Major Predators

Watching big cats is high on many people's list of game experiences and Limpopo-Lipadi has much to offer. Over the last couple of years sightings of cheetah have been on the rise with a coalition of three males regularly being sighted on the north side of the reserve. As their size allows them to come and go using warthog burrows that appear under the fence our population is in constant flux, but the spoor of up to eight individuals have been identified. Full details of species can be found here.

With the bush returning to a more natural state and the animals getting used to the game drive vehicles it appears a number are spending more time on the reserve. The new Southern Plains area, cleared during winter 2010 has also become a frequent haunt of a solitary cheetah sometimes seen relaxing in the shade under an acacia or patrolling the bush on the hunt for impala.

However graceful and regal cheetah are though, the beauty and stealth of leopard make them equally sought and Limpopo-Lipadi must surely qualify as one of the best places to see them as we have a high density of this powerful, but secretive cat. Leaving River Camp early in the morning often means coming across fresh leopard tracks in the sand leading to and from many waterholes and rarely does a week go by without someone coming across one walking our network of roads in the dawn light. Don't forget that this is despite our incredibly low density of visitors where often only one or two game drive vehicles are in use somewhere in the 32,500 hectares! This guarantees that sightings don't become a crowded free-for-all as vehicle after vehicle races in to ensure their guests get a view - something all too common in many commercial reserves where the "Big 5 pressure" seems to pervade the atmosphere.

Several shareholders have now seen so many leopards that individual animals are recognisable on sight and the best locations and times to see them are becoming understood. One example is "Sam" a young leopard christened after providing relaxed views day after day in February and March 2010 at Mogorosi Waterhole, one of which culminated in him making an appearance sat between the tracks made by the land cruiser just a few minutes earlier! Although now he has reached maturity and left the maternal territory he hasn't gone far and has been seen regularly at another waterhole, still as relaxed as ever.

Alongside the cheetah and leopard we have a number of smaller cats that are seen from time to time. These include caracal and African wild cat, the latter seen stalking, much like a big domestic cat, in the bush after dark.

Then there are the dogs and hyenas! You can read more about our wild dog rearing and release elsewhere on the site.

Limpopo-Lipadi supports populations of both spotted and brown hyena, and although they remain very shy creatures, sightings are on the increase and shareholders out in the bush at night often hear their eerie whoops and laughing calls. The reserve is also home to good numbers of black-backed jackals that are increasingly happy to sit and watch approaching vehicles - indeed one group of four youngsters would even come out of the bush to examine cruisers up close!

Lastly are the prehistoric nile crocodiles that bask on the banks of the Limpopo River and patrol its pools in search of an unsuspecting creature to ambush. Some large individuals are often seen at the river viewing point on the shareholder access road, although they are quick to slide into the water if they notice your approach. Smaller crocs (although still 5+ feet long) are frequently noticed on the small sandbanks opposite a number of the lodge units as well as lying in wait underneath the dam at Harry's Camp, where they catch fish exhausted after trying to jump upstream.

The other insectivorous mammals such as aardwolf are covered in the smaller game article, as are the other carnivorous reptiles.