Week 3 Highlights



The week started with a trip to Skukuza in the Kruger National park. At lake panic bird hide we encountered various water birds such as Green Backed Herons, Little Bitterns and Pied Kingfishers.

Mean-while back at Savanna in the Sabi Sands we followed up on a Pack of Wild Dogs which were found at Dam six. Some of the dogs tried to chase two Buffalo’s from the water.  Two of the females look pregnant and they have been looking for a suitable den site. The following morning we had the pack stalking a herd of Impala on Mackenzie Airstrip.

Three of the Lionesses from the Ximungwe Pride still have their cubs. Stompie the Lioness with the short tail was found in the Mabrak Dry River bed with her cubs which are approximately two months old. The older lioness from the same pride was lying up with her two six month old male cubs in a thicket a few meters away.

Early in the morning were tracking the pack of Wild Dogs on the Newington Road north of Lion Pan when we found a pride of Lions. The Southern Pride which we only see a few times a year. The pride was mobile north. The crossed back east at Mackenzie cutline.

The large herds of Buffalo have been seen regularly. We watched them as they entered Mackenzie Windmill Pan. A large number of Red-billed Oxpeckers are always close by.

The Mapogo's have been seen throughout the Western sector. Sataan seems to have accepted the cubs and we have had no recent fatalities.



Kishane is establishing himself within the Southern Section of our area. We are seeing him on a weekly basis. It is always a treat to see this leopard as he is by far the largest in the area.

A pair of Saddle-billed Storks were on the clearings behind the Lodge looking for frogs after the rain.



Small herds of Burchells Zebra are appearing on Savanna Big Clearing on a daily basis.



European Rollers are plentiful at this time of the year. They will shortly be migrating northwards to North Africa and Southern Europe.

Thlangisa is exploring her territory which she inherited from her mother Mambiri who died a month ago. She has treated us to fantastic sightings. We followed her along Simons Loop and she climbed onto the large rocks.

We have been having great sightings of White Rhino lately. A mother and calf were enjoying a mud wallow at Nkombe Dam. The calf then decided to take over the mud wallow.

A rare sighting of a female Grey Duiker and her calf that was suckling. Not something that you normally see. This was on Hanging Tree Road.

A few hundred meters further North Hlabankunzi was stalking a herd of Impala. Here she displayed her Mongoose style of stalking. She made several attempts but was unsuccessful. She has moved her remaining cub further south, to the area around Dam Five.

Two young Southern Giraffes were seen at Tree-house Mackenzie. The adult females were feeding in close proximity.


On the way back to camp Tuesday was spotted on an elevated tree trunk. The male cheetah was surveying the area for possible prey. He decided to head in an Easterly direction. A Single Wild Dog and the Cheetah both moving in opposite directions had a brief encounter.

We headed to Nkombe Dam to find a large herd of Impala stotting across the clearing. It was fantastic sighting, to see the females with their offspring, running and jumping together.



The Wild dogs were once again discovered lying up on the cool rocks on the Western side of Flat Rocks.

One of the Mapogo’s and a Ximungwe Lioness were found south of Dam Five. We were trying to find them for some time but without much success. Fortunately they started roaring while we were on the dam wall and they were located south of the dam. Both were vocalising on a regular basis.

On Marius’s road Shinzele was lying in a Marula Tree with the last scraps of an Impala carcass. It seems that has taken over the territory that Tegwaan used to defend. We are not sure what has become of Tegwaan.

At Tree-House Mackenzie two Waterbuck Cows with their young calves were drinking. Both calves look to be of a similar age.