The week started off with a glorious sunrise over-looking Thulamanzi river system.
The lion sightings this week have been especially good. The mapogo brothers have been on their own for a few days. Skorro mapogo was found lying up at Tawny Eagle Pan. This particular male spent two days at the dam probably as a result of a full stomach. He has been quite vocal, roaring often from the dam.
The larger cubs were lying up on Main Road Dam 3 with two Ximungwe lionesses. These two male cubs are becoming quite adventurous, often trying to stalk the vehicle as a game.
Later in the week the three mapogo’s two Ximungwe lionesses and two cubs were resting on the wall at Cutline Dam. It seems that the Ximungwe pride is slowly getting back to normal as the mapogo who was killing the previous cubs has now accepted the new arrivals.
Elephant herds are plentiful as the moment. A herd of approximately sixty were observed between Tasselberry Dam and Savanna Big Clearing. A familiar herd is often seen close to the lodge. One can identify the individuals due to distinguishing features and marks.
A lone hippo bull has been spending quite some time at Tawny Eagle Pan.
The pack of wild dogs, were found close to Fourways. We followed the pack as they stalked a herd of impala.
We have been spending time at the wild dog den site on the Dam Six Road. The puppies are growing quickly and the demand for meat is increasing on a daily basis. The adults are hunting twice a day to support the eight new additions. The alpha female and the only surviving pup from last year are seen at the den site. These two protect the den site whilst the adults are hunting.
One of the adults brought back a duikers head to the den.
One of the dogs killed a steenbok on Little Serengeti to the north of Mackenzie cutline. The carcass was left as the single dog summonsed the rest of the pack. They returned to the carcass and it was finished quickly.
The white rhino sighting have been good during the last week. A female and her calf suckling. Large groups of red-billed oxpeckers are seen feeding on parasites found on these large herbivores.
Hlabankunzi killed a female impala and hoisted the carcass into a marula tree.
We returned to the carcass in the afternoon to find her feeding on the ground. Suddenly she grabbed the carcass and ascended the tree with incredible speed. A spotted hyena was lurking in the shadows in search of a free meal. With the carcass safe, the leopard rested peacefully in the tree.
Shinzele was discovered at Tree Tops. He was following the scent of another leopard. On the northern bank of the Sand River, Mashiabanche was spotted. The two leopards were watching one another. Shinzele tried to cross the river at Leopard Crossing to force Mashiabanche from his territory.
The general game sightings have been very good this week. The zebra and giraffes sighting have been good. A group of seven male zebras were seen at Cheetah Flats Pan. It is quite strange to see a group of males together. These males don’t yet have a harem of family group of their own.
Some great bird sightings this week! A saddle-billed stork at Cut-line Dam and a marabou stork at Mapiva Pan.
Buffalo herds have been seen throughout the week. The large herd was seen close to the camp at George’s dam. Many young calves have been born recently.
A large troop of baboons were walking down the dry Sand River bed.
The week finished off with some fantastic action. We were following the largest of the mapogo brothers near Ebony Dam after dark. Suddenly the large male lion charged and into the darkness and caught a fleeing male warthog.
After suffocating the unsuspecting warthog the male lion dragged the carcass to a suitable spot. He fed on the carcass without the competition of the coalition members.
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