Safari Day 2 Morning Ride

Heading out before Dawn with High Intensity Light
Pilanesberg National Park, ZA
February 25, 2025

 Who would have believed that getting up at 4:30 AM to be out on safari at 5:30 AM would be a thing? But it was. 

Big Cat on the Move
Pilanesberg National Park, ZA
February 25, 2025

We headed out into the park bright and early, no, wait, it wasn't bright--it was dark and we could only just begin to see some color in the eastern sky as we rode out looking for big game. The ranger used his high intensity lamp to try and find game hidden in the bushes, trees, and under the trees. We did find an impala, but nothing else until after dawn and we could see without additional illumination.  

But after dawn, it did not take long before we encountered our first big cat, a lioness walking down the road towards us. We stopped and she continued her march unfazed by the people and the cameras. Yes, she has a tracking collar. It is part of the wildlife management that the park is doing. If you look closely you can see that she is a nursing mother. 

Lion cubs
Pilanesberg National Park, ZA
February 25, 2025

From this stop, we heard that there was a group of cubs under a tree near the road and headed off to find them. There were three cubs when we arrived, but one of the cubs decided to wander off towards their mother, who was keeping a watchful eye on them and us from a distance.  

I was amazed, and this was not the first time today that it happened, how many safari trucks show up when a significant animal is found. There must have been 10 trucks all vying to see the cubs at play. I can't even imagine the number of images and videos that were taken of the two this morning. We stayed for a long while and then departed to give other tours the opportunity to get closer and enjoy nature at play.

Leopard
Pilanesberg National Park
February 25, 2025

Next up was the search for the leopard! Yes, one was on the move and we headed off across the park to find it. The early word was that they had lost sight of her, but by the time we got close, it was clear that she was generating a lot of activity. Along the way we saw herds of impala and wildebeest. Turns out, the leopard was hunting and one of the impala's became dinner. We found her in a tree eating her fresh kill. Fortunately she was far enough away that I did not try to take a photograph of the carnage.

Giraffe 
Pilanesberg National Park
February 25, 2025

As the day continued to deepen we were excited to see zebras and giraffes.

Each new animal increased our excitement and we soon realized that this was far more of an experience than either of us had dreamed it would be. 

But there was even more to come and this was only our second of four rides into the park.

Zebras
Pilanesberg National Park
February 25, 2025

-- Bob Doan, Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa