wildbennett's Journal

It was a dusty, dry July afternoon that I set out amongst the spectacular landscape of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. It is world-famous for its fearless and iconic African wildlife, and especially its leopards. Very difficult to observe leopard behavior can be seen here easily, including mating rituals and caring for young. I was extremely excited for a trip of a lifetime as we set off with two expert guides to our aid. Almost immediately we could see some female Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) grazing in an open patch of grassland. We turned onto a dirt track crossing the Sand River, one of the few lush areas of the reserve during the dry months, after observing the antelope. We could see a very large pod of Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) , wallowing in a dammed part of the river! Definitely a bucket-list species for me. On a nearby tree branch we could see a Red-Billed Hornbill (Tockus kempi). In the river there was a small group of Egyptian Geese (Alopochen aegyptiaca) and on the banks a Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer). A baby Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus) darted past the vehicle as we drove into the bush. We drove for about five minutes and came to a watering hole where a herd of Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) galloped from one side of the track to the other, an unforgettable and majestic sight. As we were driving, we also saw a flock of Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris). Our driver had received a call about a mother Leopard (Panthera pardus) and her cub in a sandy riverbank. After about ten minutes of driving, we arrived to an amazing view of the mother leopard fearlessly resting with her cub on a sandy bluff, not 40 feet away from our jeep. It was a spectacular experience that will never forget. She moved on after being spooked by the calls of Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) in a jackalberry tree. Our guide suggested visiting a Hippo carcass afterwards, about 15 minutes from the riverbed. Dusk was approaching, and scavengers would be more active. Along the way, we saw a huge herd of Impala (Aepyceros melampus), crossing the trail. Coming close to the carcass, I saw a Lappet-Faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) high up in an acacia tree. The carcass had 2 adolescent Spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) who fed nervously as more Hyenas came. Eventually an entire clan arrived to feed: about 6 members total. Dusk had fallen and the experience was mesmerizing. We left the carcass to spotlight for nocturnal animals. Within a few minutes, our guides found a Small-Spotted Genet (Genetta genetta) in the crook of a tree which quickly disappeared into the bush. We got back a little before 7 pm, and I would consider my first African Safari one of the best moments of my life. It was a dream come true to cruise the bush looking for megafauna, and I truly enjoyed it. I would recommend Sabi Sands to anyone thinking of going on Safari in Africa.

Life List Animals:

African Leopard- 2
Small- Spotted Genet- 1
Hippopotamus- 30
Spotted Hyena- 6
Impala- 50
Nyala- 5
Vervet Monkeys- 10
Red-Billed Hornbill- 1
Lappet-Faced Vulture- 1
Helmeted Guineafowl- 8
Egyptian Geese- 4
Marabou Stork- 1
Nile Monitor- 1
Giraffe- 4

Way back in 2015, my family and I were fortunate enough to embark on one of the highlights of our trip to Sabah in Borneo, the Klias wetlands. Famed for their populations of Proboscis Monkeys (Nasalis larvatus), endemic to Borneo, along with numerous other wildlife species including birds and other primates, they comprise a large peninsula of mangrove swamp near Kota Kinabalu. After a quite a long drive, we embarked on rustic tour boats led.by expert guides deep into the mangroves. Almost immediately we saw a decently sized troop of female proboscis monkeys led by a large, healthy male. With such a unique anatomy and low numbers, they were thrilling to see in the wild. As we cruised through the river and came to a more brackish region of the wetland, we saw 2 Collared Kingfishers (Todiramphus chloris), high up on a tree branch. Directly after, I saw a large Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator), swimming across the river to another island which happened fast but was again thrilling to watch. Afterwards, we saw another, smaller, troop of proboscis monkeys led by an even larger male in a thicket of trees. They jumped between branches which provided great photo opportunities to us. Along the way back, I saw some Crab-Eating Macaques (Macaca fascicularis), a vulnerable species, close to the river's edge. They were common, but again provided great photo opportunities. Close to the disembarking spot, we viewed some Great Egrets (Ardea alba) plucking mudskippers from the shoreline. Later we enjoyed a show of thousands of fireflies on the riverbank at dusk, an incredible sight. Alltogether it was an incredible show of a healthy Bornean ecosystem that I would recommend to anyone.

Life List Animals:
Asian Water Monitor- 1
Collared Kingfisher- 2
Great Egret- 5
Proboscis Monkey- 16
Crab-Eating Macaque- 3

While in the gorgeous nation of Laos, we decided to do the boat-based 2-hour long Nam Nern Night Safari located in the dense jungles of the north of the county. This area is known as one of the best places to witness some of Lao's last pockets of rare wildlife. Drifting down the river at night with experienced guides, we were able to use a spotlight to find animal eye-shine in the forest. We noticed several Spotted Owlets (Athene brama) perched high in the trees within 20 minutes of setting off. Soon, our guides picked out the yellow eyes of rare Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor), faintly and from a distance. An hour in to the 2-hour, mesmerizing experience, one of our guides spotted the eyes of a Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), as it feasted on figs atop a large tree. Next in line was two Red Muntjacs (Muntiacus muntjac) running up a hill into a thicket of wild bananas. We kept spotting more, distant Sambar Deer--the rains had repelled most of them from the river, into the thick grass and brush where they feed. However, towards the end of the night safari, we hit the jackpot: two female Sambars had been feeding close to the river. As they moved away, we were able to snap our only picture of this incredible wildlife viewing tour! Cold but happy, we returned to the safari's very own camp to get a good night of rest.

Additions to my Life List:

Sambar Deer - 12
Red Muntjacs - 2
Common Palm Civets - 1
Eurasian Kingfishers - 4
Spotted Owlets - 2

Throughout my four years in Shanghai, I have tried and succeeded in finding some of the cities most elusive mammals. On April 23, 2017, on a new moon, I took a two hour night walk to see if I could find some uncommon Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides). Within a few minutes, I had seen several House Geckos (Genus Hemidactylus) on the wall of a building. I also spotted three species of bat in moderately large numbers within an hour, the most visible being the Japanese Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus abramus). Along the banks of a lotus-infested stream, I spotted a Chinese Blackbird (Centropus sinensis). Hopping passed me were some Black-Spotted and Eastern Golden Frogs (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) and (Pelophylax plancyi). passing a grove of bamboos, I heard a Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata) briefly. Heading back home, I heard a rustling in some hedges, and following the noise for ten minutes, I caught up to one of my target species: an impressive, large, and also rare, Amur Hedgehog (Erinaceus amurensis)! The hedgehog was a male, and he stayed close to me for quite some time, allowing me to snap some good pictures of him. Satisfied, I ended the search.

Additions to my Life List:

Amur Hedgehogs - 1
Brown Hawk Owls - 1
House Geckos - 2
Japanese Pipistrelle- 6