Gallery - Askari

Askari Gallery

I love it when a plan comes together....left this

I love it when a plan comes together....left this morning in search of the Askari pride males. Didn't take long to find 'Mambana', busy doing some morning patrolling. Check our story to hear him in action! 🦁🦁

Such an exciting day for our resident White-backed

Such an exciting day for our resident White-backed vultures and amazing news for our 600th insta post!!!!! N14 has become the first nest of the season to hatch a chick 🐣🐣🥳🥳🥳🥳. We are currently monitoring 14 active vulture nests and after an approximate 56 day incubation, we are thrilled to see our first new addition. The babies can be very hard to spot in these early weeks as they stay low down in the nest, but we'll definitely be looking a little closer at each of our sites from now on

*International Vulture Awareness Day* . To create

*International Vulture Awareness Day*
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To create awareness about the continued threats to all vulture species globally. Vultures play a crucial role in the environment, clearing the bush of carcasses. Despite their ecological importance, populations across Africa are undergoing rapid declines and facing crisis.
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Vultures are at high risk of powerline electrocution and collisions. They are also poisoned, both intentionally and unintentionally. Their body parts are used in traditional medicine and they are poisoned by poachers to stop them alerting rangers and anti-poaching teams to the illegal activities of poachers.
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When farmers use poison to control an unwanted carnivore, they may inadvertently kill vultures which feed on the poisoned bait. Sadly, our own Limpopo province has been identified as a vulture poisoning hotspot.
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Check out the great work of the @endangeredwildlifetrust to see how you can help and even contribute to the Raptor Emergency Fund.
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Can you identify the 4 regularly seen vulture species seen here at Askari?

Hanging out with the Askari pride this morning ☺

Hanging out with the Askari pride this morning ☺️. Growing up so fast

**NEW CHEETAH ARRIVAL** 🥳🥳🥳 . Welcome to

**NEW CHEETAH ARRIVAL** 🥳🥳🥳
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Welcome to beautiful sisters 'Rumi' and 'Rae' who arrived today at Pidwa. They had a long trip from 'Cheetah Experience' close to Bloemfontein in the Free State but what an amazing conclusion it was.
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They took the first steps in their journey to the wild as they celebrate their 2nd birthday today!!!! Huge thanks to Riana and the team at 'Cheetah Experience' for this amazing opportunity to work with the girls for their release. We can't wait to watch them on their journey

As the sun sets on this week, there's no time for

As the sun sets on this week, there's no time for rest. We are already preparing for yet more exciting developments in the week ahead for Askari, Pidwa and conservation.....stay tuned for all the news!

Also this week, the Askari team worked with Dr Pet

Also this week, the Askari team worked with Dr Pete Rogers and breeding manager Andrew to fit a tracking collar on one of our buffalo cows. This will allow us to keep track of the herd, now in the wild, as they become less reliant on the supplementary feed through the summer months. It is important to see them regularly for health check purposes

'Wild dog day' - 26th August . Celebrating one of

'Wild dog day' - 26th August
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Celebrating one of Africa's most stunning yet endangered predators. Painted dogs face many threats in the wild with loss of quality habitat and poaching being their biggest problems

After checking in on the cheetah boys first thing

After checking in on the cheetah boys first thing this morning, we were then lucky enough to come across the Askari pride too

Rocco taking in his second sunset on Pidwa yeste

Rocco taking in his second sunset
on Pidwa yesterday evening

WELCOME ROCCO & LUCA 🥳.Yesterday, after months

WELCOME ROCCO & LUCA 🥳.Yesterday, after months of preparation, these 2 stunning young brothers made the long journey from 'Running Wild Cheetah Conservation' to Pidwa. They travelled well in their crates and were released immediately into their 6 hectare temporary holding boma. The pair immediately explored their new surroundings and had a drink after the ride.

'Rocco' and 'Luca' are the start of an exciting project and partnership to release captive-bred cheetah into the wild. The cheetah bring new genetics to the meta-population and act as an important source for cheetah at a time when wild animals and their habitats are increasingly threatened.

We extend huge thanks to 'Running Wild Conservation', who breed cheetah for the sole purpose of reintroducing onto suitable protected reserves. Thank you to Elizke & Des of 'Running Wild' for the donation of these 2 stunning boys and for choosing Pidwa.

The Askari team, along with reserve management, will now be responsible for their journey to the wild. This includes their initial boma phase, intensive monitoring post-release and possible assistance with supplementary feeding as they hone their hunting skills in the wild.

This morning Dr Rogers carried out the anaesthesia for Rocco (the more dominant of the 2) so he could be fitted with the tracking collar needed for their monitoring. Luca kept a close and watchful eye on his brother throughout and they are now settling in and adjusting to their new surroundings on a VERY warm Lowveld day. Thank you to Dr Pete Rogers and his team, as always, for your outstanding advice and compassion for the animals we work with.

Watch this space for regular updates on their progress and eventual journey to becoming self-sustaining wild cheetah

Time spent with this little one and its herd today

Time spent with this little one and its herd today

🐘World elephant day🐘 . "They say an elephant

🐘World elephant day🐘
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"They say an elephant never forgets, what they don't tell you is, you never forget an elephant"
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Bill Murray

'#World lion day' - far too many photos to choose

'#World lion day' - far too many photos to choose between to celebrate these magnificent predators!

But today is to raise awareness of the fact that lion populations continue to decline globally. Protecting the habitat and the wilderness they rely on has never been more important.

The 9th of August is "National Women's day" in Sou

The 9th of August is "National Women's day" in South Africa 🇿🇦. Today we are celebrating all the incredible 'wild women' who we've had the privilege of meeting and working with at Askari. Thank you for the commitment of your time and passion to conservation and defending our wilderness

'Caught in the act' - when you click the shutter j

'Caught in the act' - when you click the shutter just at the right time! A White-fronted bee-eater feeding

It's that time of year again. TRIP ADVISOR AWARDS

It's that time of year again. TRIP ADVISOR AWARDS 🥳🥳🥳🥳.

So proud to have earnt a '2020 Travellers' Choice award' (previously Certificate of Excellence).

The award is for those who "consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on TripAdvisor".

A huge thank you to all our amazing volunteers who chose us and chose wilderness

I often forget the dramatic effect black & white c

I often forget the dramatic effect black & white can bring to a photo. The beautiful 'Kusala'

A beautiful black-collared barbet visitor to the g

A beautiful black-collared barbet visitor to the garden waterhole

Sunday sunrise 🤩

Sunday sunrise 🤩

And another stunning breeding bird recorded on the

And another stunning breeding bird recorded on the reserve this week. This Western Barn owl is the proud parent of 4 chicks 🦉

An amazing and exciting recent discovery on the re

An amazing and exciting recent discovery on the reserve of an 'African hawk eagle' nest! This flat-backed position shows that an egg is currently being incubated. During an earlier sighting just 1 egg was seen but a 2nd may have also been laid since. We can't WAIT to see the progress of the pair

The beautiful 'Kusala' on the look out for prey ye

The beautiful 'Kusala' on the look out for prey yesterday

🇿🇦 On this day in 1918, Nelson Mandela was b

🇿🇦 On this day in 1918, Nelson Mandela was born. As we celebrate 'Mandela day' here in South Africa, his words have never been more important. Remembering Mandela and our duty in the protection of our wilderness.

I'm a day late celebrating 'WORLD SNAKE DAY' 🐍🐍. So many beautiful species to choose between but I settled on this completely harmless and stunning spotted bush snake. Frogs are its favourite food!

We are currently experiencing a cold front across

We are currently experiencing a cold front across the country, some provinces even have snow! It was a crisp 1 degree celsius sunrise here at Askari this morning

I couldn't believe my eyes this afternoon 😲. I

I couldn't believe my eyes this afternoon 😲. I hoped it was a brown hyaena but it took a triple take to confirm it! These winter days sure are the best when it comes to seeing my favourite mammal

There were 3 at the water and the little one snort

There were 3 at the water and the little one snorted "move over"

An acceptable start to our Friday morning I guess

An acceptable start to our Friday morning I guess 😯😋

We had a fantastic morning of sightings today. Whi

We had a fantastic morning of sightings today. While on one of our herbivore counts we also came across the Askari lion pride, TWO separate cheetah sightings and plenty of beautiful general game in between

Another sad Monday..... this time we should just b

Another sad Monday..... this time we should just be arriving home on the reserve having collected our new 'Kiwi clan' (you know who you all are 😚). So instead we look back to this time last year.... when we didn't even quite make it to sundowners on the first night, thanks to this beautiful elephant sighting at sunset.
It's going to be a lonely month without our kiwis, we'll be thinking of you and missing you every day

The best type of traffic jam to sit in! Amazed to

The best type of traffic jam to sit in! Amazed to find this one today at this stage of winter

These youngsters really are a photogenic bunch! Fa

These youngsters really are a photogenic bunch! Fantastic sighting with the Askari pride today

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