|
We've been very fortunate this week to have seen both resident male leopards, Mafufanyane and Tyson. They seemed to be more interested in their territorial patrols than actually hunting! Matimba the young male leopard managed to avoid the two dominant males and it is pleasing to that his limp has improved a lot in the last month. We also managed to see the old female leopard Safari killing two steenbuck in one night and then had the privilege of spending the next three days watching her finish her meal in the vicinity of Simbambili Dam. A younger male leopard, Mvula, who has been spotted on occasion in the area before, was seen joining her but only temporarily. He also managed to kill an adult baboon but lost it to the hyenas. In addition the female leopard Salayexe was seen marking her territory on Piccanin Uthla.
Lions have been sighted regularly over the last week with guests being fortunate enough to have more than one sighting of them. We didn't see any of them making kills but had a sighting of them a on a kill of two Impala and also found the remains of another two. All the Mapogo males were in the area but separated so we did not see them form their notorious alliance.
We've also been extremely lucky to have seen cheetah move through the area. A female with her sub adult male cub killed a Nyala and managed to hold on to it for roughly 2 hours before a big male leopard came and took it from them. They were sighted this morning moving in a southerly direction.
Buffalo sightings have been excellent with the large breeding herd of Buffalo seen drinking at Simbambili Dam and also at Arathusa Safari Dam. Elephants have been more prolific than Impala it seems this week with some large breeding herds moving through the area and making their way to drink at the waterhole in front of the lodge on a regular basis. The elephant relocation team was also kind enough to allow us to be involved in the capturing and relocation of two young bulls. The elephants were darted and then loaded by a crane onto a massive truck. Our guests got to touch them once they had been darted which was a highlight of their stay.
Simbambili Team
|
