Private Game and Wilderness Reserve
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Limpopo-Lipadi Wildlife Blog
Reserve
Mon
01 Jun
2020
Elephant Close Encounter
Reserve manager, Duane and general manager, Glen, and a handful anti-poaching and staff members are the only ones left on the reserve during the Botswana lockdown. Read about their close encounter with an unhabituated elephant cow during a patrol.
Reserve
Mon
25 May
2020
Leopard Overload
Paul and Sheryl Freund have had some incredible leopard sightings. This past November was no exception. The heat had many animals drinking at Tholo dam, including some leopards, who only came out at dusk or at night. Read about Paul and Sheryl’s sightings here.
Reserve
Mon
18 May
2020
Meeting Again: All Grown Up
In 2018 Aileen Oosterling many hours with four lion cubs, watching the play and goof around with each other. Two years later, she got to see them again! All grown up now and on their own, away from the pride.
Reserve
Mon
11 May
2020
Those Brave but Shy Honey Badgers!
Honey badgers are formidable fighters and not even lions want to mess with them. But, they are shy and not very often seen. Paul and Cheryl Freund were lucky enough to see them for a few seconds before they disappeared in a hole.
Reserve
Mon
04 May
2020
TwoSpots and the Wild Dogs of Lipadi
Shareholder Paul Freund took the time to document the story of the reserve’s prominent alpha-female wild dog, TwoSpots. The book chronicles her life as a youngster growing up in the boma, to her disappearance in 2019.
Reserve
Tue
28 Apr
2020
Watch out for the Leopard Thief!
There are guests at Limpopo-Lipadi that come to the reserve and claim to hardly ever see a leopard. Then you have others who prove the opposite. Last November shareholders Paul and Cheryl had numerous incredible viewings.
Reserve
Mon
20 Apr
2020
Weave to Impress
Shareholder Aileen has been spending a lot of time at the reserve lately and gladly shares her sightings and stories with us. This time she writes about the many southern masked weavers building their nests.
Conservation
Tue
14 Apr
2020
Erik vs the Lions
While shareholders aren’t able to visit the reserve at the moment, our vet and our reserve manager are hard at work making sure that everything runs smoothly and that the animals are well taken care of. Read about their efforts with the lion pride here.
Reserve
Mon
06 Apr
2020
Last Game Drive Before Closure
Ryan and his guests were the last shareholders at the reserve before it closed due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Game drives were generally disappointing. But then, at Middle Plains, they saw her. A fit lioness, looking for her next meal.
Reserve
Mon
30 Mar
2020
Airstrip congregation
Life in the bush is not a walk in the park. You always have to be on high alert and vigilant about the danger lurking behind every tree or bush. Sticking together on open terrain is a very good way to steer clear of lurking danger.
Reserve
Mon
23 Mar
2020
Leopard stroll towards dinner.
In the green season it may take some effort to spot animals between the vibrant green bushes and tall grass. But sometimes it’s just luck when you almost literally stumble across a leopard, about to get her paws on dinner. Watch the video of one such an encounter at Limpopo-Lipadi.
Reserve
Mon
02 Mar
2020
Wild dogs on a mission
One of the upsides of being a shareholder, is that you have the reserve to yourself from time to time. It’s also a downside because there’s no one to alert you of amazing sightings. Luckily, on a quiet morning, we heard a call over the radio of a wild dogs sighting. Read here.
Reserve
Mon
24 Feb
2020
Birds of a feather
Summer at its heights means that it is birding galore at Limpopo-Lipadi, with so many migratory birds taking up residence at the Reserve in this period. Anton Kruger and family spent a couple of days at the Reserve recently and shared some of their ‘catches’ with us. Enjoy!
Reserve
Mon
17 Feb
2020
Bath time!
During a sundowner self-drive in October last year, shareholders Clive and Jill saw a spectacular brown hyena, soaking up the sun and taking a bath in Tholo Dam. It was quite a sighting. Read about it here.
Reserve
Mon
10 Feb
2020
Safari with kids
Anton Kruger is a shareholder of Limpopo-Lipadi, who always surprises us with his beautiful photos and stories. He tells about his most recent visit in the ‘green season’, making it clear that going on a safari is a great adventure for all, even for small kids. Read his story and enjoy his fantastic photos.
Reserve
Mon
03 Feb
2020
I’m stronger than you are
The Elephant breeding herd is often followed by several young males and, just like young human lads, they want to…
Reserve
Mon
27 Jan
2020
So happy to see you!
Sometimes, the simple act of sitting in a hide opens you up to the most incredible sightings. Read Martina’s story of a herd of elephants that seemed to unite with some old friends. I must have been quite a sight!
Reserve
Mon
20 Jan
2020
Impala into the Wild(erness)
It is so important to avoid overgrazing popular waterholes by luring territorial animals like impala to other grazing areas. In this pursuit, we’ve introduced a new waterhole at Limpopo-Lipadi, called Wilderness. Read more about it on our blog!
Reserve
Mon
06 Jan
2020
A ‘Tail’ of Two Badgers
Shareholders Clive and Jill were privileged to see not one, but two of the notoriously fearless (but shy of humans) honey badgers taking on a python in a small umbrella thorn tree! It was quite a sight! Read more on our blog!
Reserve
Tue
17 Dec
2019
Zebra overload
Patience really is a virtue. Even when you feel like there are no more animals left on the reserve, if you patiently wait, they will come to you. Hunker down in a hide and wait it out!
Reserve
Mon
09 Dec
2019
Not just your average week at the reserve
Shareholder Guido van Toorenburg recently had an extraordinary few sightings at Limpopo-Lipadi. Not only did they see one of the cheetah brothers that everyone assumed had left the reserve, they also saw not one, but two lion kills! It was an exciting stay this time around! Here is his story.
Reserve
Mon
02 Dec
2019
It’s all a matter of luck
The more time you spend on the reserve, and especially at waterholes, the more likely you are to see some very special events.
Reserve
Mon
25 Nov
2019
Bushbuck Keeping us Company
So, as bushbucks are abundant around the lodges, they are less so in the rest of Botswana, and we cherish their company, with the little munching noises and the crackling of leaves and branches.
Reserve
Mon
18 Nov
2019
Taking your Best Shot at Birding
Bird photography is a special form of wildlife observation. It requires a good eye and a good camera. With the enormous variety of bird species at Limpopo-Lipadi, it is definitely worthwhile to invest a bit of time and effort into birding.
Reserve
Mon
11 Nov
2019
Sundowner Time
For many of us, sundowner time is the best time of the day. The golden hour just before the sun sets creates the most beautiful light for photography, nocturnal animals come out, and it is the time for drinks at a well-chosen spot to enjoy the light, the animals and the company you’re in.
Reserve
Mon
04 Nov
2019
A Morning in the Life of a Shareholder
Long-time shareholders, Walt and Thea have been frequenting Limpopo-Lipadi on a regular basis. When they come, they like to stay…
Reserve
Mon
28 Oct
2019
Take your cues from the elephants—get out your sunscreen
Summer is here and it is getting hot out there, so we need to protect ourselves from the blistering sun. But it’s not just us humans who need to watch out for sunburn. Some animals do too.
Reserve
Mon
21 Oct
2019
Flash appearance of the wild dogs
A couple of years ago, Limpopo-Lipadi had a large pack of the endangered African wild dogs. What a delight it was to encounter them so regularly out on their hunts, or lazing around near a waterhole or in the shade.
Reserve
Mon
14 Oct
2019
Bush pigs out in the open
The elusive bush pig is one such creature that hardly ever shows his snout, especially not during daytime.
Reserve
Mon
07 Oct
2019
Lion snacking on impala
Having a good number of lions in the reserve does not necessarily mean that you stumble over them in our 200-something square kilometres. And so, on some visits, you may start giving up on the idea of seeing lions.
Reserve
Mon
23 Sep
2019
Too close for comfort: held hostage by 13 elephants
Game viewing was calm, very calm. All the radios were quiet, apart from the guides chatting and updating each other…
Reserve
Mon
16 Sep
2019
A hike along the mighty Limpopo River
Limpopo-Lipadi is proud to have 14 kilometres of beautiful Limpopo river frontage, with its precious ecosystem and riverine trees and…
Reserve
Mon
09 Sep
2019
At last we found the cheetahs
While on the look-out for a good viewing of the lion pride, shareholder Woody got a much better surprise during…
Conservation
Mon
02 Sep
2019
Up in the air for the game count
Being an enclosed reserve means that we have to keep track of the number of animals, and particularly the balance…
Reserve
Mon
26 Aug
2019
Early morning lion roars
Sometimes you are woken during the night or in the early hours of the morning by a sound that can…
Reserve
Mon
19 Aug
2019
Scary moments: charging to protect the breeding herd
If you ask one of our guides which animal they fear most, they unequivocally answer: elephant. Gentle giants usually, but…
Reserve
Mon
12 Aug
2019
The otherworldly looking brown hyena
The spotted or striped hyena takes the spotlight in movies like the Lion King, while the brown hyena usually takes…
Conservation
Mon
22 Jul
2019
Sometimes the earth trembles in the bush
During our two-yearly game counts it’s always striking to see some high numbers of animals that you hardly ever see…
Reserve
Mon
15 Jul
2019
Breath-taking: the exhilarating climb up Lipadi Hill
Located in the midst of the rather flat area of the Tuli Block we are lucky to have a few…
Conservation
Mon
08 Jul
2019
Zebra Stripes: The Why of Sassy Prints
When you come to think of it, most mammals have pretty boring coats of brown or grey with some dapples…
Anti Poaching
Mon
01 Jul
2019
Watch out for our K9-unit!
In our anti-poaching efforts to keep our wild animals out of harms’ way, we have our canine unit (K9) constantly…
Reserve
Mon
24 Jun
2019
Sundowner surprise
The sunsets in Africa are unbelievably beautiful and the sundowner drinks are an essential African safari tradition. But selecting the…
Reserve
Fri
14 Jun
2019
Birds of a feather
During their last stay at Limpopo-Lipadi Anneke and Gerben van de Wetering were so lucky to break their own –…
Reserve
Mon
03 Jun
2019
Lion pride revisited
Yes, we are fond of all our lions in the Reserve. And yes, you may have seen the pretty photo…
Reserve
Mon
20 May
2019
Kudu at Cabbageland Dam
Kudu is abundant at Limpopo-Lipadi but notoriously hard to spot, as they are always on high alert and very quick…
Reserve
Mon
13 May
2019
Leopard in tree
A slow morning, not much happening, it was heating up quickly, so we decided to head back to the lodge….
Conservation
Mon
06 May
2019
The business of a dwarf mongoose
All endemic creatures great and small are well represented in the Reserve, but where many people’s interest is often focused…
Community
Thu
25 Apr
2019
A night under the stars
Some people ask why on earth anyone would trade a comfy bed in our lodges for a sleep out in…
Reserve
Thu
18 Apr
2019
Say Cheese!
Sitting in the hide at Mogorosi one morning it was quite a calm affair: guinea fowls quarrelling, doves bathing, impala…
Reserve
Thu
18 Apr
2019
Embarrassed Elephant
As can happen on safari, we came round a bend in the road to be confronted by a large bull…
Reserve
Mon
15 Apr
2019
A Stormy Night
It was a stormy evening drive, with electric storms in the far. As bush lovers know: most animals make sure…
Reserve
Thu
04 Apr
2019
White Storks gather for a meet-up at Limpopo-Lipadi
The first story: “As we drove up on the Middle Plains last week we were struck by a strange sighting…
Reserve
Mon
01 Apr
2019
Snapshotting through the night
After a long hot day, while we are happily snoring away at our lodges, many animals take advantage of the…
Reserve
Thu
28 Mar
2019
At last the lion pride made an appearance…
As shareholders we are so privileged to be able to come back to Limpopo-Lipadi on a regular basis and call…
Reserve
Mon
25 Mar
2019
The cheeky warthog
Motse volunteer, Helen, shares a story of one of her favourite animals, the cheeky warthog! “I love sitting in the…
Reserve
Mon
18 Mar
2019
Rhino greeting ceremony: happy to see you!
Rhinos are fiercely territorial which doesn’t make them Mother Nature’s most social animals. Especially once they reach adulthood they mainly…
Reserve
Fri
15 Mar
2019
On the look-out for an evening meal
A common resident and yet always a good surprise to find: A spotted eagle owl perched on a branch while…
Conservation
Mon
11 Mar
2019
A European moving to Botswana…
As a reserve we are happy and proud to have – since almost two years – a full time researcher,…
Conservation
Thu
07 Mar
2019
Under the Baobab Trees
Shareholder Karoly and company had a nice surprise when they stopped for sundowners: “One of our favourite places in the…
Reserve
Tue
05 Mar
2019
A rough night out in the reserve!
The perks of being the general manager of Limpopo-Lipadi: living smack bam in the middle of the reserve, with all…
Reserve
Wed
27 Feb
2019
Leopard Comes for Morning Tea
What are the odds: drinking your morning tea, taking a bite from your banana muffin and then … something moves in the corner of your eyes.
Reserve
Fri
01 Feb
2019
Appreciating the small things in life
Often the only focus on game drives are big furry/hairy stuff. The focus is always on finding, lion, leopard, elephant…
Conservation
Sat
12 Jan
2019
4 Day Shareholder’s Guiding Course
As a shareholder of Limpopo-Lipadi you have the perks of ‘sitting’ front row with our special activities like bush and…
Reserve
Mon
07 Jan
2019
Out on a special bushwalk with Extra
As a shareholder and guest at Limpopo-Lipadi you have the perks of sitting (or in this case: walking) front row…
Reserve
Wed
28 Nov
2018
Morning traffic Limpopo-Lipadi style
While a good many of us probably spend quite some hours of the week commuting to work and cursing the…
Reserve
Wed
07 Nov
2018
Herald the first rains
On the Reserve we literally have hundreds of baobab trees that have seen hundreds, if not thousands, of years pass….
Reserve
Sun
02 Sep
2018
Gentle giants on our doorstep
Just after lunch while reading a book at the riverfront, a herd of 12 elephants emerged, making their way to…
Reserve
Thu
30 Aug
2018
New underground hide
Photographers and other wildlife lovers rejoice: our underground hide at Tholo Dam is open! So get out your wide-angle lenses…
Reserve
Thu
30 Aug
2018
A steenbokkie kind of week
While normally it is impala galore in Limpopo-Lipadi, the last couple of days the lovely steenbokkie is the star of…
Reserve
Thu
30 Aug
2018
Look at those jaws
An early morning drive with the sun just putting some beautiful backlight on a hyena couple. She is definitely the…
Reserve
Thu
30 Aug
2018
View to a kill
One of our guides called on the radio that he had found a leopard with her impala prey, climbing up…
Reserve
Thu
30 Aug
2018
Proud of our lion pride
On a morning drive to bump into our lion pride at Mbusi is the best start of the day you…