However, there’s no doubt that aiming to witness a kill on your African safari experience is something of a moonshot.
While a significant number of safari-goers do get to see predators munching on their prey, being there for the actual kill, and having a good view from a static vantage of such a fast-moving action sequence is exceptionally rare. So, when our safari guide, Gibson recently had a request from his party of 4 on a private safari getaway to please find them a kill, he naturally made it clear that this was not an experience that any ranger can possibly orchestrate. Gibson pointed out that some people go on safari game drives hundreds of times over their lifetimes and never see a kill. It’s not a once-in-a lifetime occurrence, but once-in-many lifetimes.
On this particular day though, serendipity was on their side. About an hour into their safari game drive, Gibson noticed that in the distance some impalas were on the move through the bush, possibly fleeing. He stopped on the road and cut the engine as the antelope advanced. He could then make out flashes of the distinctive patchwork coats of rare African Wild Dogs in pursuit. From their streamlined postures and flashing speed, they were clearly on the hunt, and driving the impala right towards the road. From then, it was a matter of seconds before an impala burst out of the bush and was killed on the road right in front of the guests. A few seconds later, other members of the pack brought another impala down nearby. But there was more to come.
Gibson says, “The hunters were tucking into their meals when suddenly a hyena appeared on the scene. This is typical because the Spotted Hyenas know that Wild Dogs are successful predators, and they often follow their hunt hoping to steal from them. It didn’t take long before the hyena had intimidated the dogs off one carcass and dragged it away. But the drama didn’t end there either. From the other direction, two young male lions also arrived. First, they drove off the Wild Dogs and then the hyena. Dragging the impala carcasses in their jaws, they triumphantly disappeared into the bush with their stolen feast, and we were left sitting in the vehicle in complete astonishment at what we had just seen. When they said they wanted to experience a kill, I don’t think these guests had any idea of what they might see on their Kruger safari!”