Martial eagle on a kill

August is a month to remember, thanks to two unforgettable encounters with the martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus),Africa’s largest and most powerful bird of prey. These rare sightings offered us a raw intensity of nature in its purest form.

The first encounter happened early in the month. I was out with my guests, searching for cheetahs across the Sasakwa open plains. In the distance, we noticed a large bird perched on top of a small termite mound. As we got closer, we realized it was a martial eagle, proudly feeding on a freshly caught baby gazelle. The scene was striking, its massive wings folded neatly by its sides, piercing yellow eyes scanning the surroundings, and sharp talons gripping the prey with ease. Despite our presence, the eagle remained completely undisturbed, a clear sign of its confidence and dominance.

A martial eagle can consume up to 1–2 kg of meat in a single feeding, depending on the size of the prey and the eagle’s own condition. They tend to feed at the kill site until they’ve had their fill. After a big meal, they can pack their crop with several hundred grams of meat (sometimes close to half a kilogram in a large individual). Food stored in the crop is slowly released into the stomach (proventriculus and gizzard) for digestion over the next several hours. When feeding chicks, adults often arrive at the nest with the crop full and then regurgitate softened food for the eaglet.

A few weeks later, while following a male leopard through an open woodland just west of Faru Faru Lodge, we were treated to a second sighting, just as dramatic. Once again, a martial eagle had claimed a termite mound as its dining spot, this time feeding on a warthog piglet. The familiarity of the scene was almost surreal: same type of perch, same bold posture, and the same commanding presence. Watching this apex predator go about its business with such calm precision was deeply humbling.

What made both moments so special wasn’t just the rarity of witnessing a martial eagle on a kill, but how completely at ease the birds were in their environment. Unlike most raptors that flee at the first sign of disturbance, these eagles held their ground, unbothered by the vehicles nearby. Their behaviour served as a powerful reminder of the wild, untamed spirit of the African bush.

With its enormous wingspan, gripping talons, and unmatched hunting ability, the martial eagle truly lives up to its reputation. It doesn’t just soar above the landscape, it rules it. These two encounters were, without a doubt, among the most memorable highlights of the month.