The week started off with a fantastic sighting of a male hippo at cheetah Flats Pan. The male launched himself out of the water. Then he left the water and proceeded to yawn and exposed his large teeth.
The Rhino sightings have been great with both groups of males and females. We enjoyed watching a female wallowing in a mud pool on the southern end of Mackenzie airstrip.
The Rhino sightings have been great with both groups of males and females. We enjoyed watching a female wallowing in a mud pool on the southern end of Mackenzie airstrip.
Metsi and her cubs are doing very well. She killed an impala ram. After collecting her cubs they returned to the carcass. They cubs were very playful and full of energy. It seems that as the impala rutting season approaches the rams are preoccupied to the extent that they are becoming easier prey as four other leopards also made impala ram kills in the last week.
Tlangisa has been walking great distances. She was found in the drainage line between Mikes and Elephant loop. She came upon another leopards kill. After carefully stalking it she dragged it to a tree. The following morning the Mapago's found the carcass and stole it from the leopard. Two of the brothers climbed the tree in spectacular fashion and fought over the carcass before it fell to the ground and the third brother claimed it for himself. The tree afterwards bared the scars of the heavy cats having hauled themselves up it, but they did manage to get back down and the carcass was finished in seconds.
Tlangisa has been walking great distances. She was found in the drainage line between Mikes and Elephant loop. She came upon another leopards kill. After carefully stalking it she dragged it to a tree. The following morning the Mapago's found the carcass and stole it from the leopard. Two of the brothers climbed the tree in spectacular fashion and fought over the carcass before it fell to the ground and the third brother claimed it for himself. The tree afterwards bared the scars of the heavy cats having hauled themselves up it, but they did manage to get back down and the carcass was finished in seconds.
Tlangisa moved off and climbed a nearby tree, watching the lions devour her meal and perhaps hoping there might be some scraps once they moved off. She was far move relaxed once the lions moved off. We found her later on resting in a marula tree
We went to follow up on Shinzele in the afternoon and found him happily feeding on an impala ram. With plenty of food he remained in the area until the next day but when we went back we discovered that he had been joined by the Hippo Dam Female. She was trying her best to court him but he would have none of it and reacted aggressively towards her, perhaps because he had the kill or she simply was not in full oestrous.
We went to follow up on Shinzele in the afternoon and found him happily feeding on an impala ram. With plenty of food he remained in the area until the next day but when we went back we discovered that he had been joined by the Hippo Dam Female. She was trying her best to court him but he would have none of it and reacted aggressively towards her, perhaps because he had the kill or she simply was not in full oestrous.
The Mapogo’s have been quite active and very vocal this week. Having traversed their whole territory and providing spectacular roaring displays at dusk. They joined up with some of the Ximungwe lionesses on occasion but were otherwise actively patrolling together.
The Mapogo’s have been quite active and very vocal this week. Having traversed their whole territory and providing spectacular roaring displays at dusk. They joined up with some of the Ximungwe lionesses on occasion but were otherwise actively patrolling together.
We have had good sightings of the Ximungwe pride and their cubs. Both sets of cubs are relaxed near the vehicles. The cubs are being kept in the central parts of the property and the great news is that these cubs are becoming very relaxed now. They provided great humour during their playful antics and would spend most of their time either tackling each other or pestering their mother for some milk!
Makamesa the male with the drooping bottom lip made a brief appearance at the beginning of the week. He was found on the southern end of McKenzie airstrip, one of his favourite hunting grounds. He used an old fallen tree to get an elevated advantage in search of prey.
Makamesa the male with the drooping bottom lip made a brief appearance at the beginning of the week. He was found on the southern end of McKenzie airstrip, one of his favourite hunting grounds. He used an old fallen tree to get an elevated advantage in search of prey.
The wild dogs are denning in the western sector near McKenzie Camp. They returned at the beginning of the week and headed straight for the large termite mounds they had been investigated a few weeks before. Only 6 individuals were visible suggesting that one of the pregnant females had entered the den. Later that day a female was seen carrying a newborn pup. A second female is also pregnant and is about to have her litter. This is not normal behaviour and might be due to the pack trying to increase their numbers.
The wild dogs are denning in the western sector near McKenzie Camp. They returned at the beginning of the week and headed straight for the large termite mounds they had been investigated a few weeks before. Only 6 individuals were visible suggesting that one of the pregnant females had entered the den. Later that day a female was seen carrying a newborn pup. A second female is also pregnant and is about to have her litter. This is not normal behaviour and might be due to the pack trying to increase their numbers.
Large herds of elephants have been seen in the area. A few young males have been trying to show the adults that they are as stuff as their parents. A herd of males were swimming in Dam 5. It was fantastic to watch them as the light faded.
We were treated to a special nocturnal sighting, of a young African Civet. It was quite relaxed and unfazed with the light or vehicles.
The large herd of buffalo have been seen in close proximity to the lodge. They have enjoyed the late rains with an abundance of new grass plants still growing.
The migratory species of birds have mostly left. A few remaining Woodland Kingfishers can still be seen. We have had some rare sightings of Red-billed Teals at George’s dam. African Black Ducks have also been sighted here.
Three dwarf mongooses were soaking up the morning sun on an old fallen tree.
The general game has once again been good. An inquisitive Nyala bull was fascinated with our vehicle.
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