Highlights of the week

June 13th. 2 lion sightings: we watched the Eyrefield pride kill a warthog on the eastern bank of the Sand River south of Rattray’s Camp. The Fourways pride and 2 Matshapiri males provided us with very playful entertainment in eastern Flockfield. 3 leopards: the Emsagweni female and 1 cub are on an imapala kill west of Matshapiri Open Area. The Bicycle Crossing male was south of Charleston North. Cape hunting dogs: our resident pack of 3 was viewed east of West Street Bridge. Sable antelope: amazing news as we viewed our 4th different herd of sable this season! A herd of 15 with one very small calf. A lone bull was viewed separately. A large herd of buffalo drank at Charleston North. Many elephant sightings were enjoyed.

June 12th. Lions: the 2 Matshapiri males were close to Rattray’s Camp. Leopards: an unidentified female was viewed in front of Main Camp. A herd of buffalo was viewed in Marthly. Many elephant sightings were recorded.

June 11th. 2 lion sightings: the Eyrefield pride killed a buffalo near West Street- a fascinating story which will be covered in a blog shortly. The 2 Clarendon males were viewed in Marthly. 4 leopards: the Emsagweni female and 1 cub are still feeding off the little remains of their imapal kill. The Treehouse male was in front of Rattray’s Camp. A whopping 5 herds of buffalo were viewed as well as countless elephant sightings. Leopards: the Treehouse male was opposite Main Camp feeding of the Kikilezi females bushbuck kill- the Kikilezi female and her 2 cubs were viewed about 100m away. An unidentified male was viewed in the Tslebe Rocks Donga and an unidentified female was viewed at Gowrie Boom. Cape hunting dogs: 4 cape hunting dogs were viewed in front of Main Camp. There were many buffalo bull and elephant sightings.

June 10th. Lions: the Eyrefield pride and 2 Matshapiri males were at Confluence Crossing. Leopards: the Kikilezi female and her 2 cubs were opposite Main Camp with a bushbuck kill. Cheetah: the 2 brothers were at Clarendon Dam. A herd of buffalo was viewed at Mlowathi Dam and there were many elephant sightings.

June 9th. 3 lion sightings: 2 Styx lionesses and 5 cubs are on a buffalo kill along the Nwananontshameni Donga. The Eyrefield pride and 1 Matshapiri male are south of West Street Bridge. The youngest Eyrefield lioness and the other Matshapiri male are still mating. Leopards: the Kikilezi female and 1 cub are on an impala kill opposite Main Camp. Cheetah: 2 males were viewed at Clarendon Dam. 3 herds of buffalo were seen as well as many elephant herds.

June 8th. 2 lion sightings: 1 of the Matshapiri males is mating with the youngest lioness from the Eyrefield pride south of West Street Bridge. The other Matshapiri male is at Styx Rocks. 2 leopards: the Bicycle Crossing male and the Lookout female were seen separately but both on the eastern bank of the Sand River opposite Rattray’s Camp. Sable antelope: our amazing sightings of one of the rarest antelopes continues as a new herd of 8 was viewed at Paddy’s Pools. A herd of buffalo was seen in central Flockfield and many elephant sightings were recorded.

June 6th. 2 lion sightings: the 3 Styx lionesses, 5 cubs and 1 Gowrie male were viewed in the north. The Eyrefield pride and 2 Matshapiri males were still feeding off their buffalo kills in the Sand River north of Rattray’s Camp. 5 leopards: the Kikilezi female and her 2 cubs were in the lower reaches of the Mlowathi River. The Treehouse male and the Tamboti female were in close proximity to each other south of Rattray’s Camp. Cheetah: 1 male was on our Airstrip. A herd of buffalo and many elephant herds were recorded.