July Week 3 & 4 Highlights

The past couple of weeks have produced excellent sightings.

 

The leopard sightings have been fantastic. The Balabas male has moved into the south western corner of the western sector. He has been seen regularly between Ximungwe Clearing and Swenga Dam.

Xinzele has been constantly moving along the Sand River.

On one occasion we followed him through some thick vegetation and came outon Makwela Clearing.

Xicavi and Xinzele were found close to hippo pools, where the pair were mating continuously.

 

It has been three weeks since Hlabankunzi was mating with the Kishane male. She has returned to the central western sector. She retreated from a termite mound and climbed a nearby marula tree for safety from the Mapogo brothers. 

 

 

From her elevated advantage she glared at the lions, who strangely, showed no interest. Probably due to the fact, that the leopard had no carcass on offer.

The Kishane male has been seen regularly, he has been spending a fair amount of time in the region of Dam five. He was surrounded by buffalo on one occasion, and didn’t seem fazed about the threat and comfortably continued resting on a termite mound.

Metsi and one of her male cubs were found on the western firebreak. The pair continued south towards Mackenzie Cutline. We often see her cubs on the firebreak. She leaves them her whilst away hunting.

A new female leopard has been seen recently. We were fortunate to see her resting in a marula tree. She was quite shy and descended the tree after some time.

The lions have been very successful in hunting with two separate buffalo kills.

 

The Mapogo males have been seen together on a regular basis, this is probably due to the fact that the neighbouring coalition has been encountered.

 

 

The Ximugwe pride, have been seen throughout the western sector with most sightings being central. 

 

The cubs are doing well. All three sets are growing quickly.

 

We tracked three of the lionesses to Windmill Mackenzie, as we approached the dam three lionesses and twocubs appeared on the dam wall. We were treated to a spectacle, as the adults chased and played with one another.

The Ottawa males have been seen away from the females. This is due to the fact that the new coalitions have been putting pressure on the Ottawa pride. We have not seen the young male from the same pride and we presume that he has been killed by the new coalition in the east.

Large herds of buffalo have been seen. A group of approximately 20 male buffalo are encountered on a frequent basis close to Savanna.

The rhino viewing has been special. The female with the broken horn is a very relaxed individual. Her young calf is almost 3 months old.

 

Two bulls were sixing each other up at Ingwe Pan. After a brief skirmish the pair went their own ways.

The elephant sightings are always a treat. A couple of young bulls were swimming in Cheetah Flats Pan. We really enjoyed the frolicking behaviour as the two bulls tussled with one another in the water.

Breeding herds are common at the moment and we have viewed them on a daily basis. 

 

 

 

A huge tusker from the Kruger National Park has appeared recently. He is definitely the largest we have seen in recent times. This old bull must be in the region of 55 years of age.

 

The hippo sightings are good at this time of the year. At Hippo Dam were regularly see the pod out of the water.

 

At Georges Dam a bull is often seen. He is quite energetic and displays his weaponry with large yawns. He will often end his yawning by rolling in the water. It is quite a sight.

A female and her new born calf have moved into Cutline Dam.

North of the Sand River a spotted hyaena den has been located. Two cubs are seen daily lying on the edge of a disused termite mound.

A young hyaena has been seen close to the camp. We think that is approximately 7 months old. It is quite relaxed as you approach it by vehicle.

 

The general game has been great with good viewing.

An interesting sighting was seeing an impala chewing on an old bone. This is due to a calcium deficiency.

The bird sighting are as usual fantastic. 

The wild dogs, are finally back after an absence of three weeks. The pack looks in good health with five of the eight puppies still alive. The mortality rate is high in these nomadic predators.

 

The African sunsets are magnificent at this time of the year.