Highlights of the week

October 10th. 3 lion sightings: The 2 Charleston males were viewed in the south. 1 Matshapiri male was mating with the youngest Eyrefield lioness near our Airstrip. The other Matshapiri male was at West Street Crossing. 6 leopards: The West Street male was mating with a No ID female (Teardrop) in the the south and they also had an impala kill. The Kililezi female and both her cubs were just west of Main Camp. A No ID male was viewed in the north.

October 9th. 3 lion sightings: The 2 Charleston males are on a buffalo kill in the south. 2 lionesses from the Eyrefield pride, their 4 cubs and one Matshapiri male were viewed in central Flockfield. The other Matshapiri male and the youngest Eyrefield lioness are mating in the Sand River just north of Rattray’s Camp. 9 leopards: The Treehouse male was seen in the Sand River opposite Rattray’s Camp. An unidentified female has a bushbuck kill right next to Khaya 8 at Rattray’s Camp. The West Street male and the ‘Teardrop’ female were seen in the south. The Kikilezi female and both of her cubs were viewed on the southern bank of the Sand River a couple hundred meters west of Main Camp- the Piccadilly female is on the opposite bank with a kill. The Island female was viewed just south of Main Camp. Cape hunting dogs: the pack of 3 was found in the northeast. Many elephants and buffalo sightings were also recorded.

October 7th. 2 lion sightings: 2 lionesses from the Eyrefield pride, their 4 cubs and one Matshapiri male spent the day near Buffalo Pans- they treated our guests to a reverberating symphony of roars this evening. The other Matshapiri male and the youngest Eyrefield lioness are mating in the Sand River just north of Rattray’s Camp. 7 leopards: the Kikilezi female and both of her cubs were viewed on the southern bank of the Sand River a couple hundred meters west of Main Camp- the Piccadilly female is on the opposite bank with a kill. The Bicycle Crossing male was seen hunting at Charleston North. An unidentified female with a 2:2 spot pattern was found in eastern Flockfield. Another unidentified female was seen in front of Rattray’s Camp- she was initially spotted when we saw a bushbuck running in front of camp- the bushbuck was being chased by the leopard and the leopard was being chased by about 20 baboons! We also enjoyed a special sighting of a honey badger with her young offspring. Many elephants and buffalo sightings were also recorded.

October 6th. 3 lion sightings: The Eyrefield pride were found close to Drum Crossing after having abandoned their double buffalo bull kills from yesterday- later in the evening we witnessed some amazing interspersed interactions when the pride met a honey badger and then they chased a leopard up a tree. Upon following up on those carcasses we discovered the 2 Matshapiri males taking full advantage of the bonanza- 95% of the bull’s carcass was still intact. It wasn’t long afterwards before more lions approached from the east- the Fourways pride. After a brief meet and greet they to began to feast. 5 members of the Marthly pride spent most of the day in front of Main Camp. 9 leopards: the aforementioned leopard is still unidentified. The Treehouse male is mating with a female a No ID female (Nkoveni) close to our airstrip. The Island female was seen not too far away from the mating pair. The Kikilezi female and her 2 cubs were viewed with the Piccadilly female in Marthly. The West Street male was on the Charleston Flockfield boundary. 2 herds of buffalo and many elephants sightings were recorded today as well as a second honey badger sighting and a serval.

October 5th. 2 lion sightings: The Eyrefield pride were found today with 2 buffalo kills in the central parts of our reserve. 5 members on a Marthly pride were still feeding off their buffalo kill from yesterday along the Mlowathi River. 6 leopards: the Treehouse male was mating with an unidentified female from the west- the Island female then arrived and a fight ensued- the Island female came out tops and then she started to mate with the male. The Piccadilly female was viewed close to Main Camp. The Emsagweni female was near Matshapiri Open Area. An unidentified female (possibly the daughter of the Matshapiri female) was seen in the Hogvaal Donga. Cheetah: 2 males were viewed in the north. Many elephants and buffalo sightings were also recorded today.