13 January to 19 January 2009

13 January to 19 January 2009

 

 

In the early part of the New Year the rain has completely transformed the bush leaving the vegetation high enough even to swallow the presence of the smaller game species. Elephant sighting have been plentiful and one morning we were privileged enough to see elephants swimming at a local pan.

 

With the good rains all the other associated species and noises have become more prevalent and on evening drives you can hear the different frogs calling often accompanied by the sound of the Mapogo male lions roaring. The Mapogo's were seen on our southern boundary roaring loudly as they advertised their presence on the property. They stayed in the area for 2 days after which they crossed into a neighboring property. Two cheetah were also seen this week at Gowrie main before they crossed into Vuyetela.

 

Leopard sightings have been wonderful during the course of the week. We saw the male leopard Mafufunyane at little Gowrie and this was a welcome sighting as the spotted cats had eluded us for two game drives. He still has a limp in his front right foot, after a big fight with one of the new males in the area but he is getting better. Nyeleti (female leopard) was also sighted on a regular basis during the week. Salayexe (the western female leopard) was spotted on a flat plain resting in a tree. She was in a Jackalberry tree, using the tree to good advantage to spot game.

 

An interesting sighting happened when we found a dead buffalo at second windmill on an evening game drive and the next morning when we returned 2 different hyena clans were fighting over this carcass. The fighting ceased when clan members of the one injured the matriarch from the second and they then disappeared into the bush.

 

Regards

 

The Simbambili team