An afternoon game drive for the books

My name is Sipho Sibuyi, and I have been a guide at Singita for two decades. This day was particularly special in my career, as I had the privilege of experiencing an unforgettable moment with both my guests and my teammate, Isreal. It all unfolded before our eyes, and I will never forget it.

It started in the morning with four guests on our game drive. As we were moving along, Isreal suddenly told me to stop and that he had heard a sound. We soon realized it was the call of a buffalo. We decided to follow up, and soon after, one of the other guides radioed in to let us know that they had located the animals, not far from us. It was already a hot morning, and the buffalo were likely heading towards the water.

We joined them and found ourselves in the middle of a large herd of around two hundred buffalo, feeding towards Giraffe Dam, which was about a hundred metres away. The heat had driven them to the water’s edge.

As we were observing the herd, Isreal spotted something in the distance - five lions moving behind the buffalo. Using binoculars, we recognized them as part of the Ntsevu Pride. The lions had broken away from the main pride, which is territorial in the eastern part of our property. We knew they were expert hunters, particularly when it came to buffalo, and we speculated about what might happen next.

While we discussed the situation, the lions started to move closer and seemed to focus on a lone female buffalo separated from the rest of the herd. The buffalo herd quickly became aware of the lions' presence and began warning each other. A sense of urgency filled the air as the buffalo started running towards the dam, kicking up dust and making loud noises. The scene was chaotic, as the animals stampeded towards the water.

Some buffalo fought back against the lions, creating a tense standoff. The dam, with its thick vegetation, became a battleground. As the buffalo continued to run around the dam, it became clear that the lone female buffalo had been cornered. In a desperate bid to escape, she charged into the water. However, the lions closed in on her, and despite her efforts to flee, they managed to overpower her. They dragged her to the side, killed her and began feeding.

The experience was both thrilling and terrifying. It was a raw, unfiltered display of nature at its most brutal and beautiful. At first, our guests were shocked and even scared by the intensity of the hunt. But by the end of the encounter, they had gained a deeper understanding of the harsh realities of the wild. It was a powerful reminder of the challenges wild animals face in order to survive, and how resilient they must be to thrive in such an unforgiving environment.