Highlights of the week
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April 15th.
3 lion sightings: the blonde Matshapiri male was just north of Rattray’s Camp. 5 members of the Marthy pride are in Piccadilly Triangle and all are well fed. A single male and a very skittish female were seen at Clarendon Dam. 3 leopard sightings: the Kikilezi female killed a banded mongoose- we can confirm now that she is injury free after her fight with the Island female. The Tamboti female was south of Main Camp. An unidentified female was seen along the northern parts of our boundary with the Kruger National Park. A couple herds of elephants were seen as well.
April 14th. 6 lion sightings: 5 members from the Marthly pride are back from their trip into the Kruger National Park. 2 Eyrefield lionesses and 4 cubs were at Buffalo Pans. The Matshapiri male with the mohawk is still mating with the youngest Eyrefield lioness. The other Matshapiri male was viewed a few kilometers east of them. The 2 Fourways lionesses were in eastern Flockfield. The Sand River pride were south of Charleston Rock. 5 leopards: the Treehouse male was being chased around by elephants in front of Main Camp. The Island female had finished off the kill that she stole from the Kikilezi female. The Accipter male was at Emsagwen waterhole. An unidentified female was seen briefly in the north. The Bicycle Crossing male is feeding off a hippo fetus which he treed south of Charleston North. Many elephant and buffalo bull sightings.
April 13th. 2 lion sightings: the lighter maned Matshapiri male was mating with the youngest Eyrefield lioness on Northern Side Kapen. The other Matshapiri male was with the rest of the Eyrefield pride at Styx Waterhole- later in the evening they all joined up and the darker maned Matshapiri male took over the mating role with the youngest lioness. 5 leopards: the Kikilezi female was found with an impala kill south of Sand Pit Crossing- the Island female approached the area and the two females were at each other’s throats! The Kikilezi female darted up a tree with the younger leopard in hot pursuit- they fought and the Kikilezi female was knocked out of the tree landing awkwardly on her side from a great height. The Island female was definitely the more dominant. The Emsagweni female and her two cubs were viewed at their den. Many elephant and buffalo bull sightings.
April 12th. 2 lion sightings: the Sand River pride and the 2 Toulon males were found with a young hippo kill in Charleston. 1 of the Matshapiri males is still mating with the youngest Eyrefield lioness. 4 leopards: the Emsagweni female and her 2 cubs were at their den in the Matshapiri River. An unidentified female was viewed in the south. Cheetah: the 2 brothers were viewed at Clarendon Open Area. Many elephant and buffalo bull sightings. We also had quality sightings of a honey badger with a large puff adder kill as well as a very relaxed serval.
April 11th. 2 lion sightings: 1 Matshapiri male, the 2 Eyrefield lionesses and their 4 cubs were at Confluence Crossing. The other Matshapiri is mating with the youngest Eyrefield lioness. 8 leopards: the Emsagweni female and her 2 cubs were at their den. The Accipiter male was at West Street Bridge. The Island female was close to Main Camp. 2 unidentified leopards were seen close to Rattray’s Camp. An unidentified female was viewed in Marthly. Cheetah: the 2 brothers were at Clarendon Open Area. Many elephants and buffalo were viewed today.
April 10th. 3 lion sightings: the 2 Matshapiri males are with the Eyrefield lionesses and their 4 cubs at Styx Rocks. 1 Gowrie male was viewed on Tslebe Rocks Road. Unidentified lions were seen in the south. 9 leopards: the Accipiter male was in the central parts of MalaMala. The Bicycle Crossing male was found in Charleston. The Airstrip male, Kikilezi female and DOKF 3:3 were all in the same sighting opposite Main Camp. The Island female was just south of Main Camp. The Emsagweni female and her cubs were at their den. Cheetah: the 2 brothers were in the north. Many elephant and buffalo bull sightings.
April 9th. Yet another MalaMala 7 day! 3 lion sightings: the 2 Toulon males were seen in hot pursuit of a younger male lion down in the south- presumably 1 of the Charleston males. 3 Gowrie males were found on Tslebe Rocks road and a 4th Gowrie male was at Campbell Koppies. 5 leopards: the Emsagweni female and her 2 cubs were at their den. The Island female was just south of Main Camp and an unidentified female was seen near Mlowathi Koppies. Cheetah: the 2 brothers were viewed at Wild Dog Rocks Open Area. Cape hunting dogs: a pack was viewed near Mlowathi Koppies. Many elephant herds were seen as well as a scattered buffalo sightings.