Visit
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.