February 2025
On the 31 January 2025, I read a report of an elephant killing a tourist at the Malelane Gate of Kruger Park. He was on foot and out of his vehicle. Every now and again, we hear of elephants killing people in Africa. With the sustained drought in parts of Africa, elephants are constantly raiding crops and the human-elephant conflict is reaching new heights.
In last month’s newsletter, I promised to share some insights into this aspect of elephant behaviour. As with lions, young female elephants stay in the breeding herd, but the young males need to venture into a new, uncertain world. As soon as the young bulls reach sexual maturity, at around 13 years, they show some interest in the females. The matriarch will then act decisively and chase them out of the herd. These young bulls often join other bachelor groups and are accepted if they are submissive. They eat as much as possible to get bulkier. When they are big enough, they start to compete with other bulls to establish hierarchical dominance. This allows them to compete for cows and, at about 18 years old, they start to come into musth, a period of acute elevated testosterone levels and consequent heightened sexual activity. This manifests in increased aggression, musty secretions from the temporal glands and copious urine dribbling. The elephant needs to remain in musth for as long as possible to mate with many oestrus cows and father many calves.
In a previous newsletter, I wrote about young, orphaned bull elephants that had been transferred from the Kruger Park and released into the Pilanesberg Park. There they killed numerous White Rhino. Once adult bulls were introduced to Pilanesberg, this deviant behaviour came to an immediate end. The reason for this is that the older bulls’ presence suppressed musth in the teenagers and the unusual behaviour thankfully stopped.
From time to time, elephants in musth become frustrated if a bigger bull denies them access to cows. They vent their anger on other elephants and other animals and trees or vehicles or tourists that are ignorant of their musth condition. All the Viva Safaris rangers are fully aware of how dangerous an elephant in musth can be. Through years of experience, our rangers will be super careful and pick up any warning signs, including the pungent smell of urine on the elephant’s legs. We read the signs and, if necessary, get out of an angry musth elephant’s way as quickly as we can!! I have personally been chased a few times by angry elephants and it is not much fun !!!
Our rangers can tell whether or not an elephant is relaxed. I took this photo of an elephant bull not further than 1.5 m from Nhlanhla.
GAME VIEWING REPORTS FROM OUR GUIDES
BNR = Balule Nature Reserve
KNP = Kruger National Park
LUKE, Head Ranger, reports as follows:
Monthly Report – February
The bush is looking beautiful after some great rain during the month, the grass has shot up and so have the flowers. The wild fox glove in particular has been prolific, and oh so lovely to see.
The game drives have been highlighted with White and Black Rhino sightings and of course our large Elephant friends. The lions and leopards haven’t always been easy to find, but still made regular appearances throughout the month.
One of my favourite moments on drive this month took place on route to Marula Boma during a sunset drive.
We received information about lions on Olifants road, so we made our way with hope they were still there. 
Lion pride on the move along Olifants Road, BNR
When I arrived the pride had started walking along the road, we followed close behind. We had front row seats to the lion show, the guests couldn’t believe their luck on their first drive. 
Lion fast asleep on the side of Marula road, BNR
The bushwalks have been wonderful, with so many different plants, flowers, insects and animals to see on foot.
My favourite encounter involved 5 black rhinos. The black Rhino is well know for its aggression, so we had to be extra careful.
At first we found fresh scrape marks, this prepared us for what might be ahead of us on the trail.
As we walked down a hill side we spotted them, at first we could only see one and then two and to our amazement another three appeared.
It’s normally special to see just one black rhino but five in one sighting is extremely lucky.
We used the wind and natural barriers to get as close as possible, without putting stress on the animals and ourselves in danger.
They slowly moved off deeper into a drainage line, undisturbed.
A great month once again to be in the bushveld, every day providing different experiences.
White Rhino walking together, BNR
Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar, found on bushwalk. BNR
MARC sent the following:
February is traditionally known as the month of love because of Valentine’s Day, a day when people express love and appreciation for their loved ones. I also celebrate my wedding anniversary during this time which is on the 13th February. I decided to spoil my wife and 2 year old boy and we went away for 2 nights. On the way back to Tremisana we decided to take a slow drive through the Kruger Park. We were fortunate to see 4 of the Big 5 just missing the Rhino. But the most splendid of all the sightings and a sighting that I’ll fondly remember for the rest of my life was when we came across what must have been a herd of over 350 Elephant. It was a truly magical experience and a very first for me seeing so many African giants in one breeding herd. There were a multitude of babies that ranged from a few months old to a few years, mothers and grannies and eventually after waiting almost 20min for them to cross 3 Massive Bulls that must have been close to 7 or 8 tons each brought up the rear.
Big Bull Elephant and Josh, KNP
Out in the Balule bushveld the Love was also very much in the air, especially at our local Tremisana waterhole. Our resident Hippo ‘Rambo’ had a female friend come visit him for a few days over the Valentine’s Weekend. This female Hippo was extremely shy and didn’t show herself often but I did capture a quick picture of the two of them. She has since left the dam a few days ago but we hope she will make a happy return again soon.
2 Hippos at Tremisana Dam, BNR
After the last rains our dam is still nice and full and our 1.5m Nile crocodile is still around. He is often seen soaking up some sun on the banks of the dam during the mid mornings and afternoons.
In other news, the rains have given rise to a beautiful yet poisonous wild flower called Wild Foxglove. This Foxglove has taken over most of our veld and is seen almost everywhere throughout Balule. It is a flower which concentrates itself quite dramatically in a specific area and is over 1 metre tall which has made spotting our big cats a little more challenging. Wild Foxglove is best viewed early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun is still low and the flower gets fully sun-kissed. Although this is a beautiful plant it must be taken into account that all parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and animals alike. None of our herbivores have taken a liking to eating it so it might be around for quite some time. I have found that I have a slight allergy to this plant. It gives me scratchy eyes and an itchy throat at times but nothing that a small dose of allergex can’t fix.
I’ve had some wonderful game sightings this month. I have seen both the White and Black Rhinos quite close up and regularly. One evening during a sunset drive we had a pride of 4 lionesses walk right past our vehicle and onto the road ahead of us heading directly towards where our guests enjoy their Bush Barbecue out under the stars at the Marula Boma. 
Lionesses on the road near Marula Boma, BNR
Lioness walking onto our Marula boma road, BNR
I also had a great 5/5 sighting of one of the local male Leopards. He was casually walking along the Olifants road and then saw some impalas. He then went into stalk mode and crept stealthily in the bush trying to hide amoung the tall wild foxglove. Unfortunately the impalas caught wind of him and alarm called and scattered before he could attempt a chase.
The other morning during our Morning drive I found our big resident Male Lion lying in the road. This was then followed by some real close encounters with a breeding herd of Elephants.
Close encounter with a young Elephant bull, BNR
Until next month…
Marc
ANDY:
Wild Dogs on the road. H7 KNP
This is one of the four young lions spotted on S36, KNP
This small herd of wildebeest was spotted on H7, KNP
SMILEY:
On 14 February we had some amazing sightings in Kruger National Park.
We saw lion on H7 just before 106 on the road. 
We drove towards Ngotso Pan where we saw a big herd of Buffalos. 
Between Reception and Orpen Gate we saw one big male elephant. 
We saw one big giraffe and zebras together just before Nsemani dam.
VICTOR:
Buffalo Marula Road BNR
White rhino BNR
Male lion road S40 KNP
Two cheetah S36 KNP.
QUINTON:
Buffalo seen on bushwalk at Marc’s Camp
Guests admiring the view at Three Rondavels, Blyde River Canyon
Leopard seen crossing the road at Marc’s Camp entrance
Nyala seen on bushwalk at Marc’s Camp
ROCKY:
Breeding herd of Buffalo, KNP
Breeding herd of elephants, S106 KNP
Black Rhino cow with a calf, BNR
Male lion sleeping next to the road on Marula Road, BNR
NADINE has qualified to take safaris in Kruger Park proper.
Waterbuck, KNP
Buffalo, KNP
Carmine Bee-eater, KNP
Lion, KNP
GEORGE took a tour to KZN . Thanks to Signor Giovanni Albertone for his photos:
Dehorned White Rhino with Red-billed oxpecker at Hluhluwe Game Reserve
Pod of Hippo seen during Boat Cruise at St Lucia
RAYMOND:
BNR
At H1-3 near Kumane Dam, KNP
Unusual photo of lions up a tree, BNR
Rome 1, BNR
Remarkable photo of lioness up tree, BNR
NHLANHLA:
On our way from a bushwalk we saw a herd of buffalo coming from Tremisana Dam, BNR
We spotted a White Rhino, BNR
We came across a couple of lionesses, BNR
PIERO:
I spent 10 days at the lodges this month. All good. The new OSVs going to Kruger have drawn many lovely compliments. I had numerous meetings. Sandra and I were invited to view the first 2 episodes of “THE RESERVE” at the new Radisson Hotel in Hoedspruit. This series is currently being shown in Australia. Some close friends of mine star in the series. These include Sharon Haussman, daughter of Steve Hearne, whom I know since 1995; Riaan Ahlers, Warden of York who was a beardless youngster when I first met him through my friend Andy Dott and Ian Nowak, the Head Warden of Balule Nature Reserve. THE RESERVE shows just how hard BNR is working to fight the rhino poaching epidemic. I encourage all our Australian readers to please watch the series.
I took these photos on BNR:
NEWS FROM OUR LODGES
Tremisana Dam now has 2 hippos and a crocodile. It looks like the new hippo is a cow so we will not have a repeat of the death of a bull hippo we had in September 2023.
There has been an outbreak of Wild Foxglove all over BNR. We have never seen it in such profusion before. As Smiley says: “Nature will always surprise you.”
NYARAI sent the following :
Tremisana Report February 2025
The month of February is one of my favorite months. It is the month i was born, and the month we celebrate Valentines Day. Red roses, chocolates, wrapped up gifts, some of the beautiful and exciting things associated with the day. I miss the days back home when people dressed up for the day. White suits and red ties, red flowy gowns, and red high-heeled shoes. My father was not the most romantic person, but I must say that one day he would always pull off a surprise for my mother. Happy memories!
We have been blessed with a couple of days of rain. The animal sightings around Balule have been great. This is, of course, based on conversations with our excited guests. A special thank you to the group of guests and my Tremisana family who sang a very soulful happy birthday to me on my day. I really appreciate the love, kindness, and gifts. This old young woman was very overwhelmed with joy.
To end this beautiful month differently, I give homage to the little beautiful creatures that are part of my second home.
Praying Mantis
Armored Cricket
Southern foam-nest tree frog
CHARL sent the following :
This month has been a quiet one with regard to clients but it hasn’t stopped us from having great sightings. At Marcs Treehouse Camp we are fortunate to have a pack of 20 African Wild Dogs hanging around on the property. We were fortunate to see them running through the carpark before our clients arrived one evening and often find them on the main road before we go to Kruger. Our group of blue wildebeest have grown from 3 to now 5 in total and I have been fortunate enough to see them multiple times on bush walks in the morning with clients they have definitely settled into the territory and we hope they stay in the area especially the area we walk.
The bush has really boomed with all the rain we have received in the last few weeks. The Klaserie river is flowing strong and is absolutely stunning down by the tents where we have a huge rock one of my favourite places to sit and just enjoy the bush. Katekani we have been privileged to have some really interesting sights as well with a spotted eagle owl seen perched on a tree close to the boma during dinner. We were fortunate enough to celebrate a birthday with some clients at Katekani. Margrett baked a very special gluten free birthday cake for the client and they were ecstatic with the cake during dinner.
On the building front we have finished extending Quinton’s house to assist in accommodating his daughter. They guys have also been hard at work pushing to finish up the final touch-ups of the old Cheetah Inn property in preparation for our new Wildlife Photography Course that will launch soon.
Blue wildebeest
Chameleon spotted close to Marc’s Camp gate at night.
Spotted Eagle Owl seen at Katekani.
Termites processing matter loving the moisture after the rain.
Snouted Cobra skin about 1.4 m long.
DUMELA LODGE: The 8 rooms intended for our participants in the 20-day Wildlife Photography course have been upgraded and are looking good. We have added new ablutions for the staff of MoAfrika at the Tented Camp.
NEWS FOR OUR TRAVEL PARTNERS
This month has been quieter than anticipated. The global economy is flimsy at best and I think people are being cautious with their money.
We have re-looked at our marketing on Google and SafariBookings and Marco and Patti have both done exceptionally well.
I was really annoyed with Standard Bank, with whom I have been banking since 1976.
We pay both the above platforms via credit card from which we allow transactions to be regularly processed by them. Sure enough, despite having been previously alerted to honour any payment required by both Google and SafariBookings, our card was stopped again. Some clerk, believing it was in Viva’s best interest to have a transaction checked for possible fraud, saw fit to stop the card without consulting me. This results in our dropping down the lists and any potential tourist will not see our advert. So, instead of assisting our business, our bank has done us damage. 49 years is long enough !
I mentioned in last month’s newsletter that we are putting together a WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE.
Marco, Viva’s Webmaster, has developed a brochure and I invite you to have a look. Click here or on the image below:
It will be a 20-day course and initial responses from our marketing people are exceptionally good.
Marco has selected these reviews posted this month :
Full of adventures! Thank you all at Viva who made our trip so memorable
RenM, London UK
OMG guys, we had the best time on our 7 day Viva Safari tour! Even though we went in low season, our trip was full of adventures. I’m so glad I decided to book with Viva safaris, as their price was really reasonable compared to others for what you get. Educate was great keeping in touch, organising an extra day Panorama tour for us and switching some accommodation around to suit our requirements. He was also very welcoming at our arrival. Our tour started with 1 night at Tremisana lodge(wish it was 2 nights!), which is in the Balule Game reserve amongst beautiful tropical gardens inside the reserve where elephants passed by. We had the best drives here – straight at our first sunset drive we saw impalas zebras giraffes elephants and a rhino really close! The sunrise was stunning from the lodge for our bushwalk and felt safe all along with Luke and Nadine (I think that was her name), we saw hippos crocs elephants and learned about plants and insects. Spent 3 nights at Marcs Treehouse now this is an adventure of a lifetime guys! The treehouses are actually at a distance from each other so you really feel like being in the forest on your own! 5 am we were woken by hyena noises next to our house and there were nyalas around, some came really close to us, also wildebeest roam around the tents and treehouses , and we saw a wild dog! The breakfast is by the little pond so tranquil! Mamma’s home made cooking you’ll never forget! The soups were best at dinner!
Kruger Park drives are quite long and grass is tall this time and really hot days so its hard to spot big cats. We only saw one lion as it stood up lazily from under a tree far away.. But we saw rhino and buffalo on the way there next to the fence by main road, and olenty of other animals. we also had a very special private visit by a group of wild dogs to our car. Loved that all transfers and trips are so well organised between the 3 lodges and the guides really looked after each and every guest as their friend. Chal the manager came to talk to us at Ketakani so we didnt feel so lonely there at dinner as we were only guests (the tented lodges are mind blowing!) they even catered for my gluten intolerant partner and made him a gluten free birthday cake❤️ At our first night we had a Bush BBQ under a marula tree that was amazing! We really wanted to try the marula beer but that can only be bought from locals. So Quinton the next day brought a bottle for us from a friend , which we shared with the other guests! We felt very special on this trip we were treated like friends everyone we went thank you for all of you at Viva Safaris for all the amazing hospitality really impressed! Love you all guys miss you already! – and I never write such long reviews 😄
Mesmerizing and Memorable
Faisal Daud, India
There are so many things to articulate but if I had to condense it into something a little more concise, I would say that Tremisana felt like home: warm, welcoming and breathtaking. Educate was the perfect host, not to forget an all-rounder, taking care of everything the best he could, immaculately and with joviality. We also thank the ever-smiling and amiable Nyarai, who always went out of her way to help us out whenever we needed it. Naideen’s presence during the excursions was a mood-booster.
Lastly, we had to HAD TO mention Mark and Luke. Being fervent wildlife enthusiasts, we travel all over the globe to catch glimpses of wilderness’s marvels, but Mark and Luke made our experience in Tremisana exceptionally beautiful and immersive: Mark, with his evergreen charm and passion, and Luke, with his determination and expertise. Mark made the safaris vividly memorable for us and Luke made the bushwalk into perhaps one of the most exhilarating and educational experiences we’ve ever had. Our family is absolutely in awe of them, and we really miss them a lot. Their zeal for wildlife, their brilliant knowledge and their sheer will to show us the animals enamored us, especially my eldest son.
And though we couldn’t see some of the predators we wanted to (but don’t worry we saw EVERYTHING else, loads of elephants, impalas, greater kudus, spotted hyenas, lionesses including atleast 20 rhinos overall) their indomitable efforts made the trip memorable and worth it.
We would, however like to mention that we wish the safari hours in Kruger were managed to make the driving hours longer, since the park opens at 5:30 am and closes at 6:30 pm. This is because the overall driving hours are tapered into a mere 6-hour drive because of a number of delays in-between, which could be slightly underwhelming for safari enthusiasts like us, who want to keep the expedition going.
We also think that the overall experience could be improved a little if the dining options were increased a little more then what was available. But other then that Mama B’s tender smile and delicious Mac ‘n’ cheese made us very happy.
Tremisana and Viva Safaris made this experience a very memorable and nostalgic one, and we thank them for it.
Regards,
Dr. Faisal Daud
PS- Luke and Mark should also thank us as they got to see so many rhinos on the safaris because of us 😝
Action Packed Wonderful Experience
Amanda W, UK
I chose the 7 day experience to give us as much opportunity to see as many animals as possible, and we did!
The transfer from Joburg is long but great scenery on the way with various stops including a lunch stop. We spent the 6 nights in the Tremisana Lodge and I’m glad we did, the majority of our sightings came from around this area. Including a leopard lazing in the tree. We were also visited at meal times by an elephant and Steve the hyena.
Within 30 minutes of arriving we were out on our first drive and just as we turn the corner we see 4 lions laying about in the sun, Tremisana Lodge is a lovely tranquil space on the edge of the park, lovely clean rooms and swimming pool. The ladies looking after the food did a sterling job and we both came home a few pounds heavier.
Having volunteered previously at a wildlife sanctuary in Namibia I was excited to visit the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation, it did not disappoint. The chance to see a black leopard and wild dogs up close was breath taking, definitely a must if you do one of these tours.
Nothing was too much trouble and everyone was extremely friendly, it really did give my 81 year old father a holiday of a lifetime one he will never forget. There are some long days and by the end of the week we were tierd but it was worth it.
Special thanks to Ed whose organisation skills are fantastic and to Rocky who we did most of our drives with. Very knowledgeable, excellent animal spotter and just generally a really nice guy.
Thanks to VIVA safaris for giving us some incredible memories.
Simply Exceptional!
Meredith
Our second trip with Viva Safaris, and once again, they exceeded our expectations! We did the 5-day Tremisana package, and every moment was incredible. The staff are warm, welcoming, and go above and beyond to make you feel at home. The guides are exceptional—knowledgeable, passionate, and fantastic at spotting wildlife, making each game drive and bush walk a truly unforgettable experience.
The food was consistently delicious, with hearty meals that hit the spot after a day of adventure. Tremisana Lodge is a wonderful base—comfortable, relaxing, and surrounded by the sounds of nature.
Viva Safaris offers a perfect balance of adventure and comfort, and we couldn’t recommend them more highly. We’re already looking forward to our next trip!
Into the Wild
Richard S
When my wife and I arrived at Tremisana Game Lodge, we were immediately treated to some incredible wildlife scenes.
Marc, one of the game rangers, informed us right away that there was a lion kill close to the lodge. Eagerly, we hopped into the game vehicle, hardly believing our good fortune. Upon arriving at the site, our excitement grew as we learned that two lionesses who had made the kill were chased away by a clan of hyenas. It was astonishing to witness the hyenas gnawing at the carcass while the lionesses lurked in the background, clearly dismayed.
The next day, we embarked on a guided bush walk down to the Olifants River, marking our first time viewing wildlife outside of a game vehicle. On our way to a closer parking spot by the river, the game rangers didn’t overlook the wildlife we encountered. I was particularly grateful for this, as we saw an elephant calf that was only about a day old. It was the first time I had seen such a small elephant in the wild, and observing the interactions between the herd and the calf was truly beautiful.
By this point, I was already content with our wildlife experience, but the best part was yet to come. The guided bush walk turned out to be the most incredible experience, and I cannot recommend it enough. Walking down to the river and being exposed to the elements made the whole experience feel even more immersive. Walking on the same tracks and riverbeds as the animals, I felt a profound sense of connection to nature, which brought an amazing feeling of calm and contentment. Additionally, our knowledgeable game rangers, Marc and Luke, educated us about the hippos, elephants, antelopes, and various birds we encountered.
Upon returning to the city, the contrast between the hustle and bustle and nature’s soothing effect was stark. Thank you, Viva Safaris, and all the friendly staff. We will most certainly be back and cannot wait for our next wildlife adventure!
Experiencia increíble, se debe de hacer mínimo unas 5 veces en la vida!!!
Hugo P, Mexico
La experiencia ofrecida por Viva safaris es muy completa, grandiosa e inigualable, los guías son muy carismáticos, expertos y muy cuidadosos, hemos ido un grupo grande desde la CDMX, somos el big seven :), les mandamos un cordial saludos a todos y bastante recomendable realizar el clásico de 7 días.
Fantastic Experience!
Alannah Zilkowsky, Canada
We had an absolutely fantastic time on our safari adventure! It was an unforgettable experience, and we were lucky enough to see ALL of the Big Five during our trip, which was such a highlight. The accommodations were truly incredible – from the attention to detail to the comfortable and beautiful setup, everything exceeded our expectations.
A special shoutout to our safari guide, Victor, who was simply outstanding. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious, his personality was warm and welcoming, and his ability to spot and share insights about the animals was truly impressive. He was a 10/10 and made the safari experience even more memorable for us.
Our only small “complaint,” if you could even call it that, was not having enough downtime at Katetami Lodge to fully soak in the stunning tented accommodations and the lovely splash pool. The lodge itself was such a gem, and we wish we’d had more time to relax and enjoy the serene surroundings. That said, we completely understand that with the drive to Kruger and the full days of safari activities, it was necessary to keep to the schedule. It’s just a little note for anyone who wants to balance adventure with relaxation!
We also have to highlight the food at Katetami – it was absolutely delicious! Every meal was a treat, and the staff were so kind, attentive, and helpful throughout our stay. Their hospitality really added to the overall experience.
All in all, it was an incredible trip that offered great value for money. We’ll treasure these memories forever and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this experience to anyone looking for an unforgettable safari adventure!
Until next month,
With kind regards,
Piero
General Manager
Viva Safaris
