Ngwenya River Lodges

Game sightings along the Ngwenya Riverfront during the period April to September 2008

Game sightings throughout the dry months have been exceptional. For five months in a row the Big Five have been seen along the Ngwenya riverfront on numerous occasions. Each new day at Ngwenya offers up something different and exciting – so it’s important to keep those eyes peeled and cameras ready. On more than one occasion during this period all of the Big 5 have been seen along the riverfront during the course of single day.

April 2008
April was a bumper month for lion sightings. Lion were seen on 8 separate occasions between the 9th and 27th. The highlight of the month was the kill that took place on the 9th April when 10 lions took down a giraffe on the riverfront. Excitement peaked when crocodiles emerged from the river around midday to try and hijack the kill. This event was recorded on film by Heiner Retzlaff. Hyena were spotted on the 12th,18th & 20th. Rhino sightings were reported 11 times between the 1st and 29th and elephant were seen on the riverfront 8 times throughout the month. Buffalo were seen every day as were hippos, crocs, impala and waterbuck. Kudu were reported at least every third day throughout the month. Other sightings included bushbuck, giraffe (7 times), zebra (4 times), wildebeest (twice) and warthog (4 times). Baboons and vervet monkeys also visited the riverfront during April.

May 2008
Predator sightings during May included lion (1st), leopard (11th & 12th) and hyena (7th, 15th & 21st). As for the previous month both rhino and elephant were seen more-or-less every third day. The frequency of kudu, bushbuck, giraffe, warthog, zebra, vervet and baboons sightings were about the same as for April although no wildebeest were reported during this month. The usual daily riverfront residents (buffalo, impala, waterbuck, hippos and crocs) did not fail to disappoint.

June 2008
As for May predators were prevalent along the riverfront with lions reported on 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 26th & 28th ; hyena on the 1st, 9th, 12th & 22nd and leopard on the 23rd. Elephant were reported on the 3rd, 4th, 7th, 10th, 14th, 15th, 23rd, 26th & 28th and rhino on the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 16th, 23rd, 26th & 30th. The frequency of giraffe sightings increased to 11 for the month and kudu were spotted almost as often. As for the rest, the sightings were as good as those in May with wildebeest being seen again on the 5th, 9th and 19th.

July 2008
July was a bumper month for Big Cat sightings and they were hungry! Lions were seen on 2nd, 7th, 15th, 23rd, 29th, 30th and 31st. On the 30th they killed a buffalo in the woodland adjoining the floodplain. Leopard sightings were reported on 5th, 16th (impala kill reported), 19th & 22nd . Hyena were seen on 8th, 13th, 20th, 24th & 25th . Elephant (2nd, 4th, 9th, 18th, 25th & 29th ) and rhino (5th, 17th, 24th, 28th & 31st ) were seen with the same frequency. The usual daily riverfront complement of dagga boys, impala, waterbuck, hippos and crocs did not fail to turn up. As for the rest of the passing parade sightings during July were as good and as varied for those for June.

August 2008
Game viewing during August was as good as for July. On the 13th of August all of the Big 5 were seen along the riverfront. Lion were seen and heard frequently (4th , 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 13th, 27th, 28th & 29th). On the 11th, 7 lions were seen on the floodplain opposite chalet 102 where they tried unsuccessfully to catch a warthog and an impala. They eventually did make a kill just off the Hippo Pool road in the Park. Leopard sightings were reported on 9th, 13th & 14th. Interestingly the sighting on the 13th was in the reed beds at Hippo Bend around lunchtime. Hyena were seen on the 3rd, 5th, 8th, 9th,18th & 25th. Other than the daily appearance of “dagga boys”, a big buffalo herd (over 200 animals) visited the river on the 13th while smaller herds came to drink throughout the month. Three unusual sightings reported by Harvey Stott during his stay at Ngwenya (8th - 15th ) included a cane rat, an otter and a serval that killed a small antelope (see his report below). Elephants were seen along the riverfront almost every second day throughout August and rhino were also seen throughout the month. Once again the passing parade emphasized that watching the riverfront at Ngwenya was as good as, if not better, than watching a wildlife program on the Discovery Channel.

September 2008
September proved to be another superb game viewing month for Ngwenya occupants. Lion were seen on the 4th, 12th, 13th & 15th. The viewing highlight occurred on the 12th when they killed a Buffalo on a sand bank at Hippo Bend. Leopard were seen on the 3rd & 23rd. Hyena sightings were reported every few days throughout the month (3rd, 8th, 10th, 12th, 15th, 21st, 22nd & 27th ). Elephant visited the riverfront on 13 separate days throughout the month with most sightings for the first half of the month occurring either every day or every second day. A 6 day gap in reported elephant sightings occurred between the 19th and 24th highlighting the unpredictability of game viewing. Rhino were seen on the floodplain at least once a week throughout the month. Giraffe came to the river often (14 times) throughout September. Kudu were seen along the river 9 times during September while bushbuck, warthog, baboons and vervet monkeys were reported 5 times throughout the month. Other game reported included hippos and crocs (daily), impala (daily), waterbuck (daily), buffalo (daily).

During the period October 2006 to April 2007

October 2006
October is an interesting month being the beginning of the breeding season for many antelope and the time of year that migrant raptors from the north begin to arrive. During October the vegetation starts greening and daytime temperatures can get very hot. October proved to be a great month for game sightings. Viewing highlights were lions seen on the 4th, 5th , 9th , 12th, 14th, 18th, 24th and 30th; wild dogs on the 5th and 6th and cheetah on the 16th . Hyaena were seen on the 2nd, 3rd, 10th, 13th, 21st and 29th. The big Crocodile Bridge buffalo herd (more than 200 animals) visited the river on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Other buffalo sightings were reported on the 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 23rd, 27th, 28th, 30th and 31st. Perhaps the presence of the buffalo accounted for the high frequency of lion sightings during this specific month. Elephants visited the riverfront on 11 separate days and rhino were seen on 10th, 16th, 23rd and 29th. Hippos, crocs, impala and waterbuck were seen every day on the riverfront. In addition sightings of bushbuck, kudu, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, warthogs, baboons and vervet monkeys were reported throughout October.

November 2006
With increasing summer rainfall during November the Park becomes lush. River levels rise and the calls of woodland kingfishers herald the arrival of summer. Days can be very hot, nights warm and insect loads increase significantly (good feeding for bats). No Big Cat sightings were reported at Ngwenya during November 2006. However, wild dogs were seen on the 25th. Hyaena were reported on the 3rd, 7th, 22nd and 26th and as for the previous month, buffalo and elephants were seen every week as were kudu. Rhino were reported on the 3rd, 7th , 11th, 18th and 26th. In addition bushbuck, kudu, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, baboons and vervets were reported on the riverfront throughout November.

December 2006
This month is the height of summer and the height of the impala breeding season as well. The density of the vegetation can make game viewing more challenging but birding is superb. Viewing highlights at Ngwenya included lions and wild dogs on 13th and wild dogs again on the 20th. The most frequent big game sightings were hippo (every day), buffalo (almost every day) and elephants (almost every day). Less frequent sightings included Rhino (4th, 18th, 24th, 25th and 27th ) and hyaena (6th,14th,15th, 21st and 24th ). Kudu were seen on no less than 11 occasions throughout the month. In addition crocodiles, bushbuck, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, warthog, baboons and vervets were seen throughout December.

January 2007
During January the rainy season usually peaks with days being hot and humid. The vegetation is lush with many flowers in bloom and fruit on many trees. Lots of herbivore herds and lots of predator activity. Buffalo and elephant were seen every 2 to 3 days along the riverfront. Rhino were spotted four times during the month. Hyaena sightings were reported on the 4th, 14th, 19th, 21st and 26th. Hippos, crocodiles, impala and waterbuck seen everyday and kudu seen every week. Sightings of bushbuck, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, warthog, baboons and vervets were reported throughout January

February 2007
Weather-wise February is very much like January. Animals start dispersing to new grazing grounds and the river level continues to be high. The viewing highlights for February were a cheetah with two cubs on the 5th, wild dogs and a hyaena on the 5th and a leopard on the 10th. In addition hyena were seen on the 14th and 21st. On the 11th a hippo gave birth and buffalo were reported on 12 separate occasions throughout the month. Elephant visited the river 9 times between the 3rd and the 26th. White rhino were seen twice on the 9th and 16th. Other game seen during February included wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, kudu, warthog, bushbuck, impala, waterbuck, baboons, vervet monkeys, crocodiles and hippos.

March 2007
The viewing highlights for March included a lion killing an impala on the floodplain on the 6th and the sightings of Hyaena on 8th,13th, 20th, 25th and 31st . Buffalo were reported on 2nd, 4th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 18th, 21st, 22nd, 24th, 26th, 27th, 29th and 30th and elephants were seen almost as frequently. Rhino were seen on 3rd, 8th, 10th, 11th, 20th and 24th. Other sightings during March included wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck, bushbuck, impala, hippos, crocodiles, baboons and vervet monkeys.

April 2007
No Big Cat sightings were reported during April. Hyaena were seen on the 5th and the 19th. Buffalo were seen on 18 separate occasions throughout the month, elephant on 11 separate occasions and white rhino on five separate occasions. The balance of game sightings reported was very similar to those reported in March.

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