Weekly Big 5 Sightings 25 – 31 December 2023

Nhenhe, the young male leopard, photo by Nicholas Greeff

Monday, 25 December 2023

(28°C 15 mm Rain)

  • Nkuhuma pride of lions consisting of five lioness stationary on Wetpatch Open Area.
  • Makhomsava, the female leopard stationary on Airport Link.
  • Xidulu, the female leopard stationary on top of a termite mound east of Shidula Road.
  • Talamati Breakaway pride of lions consisting of three sub adults hunting zebra at Boundary Pan.

Tuesday, 26 December 2023

(23°C 57 mm Rain)

  • Tortoise Pan, the male leopard stationary on Guarri Central East of the Elephant Plains Driveway.
  • One African elephant bull on Sawmill junction Elephant Carcass.
  • One Talamati breakaway sub adult lion feeding on a zebra kill with one of the Talamati male lions on Bushcamp West.

Wednesday, 27 December 2023

(20°C 11mm Rain)

  • One Talamati male lion feeding on a zebra kill on Bushcamp West.
  • One African elephant bull feeding on the Othawa Boundary.
  • Tiyani, the female leopard hunting dwarf mongoose on Horseshoe West.

Kambula male lion, phot by Nicholas Greeff

Thursday, 28 December 2023

(24°C 1 mm Rain)

  • Breeding herd of eighteen African elephants feeding north along KBR.
  • Tiyani, the female leopard stalking impala at Rulani Open.
  • Xidulu, the female leopard and Nhene, the male leopard stationary on Shidula Road.
  • Talamati Breakaway pride of lions consisting of two sub adult male lions stationary north of the Elephant Plains Simbambili Cutline.
  • Elephant Plains spotted hyena den active with one adult and six pups.

Friday, 29 December 2023

(25°C)

  • One Nkuhuma lioness stationary at The Rocks.
  • One Talamati male lion feeding of a blue wildebeest kill at Sawmill junction Drongo North.
  • One African elephant bull mobile east from the northern side of the Elephant Plains Airstrip.
  • Elephant Plains spotted hyena den active with one adult and six pups.
  • Talamati Breakaway sub adult lioness found deceased with a spotted hyena feeding on her carcass east of Bushcamp West.
  • One Kambula male lion and one Nkuhuma lioness stationary on a blue wildebeest kill on Sawmill north of Drongo North.
  • Tiyani, the female leopard stationary on a termite mound northern side of Elephant Plains Airstrip.
  • A breeding herd of twenty-five African elephants feeding on the northern side of Elephant Plains Airstrip.

Saturday, 30 December 2023

(30°C 1mm Rain)

  • Nkuhuma pride of lions consisting of two lioness stationary on Arathusa Main Road east of Big Dam Link South.
  • A breeding herd of twenty African elephants feeding at Sherley’s Crossing.
  • Tiyani, the female leopard mobile east from Arathusa Main Road towards the Manyaleti river.
  • The spotted hyena den of Elephant Plains was active with four adults and six pups.
  • Timbavati, the male leopard mobile north from Jacana Dam.
  • A pack of four African wild dog’s mobile east from Arathusa Safari Airstrip.
  • The Kruger male lion and four Torchwood lioness mobile north on the western Manyaleti Boundary junction Buffelshoek East West Cutline.

Tortoise Pan, the male leopard, photo by Nicholas Greeff

Sunday, 31 December 2023

(27°C)

  • The Nkuhuma pride of lions consisting of seven lioness and one sub adult male stationary on MalaMala a Main Road south of Arathusa Safari Driveway.
  • One Tumbela male lion stationary on a termite mound on the Londolozi boundary east of Big Dam Link South.
  • A breeding herd of twenty African elephants mud bathing at Serengeti Open Area.

Weekly Big Five Sightings 18 – 24 December 2023

Monday, 18 December 2023

(35°C)

  • Makhomsava, the female leopard and her older cub on an impala lamb kill south of Arathusa Safari Lodge Driveway.
  • A pack of eleven African wild dog’s mobile east from Five Way Junction.
  • Two Mantimahle male lion’s stationary on Champayne Clearing.
  • A breeding herd of two hundred cape buffalo mobile east from Umbrella Tree North.
  • Mzemba, male leopard drinking water at Hardekool Access junction Long Pole West.
  • Talamati Breakaway pride of lions consisting of one lioness and two young males’ stationary north of the Buffelshoek Gowrie Cutline.
  • Unknown male leopard stationary north of Big Dam on the Manyaleti Boundary.
  • One African elephant bull feeding on Francolin Road close to the Buffelshoek Airstrip.

Tuesday, 19 December 2023

(28°C)

  • Laluka, the female leopard stalking impala on Sawmill Road.
  • Tiyani, the female leopard in a marula tree on the Elephant Plains Shirley’s Cutline.
  • Breeding herd of one hundred and fifty cape buffalo mobile south from Second Right.
  • One Kambula male lion and one Nkuhuma lioness stationary at Sherley’s Open.
  • Nkuhuma pride of lions consisting of four lioness stationary on Arathusa Main Road north of Serengeti Open.
  • Xidulu, the female leopard and her twelve-month-old male cub stationary at Simbambili Dam.

Wednesday, 20 December 2023

(32°C)

  • Makhomsava, the female leopard and her older cub mobile west from Big Dam.
  • Two Black Dam male lion’s stationary on Seepline West.
  • Two young African elephant bulls swimming in Big Dam.
  • Imbali pack of African wild dog’s stationary at Kaaitjie Pierang Pan.
  • Tiyani, the female leopard mobile east from Elephant Plains Driveway.

Thursday, 21 December 2023

(35°C)

  • Breeding herd of twenty-three African elephant feeding at Old Bush Camp.
  • A pack of eleven African wild dog’s mobile east from Arathusa Safari Dam inflow.
  • Tortoise Pan, the male leopard chased Tiyani, the female leopard into a tree on Elephant Plains Open Area.

Friday, 22 December 2023

(33°C 3mm Rain)

  • Two Black Dam male lion’s stationary on Arathusa Main Road junction Grass Cut.
  • The Kambula breakaways consisting of four male and one lioness stationary on Djuma Old Entrance Nkorho.
  • Laluka, the female leopard stationary east of Kraaines Pan.
  • Breeding herd of eight African elephants drinking water at Buff Pan.
  • Breeding herd of approximately two hundred and fifty Cape buffalo drinking at Sussens Dam

Saturday, 23 December 2023

(36°C)

  • Maribye, the male leopard with an impala lamb kill in a tree at Lilly Pond.
  • Breeding herd of approximately two hundred and fifty Cape buffalo stationary east of Khaya Manzi Dam.
  • Three African elephant bull’s stationary feeding south of Squirrels View Road.
  • Laluka, the female leopard resting in a tree at Kraaines Pan.
  • Tiyani, the female leopard in a tree finishing off a grey duiker kill at Shirley’s Crossing.
  • Makhomsava, the female leopard stationary at Landcruiser Crossing.
  • Tortoise Pan, the male leopard mobile north along Madash North.
  • The Nkuhuma pride of lions consisting of four individuals’ mobile north along Zebra Drive.
  • One African elephant bull feeding on the northern side of Elephant Plains Airstrip.

Sunday, 24 December 2023

(33°C)

  • The Nkuhuma pride of lions consisting of five individuals’ stationary north of Leeukuil Pan.
  • Breeding herd of approximately two hundred and fifty Cape buffalo stationary on Sawmill junction Drongo North.
  • One African elephant bull feeding on the northern side of Elephant Plains Airstrip.
  • Xidulu, the female leopard and her twelve-month-old male cum mobile north along Madash North.

Weekly Big Five Sightings 11 – 17 December 2023

African wild dogs, by Jordan Nell

Monday, 11 December 2023

(22°C 18 mm rain)

  • The Talamati break aways consisting of one adult female and three sub-adults, feeding on an impala ram at PU corner.
  • The two Black dam male lions with five Nkuhuma lioness, feeding on a young giraffe at Ngala open.
  • Tiyani the female leopard, mobile West from Rhino Ring west.
  • The four Kambula male lions, static at the junction of Rhino Pan Road with Nyati road.

Tuesday, 12 December 2023

(26°C)

  • A breeding herd of approximately two hundred cape buffalo, mobile West from Our Fathers crossing.
  • The four Kambula male lions with one Kambula young female, sleeping on Elephant Plains airstrip.
  • A pack of twelve wild dogs, mobile East along Elephant Plains driveway.
  • The unfortunate event of witnessing two Nkuhuma lionesses killing Tiyani, the female leopard’s four-month-old cub. (the sighting was immediately closed as guides were unaware of lion’s present)
  • Makhomsava, the female leopard mobile north east from Central Road.
  • Two Black Dam male lions mobile east along Second Windmill Road.
  • One African elephant bull drinking water at Elephant Plains Open Area.

Wednesday, 13 December 2023

(34°C)

  • Elephant Plains spotted hyena den active with three adults and six pups.
  • Breeding herd of approximately twenty African elephants mobile east along Arathusa Main Road.
  • Kambula pride of lions consisting of four males and one female stationary on the southern side of Arathusa Safari Airstrip.
  • Makhomsava, the female leopard stationary on a fallen over tree along Arathusa Main Road.
  • Tortoise Pan, the male leopard stationary on a termite mound on the Londolozi Boundary.
  • Laluka, the female leopard mobile north from African Hawk Eagle Road.
  • Nkuhuma pride of lions consisting of eight lioness feeding on a waterbuck kill east of Big Dam Link South.

Tiyani, the female leopard by Jordan Nell

Thursday, 14 December 2023

(32°C)

  • Nkuhuma pride of lions consisting of ten lioness and one Black Dam male lion stationary on Kudu Drift junction Seepline West.
  • A breeding herd of approximately five hundred Cape buffalo mobile north on the Othawa Boundary.
  • Xidulu, the female leopard and her 11 month old male cub having a social interaction with Tortoise Pan, the male leopard on Shinzele Road.

Friday, 15 December 2023

(30°C)

  • Tiyani, the female leopard mobile north along Madash.
  • A breeding herd of approximately two hundred and fifty Cape buffalo drinking water at Arathusa Safari Lodge Dam.
  • One Black Dam male lion stationary on First Windmill Road.
  • A breeding herd of eight African elephants feeding along Horseshoe East.

Saturday, 16 December 2023

(27°C 22mm rain)

  • Elephant Plains spotted hyena den active with one adults and four pups.
  • Xidulu, the female leopard and her 11 month old male cub mobile north from Arathusa Simbambili Cutline.
  • One Kambula male lion stationary at Arathusa Safari Dam.

Laluka, the female leopard, by Jordan Nell

Sunday, 17 December 2023

(31°C)

  • One African elephant bull feeding on the Torchwood Buffelshoek Boundary.
  • One Unidentified male lion mobile east from Baobab Dam.

Weekly Big Five Sightings 4 – 10 December 2023

Tiyani Photo by Nicholas Greeff

Monday, 4 December 2023

(37°C)

  • Tiyani, the female leopard and her sixteen week old male cub with Tortoise Pan, the male leopard south of the Elephant Plains Manyaleti Crossing.
  • A breeding herd of twenty African elephants stationary feeding at Kimbeon’s Crossing.

Tuesday, 5 December 2023

(34°C)

  • The EP spotted hyena den was active with four adults and six pups.
  • Xinzele’s 15-month-old female leopard cub was stationary at Serengeti Dam.
  • Tiyani, the female leopard was mobile east from Guarri Central.
  • A breeding herd of approximately thirty African elephants around Baobab Dam.
  • The Imbali pride of lions consisting of three lioness and one male were stationary at Baobab Dam
  • Xidulu’s eleven-month-old male leopard cub was stationary east of Second Windmill.

Wednesday, 6 December 2023

(25°C)

  • Makhomsava, the female leopard feeding on an impala lamb kill east of Arathusa Safari Airstrip.
  • Three Nkuhuma lioness, stationary on the Arathusa Safari Airstrip.
  • Tortoise Pan the male leopard, mobile North from Serengeti open area.
  • A breeding herd of about sixty elephants, drinking from Serengeti pan.
  • Xinzele the female leopard, static at the quarry junction with A-main/ Kudu drift.
  • Three of the Nkuhuma female lioness, mobi9le south into Londolozi from Leopard drift.

Black and White giraffe calf Photo by Nicholas Greeff

Thursday, 7 December 2023

(25°C 2mm rain)

  • The Talamati break aways consisting of one adult female and three sub adult lions, mobile North from Elephant plains open area.
  • Xidulu’s eleven-month-old male cub, static East of Simba dam.
  • Makhomsava the female leopard, mobile North from Central Road.
  • Xidulu the female leopard, resting on a termite mound just of Ngala road.

Friday, 8 December 2023

(37°C 5mm rain)

  • Tiyani, the female leopard and her three month old male cub playing in the Manyaleti river off of Mabuza Road.
  • Xitsalala, the male leopard stationary at Rhino Pan.
  • The EP spotted hyena den was active with two adults and four pups.

Saturday, 9 December 2023

(35°C  6mm rain)

  • The Kambula pride of lions consisting of four males and one female stationary on Marula Bult West.
  • Tiyani, the female leopard and her three month old male cub stationary at Gaby’s Crossing.
  • Two Nkuhuma lioness drinking water at Leeukuil Pan.

Xinzele’s cub Photo by Nicholas Greeff

Sunday, 10 December 2023

(23°C)

  • The Kambula pride consisting of four males stationary on the northern side of Elephant Plains Airstrip.
  • Xidulu, the female leopard and her eleven month old male cub at Road Seven mud wallows.

Big Five Sightings 27/11/23 – 03/12/23

Monday, 27 November 2023

(36°C)

  • A pack of fourteen African wild dogs, attempting to hunt blue wildebeest calves on Elephant Plains airstrip.
  • Tiyani, the female leopard and her 16-week-old cub, feeding on an impala lamb kill at Sherley’s Crossing.
  • A pack of sixteen African wild dogs, static on Kaya Manzi dam wall.
  • Tortoise Pan, the male leopard and Langa the female leopard mating East of Pungwe Pan.
  • A breeding herd of about 20 African elephants feeding along Elephant Plains driveway.

Tuesday, 28 November 2023

(38°C)

  • A pack of six African wild dogs resting on Arathusa Safari Airstrip.
  • Makhomsava, the female leopard and her 16-month-old female cub feeding on an impala lamb kill along Arathusa Safari Lodge driveway.
  • A breeding herd of about twenty African elephants drinking water in the Manyaleti riverbed at Our Fathers Crossing.

Wednesday, 29 November 2023

(37°C 12 mm rain)

  • Tiyani, the female leopard stalking impala at Horseshoe Open Area.
  • Xidulu, the female leopard feeding on an impala lamb in a marula tree at Mehluane Open Area.

 

Thursday, 30 November 2023

(26°C)

  • Xinzele’s 15-month-old female leopard cub resting on a fallen over tree between Milkberry and Londolozi boundary.
  • Xidulu, the female leopard and her cub were east of Mehluane Open Area with two impala lamb kills.
  • A breeding herd of about five hundred Cape buffalo stationary on Cheetah Cutline.
  • Two unknown young male lions mobile towards Sussens Dam.
  • An African elephant bull mobile east towards Simbambili Dam.

Friday, 1 December 2023

(30°C)

  • A breeding herd of about five hundred Cape buffalo resting on Cheetah Cutline.
  • Xidulu, the female leopard and her 10-month-old male cub finishing off the remains of their impala lamb kill.
  • Tortoise Pan, the male leopard on a territorial patrol along Zoe’s Road.
  • Langa, the female leopard resting on Zoe’s Road.
  • A breeding herd of about five hundred Cape buffalo crossing Gowrie Main near Little Gowrie Driveway.

Saturday, 2 December 2023

(33°C)

  • One Northen Avoca male lion and his four Nkuhuma sons sleeping on Free State Clearing.
  • Red-Hawk, the male leopard walking in the drainage line behind Jacana Dam.
  • Xidulu, the female leopard and her 10-month-old male cub feeding on an impala ram near Pommies Pan.

Sunday, 3 December 2023

(32°C)

  • Tiyani, the female leopard and her 16-week-old male cub playing in the riverbed at Kimbeon’s Crossing.
  • EP  spotted hyena den active with four adult females and six pups.

 

Big Five Sightings 20-26

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, 20 November 2023

(39°C)

  • A pack of seventeen wild dogs, mobile East along Simbambili fire break.
  • Tortoise pan the male leopard, mobile south from Rhulani open.
  • A breeding herd of twenty elephants, mobile South from big dam.
  • Xidulu the female leopard with her ten-month-old male cub, feeding on a baby impala on Safari donga North.

Tuesday, 21 November 2023

(32°C)

  • The northern Avoca male lion with four young Nkuhuma males and one female, sleeping on Buffelshoek cutline east of Mvubu road.
  • The Nkuhuma pride consisting of eight females, mobile North along Kudu drift.
  • Xidulu the female leopard with her ten-month-old male cub, feeding on a baby impala on Safari donga North.
  • A breeding herd of twelve elephants, drinking at lieu Kuil.

Wednesday, 22 November 2023

(41°C)

  • Xidulu the female leopard, mobile East on Vuyatela access road.
  • Xidulu’s ten moth old male cub, sleeping in a Tamboti thicket on Safari donga north.
  • Laluka the fame leopard, resting on a brown ivory tree North of hyena den road.
  • The hyena den was active with, one adult and six pups.

 

 

 

 

Thursday, 23 November 2023

(42°C)

  • Tiyani the female leopard and her three months old cub, resting in a jackal berry tree in the Manyeleti river North of EP/Manyeleti crossing.
  • The Talamati breakaway pride consisting of one adult female, one sub-adult and two young males sleeping at Simba dam.
  • Kangela the young male leopard, on Marula bolt central mobile towards Madash.
  • Tortoise pan the male leopard, mobile from Rhino pan to Nyati Bamba road.
  • Makhomsava the female leopard, resting at Land cruiser crossing.
  • A breeding of twenty elephants, feeding around Pomeis pan

Friday, 24 November 2023

(37°C)

  • Kangela the young male leopard, mobile South from Puffadder junction with Star-chestnut.
  • A breeding herd of thirty elephants, feeding and swimming at Rampan.
  • Red hawk the male leopard, walking along Arathusa Safari airstrip.

Saturday, 25 November 2023

(39°C)

  • Laluka the female leopard, up in a marula tree with an impala lamb kill just North of Rhino Pan.
  • Herd of 20 elephants, drinking from Leeukuil.
  • Pack of 6 African wild dogs, resting on the Buffelshoek/Gowrie Cutline.
  • Talamati Break-Away pride, drinking from Baobab Dam.
  • Herd of 600 cape buffalo, mobile south from Nsinga Drive.
  • Pack of 6 African wild dogs, feeding on a baby impala just North of Nsinga Camp.

Hyena cub playing with a bone

Sunday, 26 November 2023

(36°C)

  • Tiyani the female leopard and her 3-month-old cub, mobile from Leeukuil towards Elephant Plains Game Lodge.
  • Laluka the female leopard, hunting impala on Enkiso.
  • Herd of 25 elephants mud, bathing at Bush Camp Pan.

 

Pin It on Pinterest