In all our trips we have always wished for seeing Sable and Roan antelope, as they are a rare sighting in SA. Friends came up with a brilliant idea, to visit Sable Ranch in Brits, South Africa. This farm breeds Sable and Roan antelope for wildparks, zoos and private collections. The farm is owned by Fred Keeley who is, next to a successful businessman, also a passionate wildlifer and conservationist. Run by the hosts Storm & Ken, the farm provides next to game drives also a very welcome pool and viewing deck from where the bushveld can be observed.
On one of our first game drives we were taken to one of the 6 breeding holding areas, where the different stock and subspecies of Sable were kept. I believe this morning we went to the Common Sable (Hippotragus niger niger) holding area, where the animals get fed with lucerne, a nutricious and popular feeding grass.
The beauty of the Sable is in my opinion well visible in the next image.
| Male Sable Antelope |
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And the female is certainly equally beautiful …
| Female Sable Antelope |
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In between game drives, the lodge provides lots of place to wander around in a safe enclosure from where all the local birdlife can be observed and admired. Even a locust can look beautiful if, as in this case, he was not impressed by my presence and spreads his wings, showing all his colours in full.
| Angry Locust |
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In our week, just before the wet season, 4 particular birds were very dominant and visible. The first was the Masked Weaver, getting ready for the coming breeding season:
| Masked Weaver |
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Followed and harassed by the Diederik Cuckoo, constantly in search of a nest ready to be taken over, to lay her eggs … so typically calling with her ‘die-die-die-derik’.
| Diederik Cuckoo |
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A very clownish display was provided by the Puffback shrike. The male holds a secret layer of feathers on his back, that he will ‘puff’ up in display and to attract or impress a female.
| Male Puffback Shrike |
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In normal display:
| Male Puffback Shrike |
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And the female:
| Female Puffback Shrike |
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Although very abundant and very present, the Forktailed Drongo is an often overlooked and ignored bird (I include myself here). But when caught in proper light, this bird is actually a beautiful animal as well.
| Forktailed Drongo |
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On another morning we went to the holding area for the Roan antelope. The Roan were much less approachable and very cautious of our presence. We were able to get some nice images though.
| Roan Antelope |
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| Male Roan |
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| Female Roan |
In the general game area, many other species are roaming around. Rhino, Tsesebe, Impala, Leopard and this Ostrich can be found.
| Male Ostrich |
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My for now last image is from this Blacksmith’s Lapwing: sometimes making a lot of fuss about your presence, indicating nest activity.
| Blacksmith’s Lapwing |
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The last evening on the viewing deck we were surprised with a gorgeous sunset and that indicates the end of this log entry.
| The End. |
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See for additional images also: Sable Ranch & Botswana Gallery
Finally, check out Sable Ranch for lodge details and contact information.