heart of the Timbavati.It has been just over three months since our country went into lockdown, which has given us over thirteen weeks of missing you all, and 104 days without you here to share in the magic of Tanda Tula Safari Camp.So, for this week’s blog we are going to have a look back at some of the highlights of our time spent in the camp during lockdown.

But first, an update since my return of all the events before I took some time off. Firstly, many of you were concerned about the fact that only one of Nthombi’s cubs were seen two weeks ago, but the afternoon after that last sighting, there was a report that both of her cubs were present at the kill!  This news was a great relief to all of us.  I was only out on a few game drives over that week; the two weekend bumbles (without my camera) produced sightings of the River Pride lionesses and the Nharhu males (the cubs were also all seen alive and well that weekend) and a brief sighting of some members of the Mayambula Pride. Dale had actually seen nine of them feeding on a wildebeest that morning (as well as Ntsongwaan male leopard square up against another male).

The next two drives were spent filming a sofa safari in the presence of a gorgeous male cheetah!  He was well fed and spent the day lazing around close to Cheetah Plains, but sadly without the need to hunt, he didn’t get up much.  The last two drives were spent examining lion and leopard tracks without much joy, including tracks for the Mayambula Pride moving fairly deep into the northern parts of their range. These are hopefully signs of trends that can be expected as the pride moves around searching for food and water for their almost adult-sized youngsters.  As frustrating as it was not being able to find the cats we were looking for, it made me realise just how lucky we have been over the past few months to see what we have seen.

The main story from the first part of lockdown was no doubt the constant presence of the River Pride and their growing cubs; from seeing the new litter for the first time back in April to being privileged enough to watch them grow bigger and more confident by the week.  The three Nharhu males made their presence known on an almost nightly basis with their roars, and we became accustomed to finding them on a daily basis (to the point where we would sometimes simply drive on past them in the hope of finding something different, like elephants!).  As this period came to end, the pride became less predictable and moved greater distances – often with the cubs – which made it a little more challenging to track them.  Two of the lionesses have still been mating with the males, and we hope that they too, will have cubs in the not too distant future. This will hopefully anchor the pride to the area once more.

Tanda Tula - Lion cubs

Tanda Tula - curious lion cubs on safari in the Greater Kruger

Tanda Tula - Nharhu male lions in the Timbavati

Nthombi’s cubs were the special characters that kick-started our lockdown period after her den site was located by some of the last guests to visit the Timbavati.  Sadly, after she moved them from there, we lost track of her for many weeks. Sporadic sightings of her eventually culminated in us finding her with the cubs who looked to be in great condition; we almost can’t believe how old she actually is when you see her looking so healthy and well-toned.  As you may remember, the leopards did an amazing job of hiding from us in the early days of lockdown when the greens of summer were still in so much in evidence, but as time passed, sightings became more regular, and we even got to catch up with Nyeleti and her growing male cub.  Thumbela, Xidulu, N’weti, Tamboti, Marula Jnr, Xisiwana, Hlangana, and Goya Rd male have all made appearances on our social media platforms and as the dry season progresses, we are hoping to see more and more of these stunning spotted cats.

Tanda Tula - leopard cubs on safari in South Africa

Tanda Tula - Xidulul jumping up a tree

Tanda Tula - Nthombi leopardess resting on safari

On the subject of spots, we have also been treated to two cheetah sightings in this time; this might not sound like a lot, but considering I had only enjoyed two sightings in the last two years (with all the game drive vehicles out and about searching for game), it makes both of these sightings even more special and noteworthy.

Tanda Tula - cheetah brothers on safari in the Timbavati

Tanda Tula - cheetah photographed by Chad Cocking

Tanda Tula - cheetahs on a photographic safari

Our other endangered predator, the African wild dogs, have also made regular appearances throughout lockdown, although we quickly realised just how difficult it is to keep track of their movements when you are the only vehicle out there!  We were treated to sightings of three different packs during this time, but it sadly seems as though our hopes and dreams of having them denning within the concession have not come to fruition.

Tanda Tula - wild dogs chasing hyenas

Tanda Tula - wild dogs on a photographic safari in the Timbavati

The elephants ebbed and flowed but have really come into their own the last few weeks. We have also been treated to more regular sightings of buffalos (some herds had over 300 members), and our general game sightings have been very strong, particularly in the east.  During my two days spent sitting at Machaton Dam, there were constant visits to the waterhole by zebras, impalas, warthogs and wildebeest throughout the middle of the day.

But, as far as special moments in lockdown go, who could forget the good fortune we had to see the holy grail of safaris when we got to spend some time with the oddest of creatures, the Ground Pangolin.  I had only ever managed to photograph scales of curled up individuals before, but this time patience paid off and we were able to watch as this individual uncurled itself and walked off into the bush leaving us with massive smiles etched across our faces.

We cannot wait to have you all back here one day soon, so that we can share in these magic moments and bring these same smiles to your faces.  Tanda Tula is ready for your return, but until you do, in the not too distant future, we will keep on bringing the animals to you.

Until next time, stay safe!

Cheers,
Chad

Tanda Tula - necking giraffes on the best safari in South Africa

Tanda Tula - zebras drinking in the best safari destination, South Africa

Tanda Tula - helmeted guineafowl

Tanda Tula - curious giraffes on safari

Tanda Tula - Shelley's Francolin in the Greater Kruger

Categories

Authors

View rates & promotions >

Find Us

We’d love to have you join the family.

Sign up for exclusive access to early bird promotions and other exciting offers, news and updates.




Booking Terms & Conditions

Rates are quoted in South African Rand (ZAR) and include VAT. Rates are reviewed quarterly and are subject to change.

PROVISIONAL:

Bookings can be held as provisional for up to 14 days, after which the booking is required to release or confirm. A 20% refundable deposit is required to confirm the booking.

CONFIRMED:

Once confirmed with a 20% deposit, the booking is held on a status of ‘confirmed with refundable deposit’ until any of the following becomes true:

  • The booking is cancelled in writing by the agent.
  • Another request is received with overlapping dates. At such a time, the 20% refundable deposit shall be required to be converted
  • into a 20% non-refundable commitment fee. At this stage, the booking status changes to ‘confirmed with commitment.’ • In such an event, Tanda Tula will contact the client and give them the option to either confirm with the non-refundable
  • commitment fee or reschedule their dates, or, failing that, to release the booking.
  • At 60 days prior to arrival, when the full payment is due, the booking status changes to ‘confirmed with full-payment.’

Final payment is due 60 days prior to arrival. Any outstanding balance on the total reservation value shall be required to be settled at 60 days prior to arrival.

All refundable deposits, commitment fees and full payments are held in a separate call account and do not become part of the operational cash flow until the guest has stayed.

The amount stated on the invoice is what must be received by Tanda Tula nett of bank charges.

CANCELLED

Cancellations must be received and acknowledged by Tanda Tula in writing.

‘Confirmed with refundable deposit’: bookings carry no cancellation fees up to 61 days prior to arrival.

‘Confirmed with commitment’ or ‘Confirmed with full-payment’: in the event of any reservation being cancelled after Tanda Tula has issued a confirmation, for any reason other than a WHO-recognised pandemic that impacts the booking, the following cancellation fees will apply:

  • ‘Confirmed with commitment’: if cancelled more than 60 days prior to arrival, the cancellation fee shall be equal to the 20% non- refundable commitment fee.
  • ‘Confirmed with full-payment’: if cancelled between 60 days prior to arrival, the full reservation value is forfeited.

All cancelled bookings that qualify for a refund, will be refunded less a handling fee valued at 5% of the refund amount.

PANDEMIC DISCLAIMER

Tanda Tula will allow postponement of a booking for up to 12 months, if travel is cancelled with a commitment fee or 60 days or less prior to arrival due to a WHO-recognised pandemic directly impacting the guests’ ability to travel (e.g. lockdown, no flights, guest not allowed to board a flight, guest falls ill due to a pandemic and unable to travel).

In the event of a WHO-recognised pandemic directly impacting the ability of Tanda Tula to meet its obligations with respect to the booking, all monies received, including the commitment fee, will be fully refunded (e.g. lockdown in RSA, government restrictions on trade).

Any refund is given at the discretion of Tanda Tula management and will be charge a handling fee valued at 5% of the refund amount.

All travellers are advised to take out fully comprehensive travel insurance with ‘cancellation for no reason’. This insurance must be able to fully cover cancellation of travel fewer than 60 days prior to arrival.

The Terms and Conditions are subject to change without notice.