August 2025
Kruger Park is set apart from all other game reserves in terms of its diversity of wildlife. The massive herds of wildebeest in the Serengeti, the huge concentrations of animals around the Etosha waterholes and the great herds of elephants along the Chobe River are certainly impressive. I have had the good fortune to see all of these and have wonderful memories. Kruger remains my favourite.
In Kruger there are almost 150 different mammal species (the official figure is 148). Serengeti has fewer than 70, Etosha around 110 and Chobe around 75.
Viva Safaris has owned Marc’s Treehouse Lodge since 1997. We have seen evidence of otter activity in the Klaserie River in terms of latrines of fragmented crab shells, but nobody ever saw an otter. This month we had an amazing first : on 9 August 2025, a guest staying in treehouse 10, which overlooks the Breakfast Dam, was awakened by loud splashing. He went down to the dam and took an amazing video of an African Clawless Otter chasing the fish.
The African Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis) is characterized by partly webbed and clawless feet. The diet includes aquatic animals such as crabs, fish, frogs and worms. Its main predator is the African Python.
We have also had a special sighting of a rare animal at Tremisana – the Side-striped Jackal.
Side-striped Jackal by Bernard Dupont from France
It is always a very special occasion for a veteran tourist guide to see some animal out of the ordinary.
GAME VIEWING REPORTS FROM OUR GUIDES
BNR = Balule Nature Reserve
KNP = Kruger National Park
LUKE, Head Guide, sent the following:
Monthly Report for August 2025
The month of August has been a busy one not only with animal sightings but also with guests too.
The mornings are not as cold as July , so the blankets aren’t an essential addition on game drives. The days are warming up into the mid thirties , we had a high of 39 degrees near the end of the month.
The animals are feeling the heat too making the waterholes a buzz of activity. The Elephants, Buffalo, and Rhinos are big fans of the water, not just for drinking but wallowing in it, too.
They, however, are not the only ones who showed up. The Lions and Leopards have come to the party too. 
Male Leopard moving towards Olifants road from Barnards property, Sundowner drive BNR.
The most action-packed drive this month was during a Sunset Drive. We managed to tick off the Big Five. The Leopard showed up after dark at Rome 3/4 water hole, the Lions came to the party on the Barnards property, the Elephants were everywhere, the rhino along Olifants road followed by a small herd of Buffalo.
White Rhino, Sunset Drive, BNR
Lioness scanning for potential prey on Rome 1, Sundowner drive BNR.
Leopard approaching the waterhole on Rome 3/4. Sunset drive, BNR
The guests couldn’t believe how lucky they were, topped off with a tasty braai at Marula Boma.
The Bush Walks have been highlighted with some special moments on foot with some of the “Big Five”. Other than the incredible moments with Elephants on foot, we have also encountered a Lion and Black Rhino. 
Lion spotted during morning Bush Walk along the Olifants River, BNR.
The lion came as a surprise, a good surprise at that. We had been viewing a herd of elephants on foot from a hill, when over in the distance, my backup guide spotted a lion walking across an open area.
We moved down the hill with speed and caution to find a good spot to view the king of the lowveld. He walked past us on the other side of a drainage and headed away from us along the river.
The black rhino sighting was equally exciting, an animal we all treat with the utmost respect. We stood viewing a pod of hippos relaxing in the water. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a big grey shape. At first, I thought it was a hippo, but no, even better, it was a black rhino. It slowly made its way along a road just up from the river.
We all gathered close together and watched him move past us. The sighting wasn’t done yet. We then headed in the opposite direction to give him space and give ourselves a great vantage point. We all watched him moving down towards the olifants River, a wonderful experience.
MARC sent the following:
August is traditionally known as the windy month.
The circling winds create a unique atmosphere for the predators as they prefer hunting when the wind is strong as often their scent becomes distorted and they can creep up really close to their prey without being heard or smelt.
Whenever there is a big wind we almost always find leopards hunting and August did not disappoint.
We have been seeing far more frequent leopard sightings on the Rome 3 & 4 properties, Sable as well as Campfire than on the Barnards property this past month. 
Leopard at Campfire BNR
We still have not had any rain and the temperatures on some days have already soared past the 40 degress Celsius mark.
Afternoons are hot and dry and the animals certainly feel this heat. We have been extremely fortunate at most of the water sources but especially at the waterhole on Rome 3 & 4 properties. Here we have seen all of the Big 5 come and drink.
On the 21st August I saw all Big 5 in just 3 hours during my Sundowner Drive. On days like this every turn you make seems to feel like the right turn. The animals seem to just pop up at every moment.
We started the drive off with spending a good 10 minutes watching 3 beautiful big bull Elephants mud bath at our local Tremisana dam. One of the bulls walked less than 1m away from our vehicle and I could literally hear my guests’ hearts beating out of their chests with adrenaline and excitement.
Elephant at Tremisana dam, BNR
Elephant at Tremisana BNR
We then went to Barnards waterhole and unfortunately found very little there. But as we were about to leave Barnards we found our new dominate male lion Blondie. He was with two lionesses and they were busy mating. In a matter of 15 minutes we witnessed them mate 3 times right in front of our vehicle.
Lions mating on Barnards, BNR
Lions at Tremisana with the office staff, Ed and Nyarai.
It was close to 5pm now yet it was still extremely hot. I decided to pay our successful Rome 3 waterhole a visit and it didn’t disappoint. 
Marc looking very happy with White Rhinos and Buffalo.
The buffalo drank and wallowed whilst the rhinos just watched. 15 minutes passed and the buffalo moved on and we also decided to leave this sighting and go have some snacks and a drink to watch the sun go down.
Buffalo and Rhino BNR
As we finished our drinks and whilst we were packing up to continue our drive, Luke reported a Leopard sighting over the radio.
The Leopard was seen at that very same waterhole where we had just seen the Rhino and Buffalo earlier.
We quickly made our way there and as we arrived, there he was relaxed busy scent-marking in the middle of the road. Just like that we had completed the Big 5 all within 3 hours and every animal in full sight and within 10m from our vehicle.
For me this was a first during a Sundowner Drive and was made even more special because each sighting was literally in front of our eyes.
On the 25th of August we almost repeated the Big 5. We found close Elephants on Olifants, White Rhino, Black Rhino and and a young Lion busy eating a Porcupine on Rome 1 near the river. This same Lion later walked right past us as we were enjoying our Sundowner picnic at the river watching the sunset with Hippos calling in the background.
On our way back to Tremisana we had a sighting of a Leopard crossing the road.
Even though we didn’t get the Buffalo on this drive it was still a 4/5 Big 5 drive with us seeing both the White as well as the Black Rhino.
Until next month…
CHARL sent the following:
Rhino seen on game drive (every drive i did this month didn’t miss the rhino), BNR
Nyala bull on bush walk with clients at Marc’s Camp
Male Lion BNR
Elephant bull up close and personal Tremisana, BNR
Rhino mud wallowing, BNR
Elephant close to the vehicle, BNR
RAYMOND sent the following:
Cheetah KNP
Near Orpen reception KNP
Hyena with Impala kill KNP
VICTOR sent the following:
Victor smiling at Elephant at Tremisana
Male leopard S126 KNP
Buffalo bull near Satara KNP
Spotted Hyena near Girivana waterhole KNP
White Rhinos BNR
Mating pair BNR
SMILEY sent the following:
16 August: on my Sunset Drive we saw Wild Dogs at Tremisana property.
17 August: we saw male and female lions on S100 near Xibotwana in Kruger Park.
On the same day in Kruger Park we saw Wildebeest near Orpen KNP.
19 August: we saw Zebra on Barnard property BNR
ANDY sent the following:
This Leopard has been spotted on Barnards, BNR
This pride was spotted at Tremisana property, BNR
Buffalo near Viva vehicle KNP
A mating pair of Lions near Elephants at Rockvale waterhole KNP
ROCKY sent the following:
Breeding herd of elephant KNP
Black Rhino cow and calf BNR
Buffalo bull KNP
WHIAN sent the following:
Leopard, Sundowner Drive BNR
Bearded Woodpecker BNR
Rhinos BNR
Hyenas KNP
Watchful Lion, BNR
Lion, Sunset Drive Tremisana, BNR
GEORGE took two groups on the Kruger/KZN safari. He sent the following:
White Rhino in Hluhluwe Game Reserve
A herd of Buffalo near Hilltop Camp, Hluhluwe
Buffalo, Hluhluwe
Really close Buffalo, Hluhluwe
Elephant and White Rhino, Hluhluwe
DUMISANI sent the following:
Black Rhino cow and calf BNR
Elephant bulls at Tremisana dam BNR
Buffalo herd and White Rhino BNR
Lioness on Tremisana property, BNR
NHLANHLA sent the following:
Ground Hornbills KNP
Mating pair KNP
Baboon KNP
QUINTON sent the following:
White Rhinos BNR
Hippos in Olifants river BNR
Swedish group Jerry x12 at Three Rondavels lookout point
NEWS FROM OUR LODGES
TREMISANA
NYARAI, Office Manager, reports :
Tremisana Report August 2025
August has to be our busiest month of the year. A lot of our guests were from Italy. I need to get more Italian lessons to make communication easier. I appreciate their patience with me.
We had Lions around Tremisana for days at the beginning of the month. There was a day they were behind the lodge, and we managed to see the pride of Lions. Marc took us to the sighting. We were very close to the lions. Excitement and fear mixed together were my feelings the whole time we were at the sighting. 
We had the usual Elephants as well as the Hyena. At the end of the month, we had Baboons at the lodge. They are my least favorite animal. Whenever they are around, know that there will be destruction. They came to the Lapa and threw the microwave to the floor, opened the cupboards and even the fridge. The ladies and the guides managed to chase them away. The Baboons have been back twice as I write this, but we have been ready for them. I personally will be hiding in the office with my door closed.
We have now put a set of couches at the Lapa. The guests love them. They give our guests a more comfortable place to sit and relax after a long day of safaris. The guys did a good job at the Lapa.
They are busy with other refurbishments around the lodge. A lick of paint here and there as well as varnish. The smell of varnish gives some people a headache, but the life it gives back to wood is worth it.
I’m glad August has come to an end. Between the busy days and struggling with my health, I amazingly pulled through. I believe September will be busy, and I will be healthier. The bush heals one in ways that words can not explain.
KATEKANI, MARC’S TREEHOUSES, MASANGO AND DUMELA
CHARL, Manager, reports :
The month of August is always a busy month across the safari industry as it is the big European summer holiday. We have been very busy with lots of tourists and some really interesting things have happened at the lodges.
Marcs Treehouse Camp, as past clients are aware, has a beautiful dam that we have a deck overlooking, where clients are able to enjoy their morning coffee and breakfast with hopefully the chance to see some animals. This month that dam has been the place for all the action a client who was staying in room 10 next to the dam showed me a video he took when he woke up at 3 in the morning to splashing and bravely went out to investigate. He was very lucky as it was a Cape Clawless Otter busy hunting in the dam chasing fish around. What an amazing sighting and something definitely very rare to see.
We also have had sand over the years from big rains wash down making the dam a lot smaller, so we got a TLB in to come and take some of the sand out, making our dam slightly larger again.
Digging the dam
When this was completed I had some staff members go to level and just tidy up the area around the dam. They where very fortunate to have a very special sighting while working – they saw a young Nyala bull running when all of a sudden it just jumped into the dam trying to get away from a pack of 5 wild dogs that where hunting in the camp. The Nyala swam through to the other side, narrowly escaping through the camp. The Wild Dogs then went to go lie in the main road, coming down to the Treehouse Camp before vanishing into the bush.
Wild Dogs that chased the Nyala, Marcs Camp
Masango renovations are in full swing with the first unit close to completion. Building is the part that goes fast but when it comes to finishings, that’s what takes time.
New bathrooms at Masango
Enclosed veranda at Masango Camp
Katekani’s new staff member, Gertrude, who was previously an employee when we first opened Katekani, has definitely come with some new great ideas to make the camp and rooms more welcoming for our clients. We look forward to seeing what she can accomplish in her time with us.
As for the bush, we are definitely seeing the effects of winter as the vegetation dries we start to see the animals losing their condition. The bush definitely has thinned out nicely allowing us the ability to see much further in the bush – great for game viewing.
NEWS FOR OUR TRAVEL PARTNERS
As has happened in the last few years, August is probably going to be our busiest month of the year.
We have had numerous guests from all over the world.
It appears that they have all had a great time. Viva Safaris has had a record number of Tripadvisor reviews – all excellent.
Marco has selected some reviews :
“Amazing, great and wonderful” from TripAdvisor
Jools, Bristol UK
Oh wow….. Totally great experience. Everything was so well organised, professional and friendly from start to finish. They certainly know what they are doing!
Tremisana Lodge was very comfortable, clean and in a lovely setting. All the staff were lovely and friendly. A special mention for Mama G and co’s cooking that was tasty and generous
.
The guides were all so enthusiastic and clearly love what they do. We had a great experience on every drive out. The guides were full of information and knowledge in a really friendly way.
We were very blessed and saw a wide range of animals, including the Big 5.
A totally unforgettable experience
Thank you
“Safari 100% – Viva Safaris Aprovado!!!!” from TripAdvisor
Lucas C
Nossas expectativas estavam lá em cima para fazer o Safari, e foram todas corrsspondidas.
Tudo foi cumprido.
Agradecer ao Rock, Uall Hackuna Matata, fizeram a viagem ficar mais especial.
“Perfect from start to finish, would do it again!” from TripAdvisor
Colin, Austria
Wow! Simply wow! I spent four wonderful days at Tremisana Lodge with my daughter, on my very first safari holiday, and all my expectations were exceeded. Every day was perfectly organised and we were well informed on what would be happening in advance.
Our guides and trackers were very knowledgeable, friendly and extremely helpful, taking care to explain a lot about the animals that we were privileged to see. Huge thanks to Luke, Marc, Andy, Solly, Smiley and the rest of the crew whose names I have forgotten, for a truly memorable experience.
The lodge itself was perfect, clean and comfortable with plenty of space in the room, and the home-cooked food provided by Mama D and her crew was delicious.
I would do this trip with Viva again without hesitation, maybe next time staying a bit longer.
“Great experience and value for money” from TripAdvisor
Blair G, Australia
From initial contact, through handling payment issues due to technology, and collection from and delivery back to Johannesburg, everything went well.
I have to particularly recognise my shuttle drivers. I felt much safer travelling with them than many other drivers throughout the world.
Tremisana was a perfect base and between there and Kruger I managed to see most of the animals I wanted to see in Africa.
The Tremisana Lodge staff and food were really good, as were the guides. The sunrise, sunset and armed bush walk were highlights.
My day tour to Kruger NP was most enjoyable and very informative. Our guide was a real personality.
All in all, an incredible experience and excellent value for money.
“SUPER EXPERIENCIA QUE HAY QUE VIVIR UNA VEZ EN LA VIDA” from GetYourGuide
Jose Adrian, Spain
Fue un placer haber estado en un sitio con gente tan humilde y amable. Estamos muy agradecidos de haber tenido la suerte de poder hacer el safari con Viva Safaris.
Quisiera nombrar a los guías y trackers Qusiera valorar y agradecer el gran trabajo que hacen los guías y rastreadores y en especial a Smiley, Marc y Tommy, que fueron con los que coincidimos y gracias a ellos pudimos disfrutar de una inolvidable experiencia.
Gracias a Smiley que era el alma de la fiesta nos echábamos muchas risas. En una de las salidas por la tarde tuvimos la suerte gracias a Marc y Tommy de ver el big five, fue brutal tener a esos animales tan tan cerca.
También agradecer a Eddy y por supuesto a las mujeres que estaban sirviendo desayuno, comida y cena, siempre tan amables, humildes y con una sonrisa.
La habitación y el complejo también estaban geniales.
Recomendamos Viva Safaris al 100%.
“Ich bin begeistert von Viva Safaris und werde mit Sicherheit wieder kommen” from GetYourGuide
Jasmin, Germany
Die Organisation war perfekt und alles lief absolut prima und einfach.
Die Big Five hatte ich am zweiten Tag im Krüger zu sehen bekommen, es war einfach fantastisch!
Die Zimmer in der Lodge sind zweckmäßig und gut. Die Küche in der Lodge mit Mama D (Carolina) ist sehr lecker und ich würde gerne immer dort essen.
Am liebsten würde ich direkt anfangen bei Viva Safaris zu arbeiten. Es ist einfach toll. Weiter so! Ich komme definitiv wieder.
“Incredible Wildlife, Expert Guides, and Seamless Safari Adventures!” from SafariBookings
Nicola, UK
We had an absolutely fantastic experience with Viva Safari — everything was brilliantly organised and ran like clockwork. The entire operation is clearly very professional, with enthusiastic and highly knowledgeable guides who truly love what they do.
Our safari experience included a wonderful mix of sunrise and sunset game drives, bush walks (which were thrilling!), and event meals out in the bush — all of which made the experience feel incredibly immersive. We always knew what to expect thanks to the clear communication from the team, which helped us make the most of every moment.
We stayed at Tremisana Lodge, which is right in the heart of the bush. It was an amazing location — we regularly saw wildlife right outside our accommodation, including lions, hyenas, elephants, and even honey badgers! The camp had a very sociable atmosphere, and the guides were always around for a chat or to answer questions, which made the whole experience even more engaging.
The food was plentiful and of a good standard, and everything was very well catered. If you’re looking for great value for money, with the focus firmly on being out on safari as much as possible, Viva Safari is an excellent choice. The guides go out of their way to ensure you see as much as possible, and even the transfers and rest stops were well planned and efficient.
We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Viva Safari — you will not be disappointed!
“Very organized, professional safari- especially great for first timers” from SafariBookings
Janet, USA
From the booking process to the final drop off Viva Safaris was a fantastic choice for my first safari.
I did the 4 day, 3 night from Johannesburg tour. As a solo traveler it was nice to have different people on all the safaris and at the meals.
But I was most impressed with the guides and staff. Their level of knowledge about the animals blew me away, and they took great care in trying to find as many animals as possible.
Even the drivers to and from Joberg shared a wealth of information.
Lodging was great, food was amazing.
10/10 experience!
“Pour résumé, juste: WAH !” from Google
Cassandra, France
Nous avons séjourné 6 jours au Tremisana, et je ne peux que recommander l’expérience et la qualité des services proposés par Viva Safaris !
Tout est organisé pour que vous n’ayez à vous préoccuper de rien, vos activités sont organisées avec une précision et un sens logistique qu’on ne peut qu’admirer tout en ayant la souplesse nécessaire pour ne jamais se sentir oppressé par le timing ou le rythme des activités.
Les services et commodités sur place sont plus que correct, la chambre est très accueillante et la possibilité de prendre une douche chaude est un GROS plus !
La nourriture servie est EXCELLENTE les plats sont simple mais d’une très grande qualité.
Enfin je veux souligner la gentillesse et l’accessibilité de toute les équipes, administratives, cuisine et guides !
En ce qui concerne le safari en lui même je trouve très interessant de pouvoir observer différents endroits de la réserve, et à différents moments de la journée, cela nous a permis d’observer une grande variété d’espèces !
Les guides sont de plus extrêmement qualifiés et sont une source d’information très riche si vous souhaitez en apprendre plus sur les espèces au le bush au sens large.
Pour résumé, merci infiniment à Viva Safaris pour ce moment hors du temps, juste: WAH !
Until next month,
With kind regards,
Piero
General Manager
Viva Safaris
