Private Game and Wilderness Reserve
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Limpopo-Lipadi Wildlife Blog
Sightings
Sun
21 May
2023
Playful Lions
Since the pride of lions was translocated from the Reserve to another part of Botswana some time ago, it is…
Sightings
Sat
06 May
2023
Eland at the Southern Plains
Making the most of their stays, Nancy and Guido go out twice a day to soak up the goodness of…
Reserve
Wed
12 Apr
2023
A lush green Reserve
The green season in the Tuli Block is an amazing time to visit Limpopo-Lipadi, as shareholders Guido and Nancy found…
Reserve
Wed
05 Apr
2023
Last birds of Summer
With autumn and winter approaching in the Southern hemisphere and spring awakening north of the equator, the migratory birds are…
Reserve
Mon
27 Mar
2023
Kudu at the lodge
When the Limpopo River is low, a lot of animals make the most of it, while looking if the grass…
Reserve
Tue
21 Mar
2023
It’s all in the (ground hornbill) family
Besides the smaller hornbill species (yellow-, red- and grey-billed) Limpopo-Lipadi boasts the presence of some Southern ground-hornbills. If they are…
Sightings
Fri
10 Mar
2023
A new generation of wild dogs
Shareholders Paul and Cheryl have over the years compiled an incredible amount of data and stories of the Reserve’s wild…
Sightings
Mon
06 Mar
2023
Those rare tawny eagles
Birding season is still very much on. And although theses tawny eagles are not migratory but year-round residents, shareholder Conny…
Sightings
Sat
25 Feb
2023
Counting our wildlife
Bi-annually we at Limpopo-Lipadi do an elaborate count of our animals, to see which animals are thriving, others who may…
Sightings
Mon
20 Feb
2023
Limpopo-Lipadis giant baobabs
With our bias on wildlife animals (and often less so on the abundant flora of the Reserve), shareholder Conny wants…
Sightings
Sun
12 Feb
2023
Feeding frenzy
It had been a couple of weeks since the Limpopo-Lipadi wild dog family had made a (visual) appearance. They seemed…
Sightings
Sat
04 Feb
2023
Of fledgelings and birds of prey
Birds’ breeding season is in full force. So many birds raising their fledgelings before they fly off from their place…
Sightings
Wed
25 Jan
2023
In love with the leopards of Limpopo-Lipadi
Every once in a while shareholder Anton takes his family to Limpopo-Lipadi. It may not seem obvious to some of…
Sightings
Thu
19 Jan
2023
Boisterous baby elephant
There are times at Limpopo-Lipadi that you don’t see our elephant breeding herd at all, but then there are days…
Sightings
Mon
16 Jan
2023
What was on the croc’s menu?
Shareholder Conny recently visited the reserve end of November with her friends and they were witness to some rather unusual…
Sightings
Wed
04 Jan
2023
Meet the ‘house pets’ around the lodges
Some of the nicest or cutest ways to encounter wildlife is not always when you drive out in the Reserve,…
Sightings
Mon
26 Dec
2022
Leopards galore
The number of leopards that shareholders Paul and Cheryl spotted during their recent stay is incredible. Although there still is…
Sightings
Thu
08 Dec
2022
Patience pays off
Nature is quite unpredictable, so we all as shareholders accept that there will be visits with many good sightings, but…
Sightings
Wed
23 Nov
2022
Leopards are thriving at Limpopo-Lipadi
Shareholders Paul and Cheryl Freund finally made it back to Limpopo-Lipadi last October after almost three years of Covid break….
Sightings
Sun
20 Nov
2022
Youngsters are the cutest
Shareholder Guido spent some fabulous weeks in the Reserve. Read what he contemplates: “In my view all young animals are…
Sightings
Wed
16 Nov
2022
Why elephants love fresh Mopane leaves
After winter’s dryness and sometimes well before the summer rains start, the mopane trees begin to pop their ‘elephant ear’…
Sightings
Wed
28 Sep
2022
Wild dogs at play
Limpopo-Lipadi’s emblematic wild dogs travel across the reserve in a matter of hours. The whole reserve of 20,500 hectares is…
Sightings
Wed
13 Jul
2022
Camera trapping – science…but fun!
Operations Manager Duane keeps a close watch on Limpopo-Lipadi’s flora and fauna and works with a Reserve Management Plan to…
Sightings
Mon
27 Jun
2022
Impala crossing
There are days that it is quite a challenge to spot animals, especially when the bush is thick in some…
Sightings
Sun
19 Jun
2022
Morning coffee with giraffes in queue
That we as shareholders are mere intruders in the space of the wildlife in our Reserve, was once again made…
Sightings
Mon
13 Jun
2022
The early bird catches the… cricket
This European Roller had a good start of the day when his breakfast was simply flying past it one morning,…
Sightings
Wed
25 May
2022
Best way to start the day
Picture this: a beautiful morning where the cry of the African fish eagle resonates far and beyond the African horizon. We…
Sightings
Tue
17 May
2022
Peek-a-booh: brown hyena pup
With an endangered brown hyena population across Southern Africa, Limpopo-Lipadi is very lucky to have a healthy brown hyena population….
Sightings
Tue
10 May
2022
All out for a sunset with the wild dogs
Limpopo-Lipadi’s shareholders have the exclusive front seat to the best things a safari has to offer, like enjoying the bush…
Sightings
Thu
05 May
2022
Our plentiful visit
Shareholders Guido and Nancy were at the Reserve in March and were – as you can read here – very…
Sightings
Fri
25 Mar
2022
The elusive Leopard
As it happens, Limpopo-Lipadi has quite an impressive leopard population, but even the regularly visiting shareholder sometimes finds it hard…
Sightings
Thu
17 Mar
2022
The incident with the crocodile and the waterbuck
More adventures of Martina and Jost during their stay at the Reserve. “In front of our lodge we saw a…
Sightings
Thu
10 Mar
2022
Birders best season
The green summer season is sometimes viewed by some as less exciting, as it can be very hard to see…
Sightings
Mon
31 Jan
2022
The story of the croc and the water thick-knee
These are harrowing times for some creatures. Shareholders witnessed a lot of wing-flapping and screeching going on at one of the sandy islands in the Limpopo River. Read more about the water thick-knees and the small croc in the Limpopo-River.
Sightings
Mon
24 Jan
2022
Wild dogs thriving at Limpopo-Lipadi
The emblematic Limpopo-Lipadi wild dog is critically endangered. We used to have more than 35 wild dogs until rabies wreaked havoc on the pack. Now, with a new alpha male and female, this pack is looking strong and healthy again.
Sightings
Mon
17 Jan
2022
So many birds!
Limpopo-Lipadi has such a variety of birds that are often overlooked when searching for the bigger animals. These beautifully colourful birds are hard to find at times, but it’s interesting to learn about their behaviour.
Sightings
Sun
09 Jan
2022
A Bit Too Close for Comfort?
This photo of Nigel Nicholls in Limpopo-Lipadi is magnificent. Alison managed to make it look like he was sitting quite peacefully on a folding chair right in front of the lions.
Sightings
Tue
14 Dec
2021
Is This Elephant Left-handed?
Did you know that elephants usually have one tusk that they use more than the other (just as humans have one dominant hand)? This elephant bull seems to be left-handed.
Sightings
Tue
14 Dec
2021
Elephants splashing
Spring and summer days in Botswana can be incredibly hot and what is better during these hot months than taking a mud bath at sunset. It cools the elephants off, protects them from insect bites and serves as sunscreen.
Sightings
Mon
29 Nov
2021
Sit and Wait
Sometimes you see more by sitting in a hide (blind) and waiting for the wildlife to come to you. Alison filmed these beautiful zebras one quiet morning.
Sightings
Mon
22 Nov
2021
Stuck in the Middle of the Breeding Herd
On her recent stay, Martina Glatzl got stuck in the middle of an elephant herd, but it wasn’t an ordinary herd.
Sightings
Mon
18 Oct
2021
Nightlife in Limpopo-Lipadi
Shareholder Martina had a nice long stay at Limpopo-Lipadi. She was lucky to have the most amazing sightings—especially at night.
Reserve
Mon
04 Oct
2021
New hope for endangered wild dogs
Our operations manager, Duane recently spotted a wild dog pup, bringing new hope to the reserve’s endangered but beloved wild dogs! They are the second most endangered animal in Africa, with a population of ± 6 600. What a great way to start the week!
Reserve
Mon
13 Sep
2021
Wild dog puppy spotted!
What a great way to start the week! Our reserve manager, Duane spotted a wild dog puppy a few weeks ago. We’re not quite sure if there are more, but for now, we’re just over the moon about this one new member of the pack!
Sightings
Mon
16 Aug
2021
Hippo Life
Hippos are living the life with the Limpopo River still flowing strong. In a while, the river will drop and they will have to find refuge downstream, but for now, we can still enjoy them at Harry’s Camp.
Sightings
Mon
09 Aug
2021
Keeping an Eagle Eye
With the exceptional rains of the summer, the grass is still standing tall, and bushes and trees are still full of leaves. Although it’s beautifully green, it does make it difficult to spot game. Luckily birds are easy to spot higher up in the trees.
Sightings
Mon
02 Aug
2021
A rare enough encounter with the wild dogs
Operations manager Duane seems to have all the luck, seeing Limpopo-Lipadi’s pack of wild dogs more often than anyone else. Recently, he noticed that the alpha female is showing signs of pregnancy. Hopefully, we’ll see some pups soon!
Sightings
Mon
19 Jul
2021
Elephants in the River
On the riverside, where most lodges are, you’ll regularly see a group of five roaming elephant bulls. Recently, they were spotted crossing the water into South Africa—without papers, passports or PCR tests. How lucky that we get to see them in the reserve!
Sightings
Mon
12 Jul
2021
Morning Traffic
Mornings are cold this time of year, and the guinea fowl have taken to the habit of warming up on the sandy roads. Run, run, run… That is what they do before at long last they lift off and get out of our way.
Reserve
Mon
05 Jul
2021
Happy To Be Back
After one and a half years and two cancelled attempts, shareholder Eric was delighted to finally be able to return to a beautifully plush reserve and spend some time in the Botswana bush.
Reserve
Mon
14 Jun
2021
The Lions of the Southern Pride
The lion is king of the African bush, even at Limpopo-Lipadi. Alessandro Gruzza took some beautiful photographs of a nine-year-old male and his pride when he visited our beloved reserve earlier this year. Read his story.
Reserve
Mon
12 Apr
2021
Working on our beloved wild dogs
Working with animals has always been a part of Gabriella Postiglione’s plan. Her journey has taken her from Italy to America, Tunisia, South Africa and Botswana, where she completed her PhD working on our beloved wild dogs.
Reserve
Mon
15 Mar
2021
Cute and noisy: bush baby
During your evening drives in the reserve, you may spot their shining eyes bouncing around in your torch beam, or they may wake you up in the early hours of the morning to their ear-splitting shrieks: the elusive and incredibly cute bush baby. Read more about these cuities.
Reserve
Mon
08 Mar
2021
After the Big Five check out the Small Five
On the list of wildlife spotters is always the ‘Big Five’ (rhino, lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo). But did you know, there’s a complimentary ‘Small Five’? At Limpopo-Lipadi you can find the Big Five (save the buffalo), but also the Small Five.
Reserve
Mon
01 Mar
2021
Black-backed jackal: monogamous, social and smart
Jackals have somehow never really made the safari A-list. Monogamous, social and smart, jackals are also highly vocal and often you can often hear them calling each other while you’re having your sundowner drinks on one of our plains, so keep your ears peeled.
Reserve
Mon
22 Feb
2021
Small Five’s star performer: the dung beetle
Dung beetles spend their entire lives rolling dung uphill, living in it and fighting off pirate beetles that try to steal their hordes. Watching them puts the past year of our lives into a rather harsh perspective.
Reserve
Mon
08 Feb
2021
The Importance of Having Good Grass
In 2019, management and the game reserve council approached shareholders about the importance of selective bush-thinning in the reserve’s encroached and formerly overgrazed areas. We’re happy to report a positive difference in the past year.
Reserve
Mon
01 Feb
2021
Don’t Want to Leave
Shareholder Malcolm and his family made their way to our beloved reserve for a trip that way too short. Crossing borders again wasn’t as easy as it usually is due to restrictions. Read all about their experience.
Reserve
Mon
18 Jan
2021
Rebirth After the Rains
So happy to be back after so many months, shareholder Malcolm and his family were soaking up the experience once again. Read all about the regeneration of the bushveld after record amounts of rain over December.
Reserve
Mon
30 Nov
2020
Play-fighting or…?
With the first rains upon us, it will not be long before we see the first impala and wildebeest lambs. Read more about the ram’s playfighting to prepare them for adulthood.
Reserve
Mon
02 Nov
2020
Botswana sunsets are the best
On one of his late afternoon inspection drives in the reserve, general manager Glen counted himself a lucky man to be able to enjoy the beautiful Botswana sunset at Tholo Dam in the company of some thirsty zebra’s.
Reserve
Mon
26 Oct
2020
Elephant Says ‘Hi’
General manager, Glen has the privilege of wandering off into the reserve whenever duty—or sometimes leisure—calls for it. And sometimes he makes a friendly encounter, like this up-close-and-personal with an elephant.
Reserve
Mon
19 Oct
2020
Those Small and Smart Steenbokkies
The season just before summer really hits us, is an excellent game-viewing season for small and shy antelope like the steenbokkie, who is proof that if you’re not strong, you’d better be smart.
Reserve
Mon
05 Oct
2020
Wild Dogs Bounce Back!
Newsflash from our Operations Manager, Duane. Just when he thought that the wild dog population on the reserve would die out, he got some very exciting, very reassuring news, Read all about it!
Reserve
Mon
28 Sep
2020
Better Together: The Intricate System of Symbiosis in the Bush
Symbiosis is a way of life. It helps certain species survive against the odds. Read more about the species at Limpopo-Lipadi who help each other survive and what we humans can learn from them.
Reserve
Mon
21 Sep
2020
Upside Down: That Hazardous Drinking Moment for Giraffe
The giraffe, abundantly present in Limpopo-Lipadi, is the tallest animal in the world and its silhouette is unmistakable: long and tapered legs, a massive body and a very long neck. Unfortunately, the giraffe’s legs are too long, or its neck is too short to reach the ground, depending on your point of view. Eating is not a problem because it feeds on leaves and twigs from the trees that only it, with its 5m height, can reach. But, bending over to drink is really complicated.
Reserve
Mon
07 Sep
2020
Elephants for Lunch
Our general manager, Glen, had some close-up encounters with a bull elephant on a mission.
Reserve
Mon
27 Jul
2020
Lion Kill
A couple of days ago Glen, our general manager, and Duane our reserve manager, received a report from the Anti-Poaching Unit that the lions had killed a young giraffe just off the main road as you head towards Two Cribs. Read his story of a day brimming with adventure.
Reserve
Mon
06 Jul
2020
Reflecting on the Wonders of Nature
The lockdown in Botswana was a period on intensive work, especially when it came to finalising and implementing the conservation plans of our interlinked ecosystems for the years to come. Read reserve manager, Duane’s views of our ecosystems.
Reserve
Mon
06 Jul
2020
Hi There to This Pack of Banded Mongoose!
This is a rather rare, though admittedly not the best, photo on our blog. Some animals in our reserve are rather unhabituated, so it was a treat to have a pack of banded mongoose sit still for a couple of seconds and make eye contact.
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
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.
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.
Conservation
Mon
16 Mar
2020
Go away, leave my chicks alone!
With so many migratory and resident birdlife in the green months, there’s also a lot of nesting going on. Unfortunately, that means that there are also a lot of raptors circling, trying their luck. Read more about a young Wahlberg eagle trying his luck with some weaver parents.
Community
Mon
09 Mar
2020
A memorable stay at Limpopo-Lipadi
A couple of months ago, shareholder Ian visited the reserve with a friend from Germany. They saw almost every wild African animal on the reserve, except for the buffalo. They had a wonderful time and even played a little football with some of the anti-poaching guys.
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!
Conservation
Mon
13 Jan
2020
The Importance of Vultures
Let’s face it, vultures may not be the prettiest of birds. They are often reviled for their looks and have…
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.