The Wild Again team has 57 years collective guiding experience. This means many hours spent immersed in African wilderness watching seasons change, territories shift, life and death play out and ultimately, multiple mind-blowing moments unfold. We have been privileged to enter these spaces, be the custodians of these landscapes and the conduits of these stories to our guests over the years. It also means we have witnessed some pretty remarkable sightings and every now and then, been lucky enough to capture it on camera. We have put together a small selection of a few of our memorable sightings and shared what they have meant to us. If you enjoy these, we’ll start sharing more regularly!

‍

AMY ATTENBOROUGH

This is a photograph that I took in Mana Pools many years ago. I think one of the reasons I love it is because of the moment I experienced when taking it. I realise that many of my favourite moments are when I’m on foot and at eye level with what I’m photographing. One of the joys of Mana Pools is being able to view much of its wildlife on foot without the animals being fazed about your presence. We had sat with these wild dogs all afternoon while they rested and as it cooled off they got up and began to play. We surmised where they would walk and strategically positioned ourselves, bums on the ground, hoping they’d wander past. The alpha female cut right past us, without even a glance, framing the rest of the pack in the background. Once she has passed, we stood up and followed the pack at a distance as they began to hunt. Shortly after, they spotted a herd of kudu and took off at high speed after them and we lost sight of species and prey as they disappeared over a rise. We all ran the relatively short distance and, despite the incredible speed at which they eat, we got there in time to see them finishing up the remains. It was the most incredible afternoon, where we felt we were part of the pack. This photograph will always signify that for me.

‍

ROAN DU PLESSIS

As a guide one of the most frequently asked questions by guests would be to tell them about my best ever sighting… often followed by “you must’ve seen so many kills.”

My favourite sightings aren’t necessarily a chase, a stalk, or even a kill… it's all about that special moment where a place I’ve been so many times is completely different to how I’ve experienced it before. Those precious minutes where you sit in utter awe as nature takes your breath away and you're forced to be completely present in the moment because it will only last for a little while. These are some of the memories which are forever etched and embedded, where I remember the sounds, the smell and the feel of that incredible moment shared between a handful of us.

And as much as I tried to capture the moment with a camera, it's the feeling of being there where everything unfolds that encapsulates MY best sighting.

‍

ANDREA FITZPATRICK

Early one winter June morning, while working at Londolozi Game Reserve, my tracker Bennet and I heard bird alarm calls from a nearby pan. We rushed closer to find a female cheetah drinking hurriedly. She had a full belly so at first we suspected that she’d find a shady spot to rest in. However, she was on the move, and with purpose. There hadn’t been a cheetah sighted on the property in months, so this was already unique and multiple rangers were radioing in hoping to join us. Observing her, almost at the same time, Bennet and I looked up at each other with excitement - she had suckle marks, which meant she was nursing cubs! We continued to follow her at a distance, unsure of where she had stashed her litter, but knowing full well that she was returning to them. Then, she then started softly contact calling, as she continued to walk steadily west. The tension was palpable. I had never seen a cheetah cub before, and I honestly couldn’t contain myself. Eventually she stopped and lay down, and we positioned ourselves a little way off. As she lay there gently calling, slowly but surely, small bundles of fur started to emerge from the bushes, until four tiny six-week-old cubs had surrounded their mother. As we patiently sat, the cubs grew slightly more curious and we were able to get a few incredible views. 

I had set out that morning without an inkling that we might see something as spectacular as we did. Londolozi is known for its exceptional leopard viewing, but cheetah are uncommon to see as they are often outcompeted by other predators like leopard, lion, and hyena. Yet, on this day the bush totally surprised us and produced a rare and beautiful moment that I will always cherish.

‍

ROBYN SEWELL

Back in August 2021, I had one of the most unforgettable mornings out on game drive with my guests. We’d spent the better part of the morning following a pack of wild dogs hunting, which had already made for an exciting start to the day in the southern reaches of Mala Mala. As the sun climbed higher in the sky and the heat set in, we decided it was time to head back to camp for breakfast and a well-earned siesta.

At the time, the dominant lion pride in the area had a den nestled between the boulders near the main river crossing with small cubs stashed there. Wanting to avoid disturbing them- especially since no adults had been visible at the den that morning – I chose to take a different route back to camp, using a crossing point further downstream. We made our way across the river and up the opposite bank, turning north onto a road that runs parallel with the river. As we rounded the bend, we were met with an astonishing sight: a female lion walking directly toward us, a cub gently held in her mouth. I was completely stunned, despite years in the bush, I had never seen a lioness carrying a cub before. It’s the kind of moment that guides dream about but only a lucky few actually witness firsthand.

With recent leopard activity in the area we suspected that she’d decided to relocate her cubs to a safer densite. This would have been a risky and stressful task for her and so I eased the vehicle right off the road to give her space. To our amazement she continued straight towards us. It was at this moment that I remembered to pull out my camera! With excitedly shaking hands I managed to snap a few clear photos before she slipped off into the thicket.

To this day, this experience remains one of my all-time favourite moments on safari!