January 2026

Sabi Sand

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Sabi Sand: January 2026

January’s above-average rainfall in the Lowveld has breathed abundant vitality into the landscape. Seasonal rivers that lay dormant for much of the year have surged back to life, reconnecting waterways, replenishing groundwater, and carving fresh paths through the land. Grasslands have responded with explosive growth—thick, green swards now blanket the plains, providing abundant grazing and reducing pressure on wildlife after leaner seasons. The botanical response has been equally dramatic. Dormant seeds have germinated en masse, trees and shrubs are pushing out new growth, and flowering plants are transforming the veld into a mosaic of colour and texture. This surge in plant productivity has rippled through the ecosystem: insects are flourishing, birdlife has increased in both diversity and activity, and breeding conditions for amphibians and reptiles have improved significantly. Altogether, this exceptional January rainfall has acted as a powerful ecological reset, reinforcing the Lowveld’s resilience and reminding us how closely life here is tied to the rhythm of rain.
A snapshot of the sightings for January follows:
Elephants
  • The soft but unmistakable thud of marula fruit hitting the savanna floor signals the start of an elephant feast. It is never long before herds stride in, carefully collecting the fallen fruit one or two at a time.
  • Well-used pathways are beginning to form between marula groves that grow on sandy crests, shaped by the steady foot traffic of passing herds.
  • Many bulls have been observed in musth at this time of year, coinciding with peak breeding conditions as cows benefit from the abundance of nutritious forage and come into oestrus.
Buffaloes
  • The grasslands have flourished during this exceptionally wet season, alive with diversity and movement. As such large herds of buffalo have been seen almost daily in the southern parts of Singita Sabi Sand.
  • These herds are often accompanied by zebra, rhino, wildebeest and giraffe, creating scenes reminiscent of a classic wildlife documentary.
African wild dogs
  • The Othawa Pack, now numbering 17 individuals, has been sighted regularly, with weekly encounters throughout the area.
  • On one occasion, the pack ventured remarkably close to the shop between Boulders and Ebony Lodges.
  • A particularly memorable sighting occurred near the Tavangumi outcrop, where the dogs interacted with a troop of baboons for over 30 minutes, engaging in energetic chasing seemingly without intent to harm.
Cheetah
  • Despite the extensive long grass across the savanna, cheetah sightings have been consistent.
  • The territorial male in the south has been actively hunting and was observed feeding on a hard-earned kill.
Leopards
  • The Thamba male has been especially active this January, mating with the Rivala and Ntoma females, as well as the Nkuwa female.
  • Nkuwa is still caring for her one-year-old cub, leaving uncertainty as to whether she was truly in oestrus or protecting her cub from the male; however, Thamba is believed to be the biological father.
  • The Tisela female continues to dominate the western parts of Singita, patrolling as far as the airstrip and north to Red Road, marking the boundary she shares with Rivala.
  • The Xihangu female remains a standout, captivating us with her striking blue eyes and adventurous spirit.
Lions
  • The Mhangeni Pride introduced their four newest cubs one afternoon following a successful wildebeest hunt by their mother and another lioness.
  • The three Kambula males have been trailing a large herd of buffalo between Triangle Pan and 40km Pan. With resources abundant, the buffalo have remained localised, drawing in lions from surrounding areas. Patient guests were rewarded when these males successfully hunted a buffalo cow one morning.
  • The Nkumati males have also benefited from plentiful prey in the southern savanna, and anticipation is building around a potential encounter with the Kambula males as territorial boundaries are tested.
  • The Plains Camp lion made only one appearance this month, as the Sand River kept them further north with the Othawa Pride.
Unusual sightings
  • A remarkable discovery was made by Lucy this month when she found a Southern African python nesting site, complete with hatchlings! Few snake species in Africa incubate their eggs and remain with their young after hatching. The female python was observed basking with her offspring near the nest—a deserted underground hole - before retreating below once they were sufficiently warmed. The young snakes will disperse after their first skin shed, a few weeks after hatching.
  • Guests were treated to a rare sighting of an African civet returning from a night of foraging, a first in over 40 years of safari experiences for some.
  • Frog activity has been exceptional following the rains, with edible bullfrogs (Pyxicephalus edulis) seen guarding tadpoles in shallow pans. In this species, and the closely related giant African bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus),the males assume parental duties, defending the tadpoles from predators.
Bird list
  • What a start to 2026 on the birding front. Specials include multiple sightings of striped crake, Cape shoveler, European honey-buzzard, red-knobbed coot, dusky lark, common whitethroat and the green twinspot. Our total sits at 247.