Why do these antelopes never take their eyes off the predator-filled grass

Added: 2026-05-07

[00:00:37][music] [laughter] >> Hi, my name is Newton Mulenga. Welcome to Busanga Plains, Kafue National Park.

[00:00:56]Please join me on safari as we explore the Busanga Plains.

[00:01:07]They're running.

[00:01:09]Wow.

[00:01:12]So, there's not much jumping in the absence of water. If this was in June, we were going to witness them leaping across channels, splashing, running in the water because these lechwes are made to live in the water.

[00:01:31]Can see they are all alert and staring, giving a bit of warning.

[00:01:39]Yeah, if you are a Puku here, you need to be careful because any bush, a predator can show up from any angle. You can hear them warning.

[00:01:48]And right now, they're not relaxed.

[00:01:51]They're looking.

[00:01:53]I can see a lion right in front of them, like right in the middle. Yeah.

[00:02:00]Let's get closer.

[00:02:09]So, this is the oldest female in the plains.

[00:02:12]The one lying down in front of them to the right side.

[00:02:15]She is over 15 years now. And most of the females that we will be coming across are from her and her sister, Princess.

[00:02:25]So, another interesting behavior here is that um the Killing Machine had cubs last year at 15 years.

[00:02:33]Uh so, the two cubs in front of us there, those uh the Killing Machine cubs. But, she is also looking after her sister's cub, the one lying behind her because her sister is um having cubs, s- small cubs. We haven't seen them yet, tiny cubs. Uh hiding them somewhere.

[00:02:53]But, the Killing Machine took over the responsibility to look after the sister's cub.

[00:03:00]At that age, they are already joining the mother to hunt. They are learning from the best. The Killing Machine cubs are now 8 months to 9, and then the one lying behind is above a year, probably about 1 year 4 5 months old.

[00:03:19]They look bigger than their age because they eat they eat very well. They're well-fed.

[00:03:25]>> [music] [music] [music] >> They're nesting [music] not too far from here.

[00:03:48]And they're busy trying to look for food before going to bed. These are also good snake hunters.

[00:03:56]So, they're not just looking for insects, but if they get an opportunity um to get a snake, they will take that opportunity. They're more loud. You hear them more later in the evenings or early morning.

[00:04:09]So, in the villages, we use them as your wake-up calls cuz they always they're always calling early in the morning, somewhere around 5. If you hear them, just know it's uh around 5 or to 6:00.

[00:04:25]>> [music] [music] >> So, what we have for them here is enough grazing ground.

[00:05:12]Yes, they they are struggling for water, but later in the evenings, they will be going to graze in the open plains full of different species of grass.

[00:05:34]It's been a wonderful drive.

[00:05:36]Great to have you here. See you next time.

[00:05:42]>> [music]