Living With Lechwe

We’re very lucky. We own a share of a private wildlife reserve in the Klein Karoo.

witfontein

The sad part is that we just don’t get to spend enough time there. When we are there though, we treasure every minute.

Ou our most recent visit we discovered that a family group of Kafue Lechwe had claimed the area around the house as their territory.

Each evening around dusk they would start arriving to feed is a small dam. The group comprised between 30-40 animals and at this time of year (late February) there were plenty of newborn lambs.

Kafue lechwe Ewes - Swartberg Private Wildlife Reserve
Kafue lechwe Ewes – Swartberg Private Wildlife Reserve

 

Kafue Lechwe
Kafue Lechwe
Kafue Lechwe
Kafue Lechwe

As darkness fell they would find themselves a place to sleep for the night, usually within 50 metres of the house.

Then, as the sun was rising, they would return to the dam for breakfast, before disappearing into the bush for the day.

[KGVID width=”1920″ height=”1080″]https://www.wildlifephotographyafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/DSCF0682.mp4[/KGVID]

Kafue Lechwe Ewes
Kafue Lechwe Ewes
Kafue Lechwe Ewe and lambs
Kafue Lechwe Ewe and lambs
Kafue Lechwe Ram
Kafue Lechwe Ram

The morning light and the dramatic mountain backdrop was just perfect.

Kafue Lechwe with the Swartberg Moutains behind
Kafue Lechwe with the Swartberg Moutains behind

 

Although, being so close to the mountains, not every morning was clear. We’d often wake to find the mountains shrouded in clouds.

But even then there were super photos to be had.

Early morning fog
Early morning fog