It was one of my first drives here at Ivory Tree Game Lodge. Myself and a fellow ranger was driving a small group from Denmark.
On the groups first morning drive we all agreed to go into the park earlier than normal game drive time so we can get more time in the park! We decided to take Moruleng link because we heard lions were spotted in the area the previous night. Not too far from the lodge we found four sub adult male lions sleeping on the road. After about twenty minutes the lions started moving away from the road and we lost complete visual of them.
From there we decided to move on. Not too far away from the road we found a massive herd of elephants all over the road! The breeding herd of elephants was very relaxed with a couple of young bulls fighting while the rest of the herd kept on feeding right next to the road.
Then I decided to go to the centre of the park where we see most of the animals. On the way there we saw a lot of very nice plains game. When we got to the centre I heard someone calling lions in at Hippo Loops which is situated right in the centre of the park. When we got to the locations it was the central pride that consists of four lions. The lions walked on the road right past our vehicle! By this time it was time to head back to the lodge.
On the way back to the lodge we came across a Black back jackal den and we saw four pups. While sitting with the pups I suddenly saw the four young male lions coming down the road right past my vehicle. I moved out of the sighting to turn my vehicle around when I saw the one lion eating something. Sadly it was one of the little pups. But it still was a fantastic sighting and a drive that I will never forget!
Ranger: Neil Coetzer
