Big Five Sightings 8th-15th January

 

Monday 8th January 2024

(33°C)

  • Laluka the female leopard, sleeping in a marula tree on Madash-North of EP Shirleys cutline.
  • Tortoise Pan the male leopard, mobile East on Road 7.
  • The Nkuhuma pride consisting of ten lionesses, static at the junction of Magic Willie and Ellie Ally.
  • The four Kambula male lions and one Kambula lioness, finishing off a wildebeest calf kill on EP open area.

 

Tuesday 9th January 2024

(33°C)

  • Nhenhe the young male leopard, static at 2nd
  • The four Kambula male lions and one Kambula lioness, mobile East from EP open area.
  • Xidulu the female leopard, static in a Marula tree on Makhulu open.
  • One Elephant bull, mobile East from Ngala open.

 

Wednesday 10th January 2024

(35°C)

  • Nhenhe the young male leopard, static on the Western side of 2nd Windmill Dam.
  • One Elephant bull, static feeding on Marula Bult West.
  • The two Plains Camp male lions, mobile from Sawmill towards EP Airstrip.
  • Tiyani the female leopard, feeding on a grey duiker kill north of EP Deliveries Road.
  • Two elephant bulls, drinking water from Rampan.
  • One lone buffalo bull, resting on mamba road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday 11th January 2024

(36°C)

  • One lone buffalo bull, static at Serengeti Pan.
  • Tiyani the female leopard, feeding on a grey duiker kill north of EP Deliveries Road.
  • The two Ndzhenga male lions, mobile East along Londolozi boundary.
  • One elephant bull, feeding on Marulas on the Northern side of Elephant Plains air strip.
  • The Talamati break away pride consisting of one adult lioness and two sub adult lions, sleeping at Simba dam.

 

Friday, 12 January 2024

(30°C)

  • A breeding herd of about twenty elephants, feeding at Poachers Corner.
  • A female cheetah, static East of Nkhoro Lodge.
  • A breeding herd of about two hundred buffalo, mobile East from Twin Dams.
  • The Nkuhuma pride consisting of nine lioness, feeding on a buffalo at Knob Thorn open.

 

Saturday, 13 January 2024

(33°C)

  • One elephant bull, mobile South along Maddash.
  • The EP hyena den active with, one adult and six cubs.
  • The Nkuhuma pride consisting of nine lioness, feeding on a buffalo at Knob Thorn open.
  • A breeding herd of five buffalo, drinking at Pungwe crossing.
  • Makhomsava the female leopard, sleeping in a marula tree on Madash North junction with Wet patch.

Sunday, 14 January 2024

(30°C)

  • The Nkuhuma pride consisting of ten lions, static in Safari Donga North.
  • Two elephant bulls, drinking water from Buff Pan.
  • The EP hyena den active with two adults and three pups.

 

 

 

Big Five Sightings 01-07 January 2024

 

Monday, 1 January 2024

(29°C)

  • Langa, the female leopard mobile east across MalaMala Main Road.
  • Elephant Plains spotted hyena den was active with two adults and six pups.
  • One Kambula male lion mobile west along Arathusa Main Road towards Big Dam Link South.
  • Breeding herd of eighteen African elephants feeding along Rhino Ring South.
  • Makhomsava, the female leopard stationary north of Sixteenth Crossing Road.
  • One spotted hyena feeding on a Cape buffalo carcass on the southern side of Arathusa Safari Airstrip.

Tuesday, 2 January 2024

(27°C)

  • Four African elephant bulls feeding in a westerly direction along Milkberry Cutline.
  • A pack of three African wild dogs’ stationary north of Khaya Manzi Dam.
  • Tortoise Pan, the male leopard mobile west from Elephant Plains Delivery Road.
  • Timbavati, the male leopard stationary west of Hunters Moon Lodge finishing off the remains of an African wild dog.

Wednesday, 3 January 2024

(31°C)

  • Tiyani, the female leopard mobile west on Elephant Plains Driveway towards the Airstrip.
  • One African elephant bull feeding along Shinzele Road.
  • Tortoise Pan, the male leopard stalking impala at Sandy Patch.
  • Nhenhe, the young male leopard stationary at Arathusa Safari Lodge Dam wall.

Thursday, 4 January 2024

(28°C)

  • Makhomsava, the female leopard with a grey duiker kill in a tree on Seepline East.
  • One African elephant bull mobile south into Londolozi from the Londolozi Boundary.
  • A pack of sixteen African wild dogs hunting impala on Mkombe Road.
  • Breeding herd of approximately one hundred Cape buffalo stationary on the Londolozi Boundary east of Big Dam Link South.
  • Tiyani, the female leopard in a marula tree at Gabey’s Open Area.
  • Talamati Breakaway pride of lions consisting of one lioness and two sub adult’s mobile east along the fence line from the Pungwe River Crossing.
  • Tortoise Pan, the male leopard with a scrub hare kill east of Mfezi Open Area.
  • A breeding herd of approximately thirty African elephant’s mobile west from Sherley’s Open.
  • A pack of sixteen African wild dog’s stationary on Grass Cut junction Arathusa Main Road.

Friday, 5 January 2024

(31°C)

  • Talamati Breakaway pride of lions consisting of one lioness and two sub adult’s stationary at Simbambili Dam.
  • Kambula pride of lions consisting of four males and one lioness drinking water at Arathusa Safari Lodge Dam.
  • A pack of sixteen African wild dogs finishing off a scrub hare kill west of Horseshoe Open Area.
  • One serval mobile south from Elephant Plains Sherley’s Cutline.
  • A breeding herd of fifteen African elephants drinking water at Bush Camp Pan.

Saturday, 6 January 2024

(33°C)

  • Kambula pride of lions consisting of four males and one lioness stationary on Drongo South.
  • Two African elephant bulls feeding on Bush Camp West.
  • One Cape buffalo wallowing north of Our Fathers Crossing.
  • Laluka, the female leopard mobile north from Arathusa Safari Airstrip.
  • Tiyani, the female leopard in a marula tree on Drongo South.
  • A breeding herd of twenty African elephants feeding around Five Way Junction.
  • A pack of sixteen African wild dog’s stationary at Ngala Open.

Sunday, 7 January 2024

(34°C)

  • Kambula pride of lions consisting of four males and one lioness stationary on the northern side of Elephant Plains Airstrip.
  • One African elephant bull mobile west on the Londolozi Boundary.
  • A breeding herd of approximately one hundred Cape buffalo stationary in the block north of Philimon’s Cutline.

 

 

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.

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