Animals

Southern Africa’s best field guides go head to head across eight gruelling events this week. Here is what separates the good from the truly exceptional.

When an impala strayed from its herd, it was only a matter of time before the mistake proved costly.

A lone wild dog and a spotted hyena came face to face during a night drive in Kruger National Park. With no food to fight over, the cautious predators sized each other up before peacefully parting ways.

Yolanda Infante filmed a buffalo sprinting across a riverbank area near the H4-1 in the Kruger National Park.

Dozens of hammerkop birds gathered by some water at the Biyamati Bush Camp to splash in the waters and to catch fish.

The area around a waterhole in the Kruger National Park set the stage for a dramatic encounter between an elephant and some lionesses.

Five lion cubs at Thanda Safari attempt one of their first real hunts, and the result is equal parts thrilling and hilarious. The impala nearly escapes every single time, but persistence eventually wins the day.

Most safari-goers spend their drives scanning the bush vigorously with binoculars, hoping movement catches their eye. A thermal camera changes the game entirely, letting you see heat instead of light. In lion country, that distinction can mean the difference between an empty road and the sighting of a lifetime.

This hungry lioness attempted to charm her way to a free meal. However, her suitor wasn’t fooled for long.

Alberto Scattolin had front row seats to witness the inherent curiosity and playful nature of two leopard cubs in the Matimba Bush Lodge.

A morning at a bird hide in Pilanesberg turned into one of the most emotional wildlife encounters imaginable. Three friends watched helplessly as a baby hippo fought for its life, and a mother faced every parent’s worst nightmare.

Baby elephants are adorably cute. In this footage, a youngster does his best to intimidate a bunch of tourists.

For male cheetahs, territory means everything, as seen in this dramatic video showing a vicious dispute.

Leopard cubs stay with their mothers for up to two years. During that time, they develop a very close bond, as depicted in this footage.

Tucked deep in one of Greater Kruger’s most celebrated private reserves, a brand-new camp is about to host the most prestigious event on the safari guiding calendar.

Every now and then, species interact in a dynamic, memorable way.

This hungry hyena got cruelly creative when it came to find a way through this pangolin’s defenses.

Just as it tucked in for its own meal this martial eagle found itself under the scrutiny of a whole group of vultures!

This springbok lamb got a little confused after losing sight of its mother.

This silly leopard got itself into an awkward scenario using nothing but its own clumsiness!