Watch the Sighting:
Colin Pretorius is the Sales and Marketing Manager at Ngwenya Lodge in Kruger National Park. While he was sitting in his office that overlooked Crocodile River one afternoon, some strange noises captured his attention…
Commotion On Crocodile River
Upon staring out his window, Colin realized that a flock of geese down by the river were responsible for making the racket. Just as he began to look for the source of the geese’s distress, he noticed a baboon bounding along the riverbank towards the flock.
The baboon seemed determined as it made its way along the river, and Colin knew that it must be hunting for some eggs since it had ventured away from its troop. Eggs are rich in protein and other nutrients, making them a perfect snack for opportunistic omnivores like baboons.
Egyptian geese often nest on the ground near water sources like dams or rivers, which make their eggs especially vulnerable to predation during nesting season.
The Egg Heist Begins
The baboon made a first attempt at one of the nests, but the geese managed to fend it off by honking, flapping, and physically attacking with their sharp beaks. Egyptian geese are notoriously aggressive, and these geese were in no mood to have their nest attacked.
When Colin noticed that the baboon was going in for a second attempt, he knew he had to capture the moment. As it approached the nest, the geese charged forward, wings outstretched.
Then, they began to jump on the baboon, honking and pecking as fiercely. This time, however, the baboon was not deterred.
Determination Wins The Day
The baboon sat in the nest of the geese and picked up one of the eggs in its hands. At this point, all the geese in the area were approaching the baboon threateningly, but it was too late.
The baboon began to eat the egg right in front of all the geese! Finally, they gave up and watched in despair as the baboon enjoyed its snack.
When hunting eggs, baboons scout nests from a distance, work individually or as a group to raid them, and even climb trees or wade into crocodile-infested waters to obtain their prize. Baboons are rarely deterred once focused on a meal, and will sometimes target the same nests year after year if they have previously been proven to be successful hunts.
Life on the Wild Side
Colin explained that seeing amazing encounters right outside his window is one of the best parts of the job. This sighting was no exception.
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“It was an awesome sighting to see. This is my daily world, and I love that I get to spend my days working in this environment”.
This encounter is a perfect example of how boldness, confidence, and persistence can overpower even the fiercest defenders. In the wild, survival isn’t just about strength, it’s about guts and timing.