Highlights of the week
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August 19th.
2 lion sightings: the 5 members of the Marthly pride were in the Manyelethi River east of Paraffin Drift. The 2 Matshapiri males were seen along Piccadilly Road. 7 leopards: the Kikilezi female and her 2 cubs are still feeding off their nyala kill near Paraffin Drift. The 2 seven month old female cubs were seen again at Clarendon- this is the third day in a row we’ve seen them alone. The Bicycle Crossing male was viewed at Confluence Crossing. The Teardrop female is still feeding off her duiker kill in central Charleston. Cape hunting dogs: the pack of 3 were viewed in the north. Many elephants were seen as well a herd of buffalo.
August 18th. We enjoyed a sprinkle of ‘MalaMala Magic’ with no fewer than 16 different leopards being viewed today! And we witnessed 3 kills! Leopards: The Treehouse male and the Tamboti female have an impala kill south of the causeway. The Island female was at Piccadilly Triangle. The Kikilezi female killed a nyala near paraffin drift- she was then joined by her 2 cubs as well as the DOKF 2:2. The DOKF 3:3 was seen at Elephant Rock. The 2 unidentified, 7 month old female cubs were seen at Clarendon again. The Calabash female and a No ID male have an impala kill south of Charleston North. The Bicycle Crossing male was also in that area but on the eastern bank of the Sand River. The Lookout female was opposite Rattray’s Camp. An unidentified female was seen in the north. Another unidentified female was viewed killing a duiker in central Charleston. 2 lion sightings: We watched the 5 members of the Marthly pride kill a buffalo in Marthly. The youngest Eyrefield lioness was viewed close to Rattray’s Camp. 2 herds of buffalo and many elephant sightings were also recorded today.
August 17th. 4 lion sightings: 1 Gowrie male and 1 Styx lioness are still feeding off their kudu kill from yesterday. 5 members of the Marthly pride were in the Sand River west of Main Camp. 6 lionesses of the Breakaway Marthly pride and 1 Clarendon male were in the Sand River in western Flockfield- way out of their territory. The youngest Eyrefield lioness was in front of Rattray’s Camp. 8 leopards: the Treehouse male and the Tamboti female are still mating. The Kikilezi female and her 2 cubs were viewed close to Main Camp. The Island female has an impala kill south of the Causeway. 2 unidentified leopard cubs were seen at Clarendon Open Area (approximately 7 months old). Many elephants were viewed as well as buffalo bulls.
August 16th. 5 lion sightings: 1 Gowrie male and 1 Styx lioness have an adult kudu kill east of the northern reaches of the Mlowathi River. The other 2 Styx lionesses were viewed a couple kilometers away and they chased the DOKF 2:2 leopard up a tree. 5 members of the Marthly pride killed a nyala near Stwise Koppie. The other 2 Marthly lionesses were at Matumi Rocks. The 2 Matshapiri males were along the northern reaches of the Kapen River- this is the furthest south we’ve ever seen this coalition. 5 leopards: the Treehouse male and the Tamboti female are mating next to our airstrip. The West Street male and the Teardrop female were seen together in the south. Elephant sightings were scattered across the property, as were buffalo bulls. And a honey badger!
August 15th. 3 lion sightings: 2 Gowrie males were with the 3 Styx lionesses in the north. The Eyrefield pride were at Kapen Rocks. 5 members of the Marthly pride were near Main Camp. 5 leopards: the Kikilezi female and her 2 cubs were viewed in Marthly. The Island female was just west of Main Camp. An unidentified leopard was seen in southern Flockfield. Cape hunting dogs: the pack of 22 was viewed in southwestern Charleston. Many elephant herds were seen as well as buffalo bulls.
August 14th. 2 lion sightings: the Fourways pride and both Matshapiri males were seen separately in eastern Flockfield. 4 leopards: the Treehouse male was south of West Street Bridge. The Kikilezi female and both her cubs were viewed close to Main Camp. Cape hunting dogs: the pack of 22 (12 adults and 10 pups) were seen in the south. Many elephant and buffalo bull sightings were also recorded.
August 13th. Lions: the lone Matshapiri lioness was found, after a long absence, in the Hogvaal Donga. 7 leopards: the Island female killed an impala just south of Main Camp only to have it stolen by hyenas. The Kikilezi and her 2 cubs were along the southern reaches of the Mlowathi River. The cub of the Lookout female was seen in northern Flockfield. The Bicycle Crossing male and the Tamboti female were both just north of Rattray’s Camp. 2 herds of buffalo were viewed as well as many elephant sightings.
August 12th. We’ll start off today’s update with the exciting news that the pack of 9 adult Cape hunting dogs and their 10 pups have moved into a temporary den in the south western parts of our property. Lions: the Fourways pride were viewed in Eastern Flockfield. 8 leopards: the cub of the Emsagweni female was seen at Matshapiri Open area. The Kikilezi female and her 2 cubs were viewed near Main Camp. The Bicycle Crossing male was seen in eastern Flockfield as well as 2 other unidentified leopards. The Accipter male was found along the Matshapiri River. Many elephant sightings were recorded as well as a herd of buffalo.