20 January to 28 January 2009

20 January to 28 January 2009.

 

We continue to be blessed with the most fantastic sightings which this week included some hyena cubs at their den and about 800 meters from these inquisitive little creatures we found a dead jackal being feasted on by some raptors. We found several lion tracks near the jackal which might indicate that the lions were responsible for killing the smaller predator.

During the week we enjoyed exceptional sightings of elephant as we found several herds of Elephant meandering around our property and a number o which came into or around the lodge.

The Nkuhuma pride of Lions was spotted during the week (a total of 11 individuals) but by the end of the week they had crossed into the Manyeleti Game Reserve where they are usually seen.

 

The last few days also brought plenty of leopard sightings.  The female leopard Nyeleti and her remaining cub were seen resting in a tree close to Serengeti. As the other cub was killed 3 months ago by a male leopard this youngster will now grow up as an only "child" and only has its mother to play with. Moving east from Serengeti we found a beautiful herd of zebra with them milling around and the young stallions fighting one another.

 

Next on our list was Ntima, a female leopard who was lazily lying around watching a vervet monkey. The monkey clearly felt threatened and his alarm calls could be heard miles away.

 

Mvula the young male Leopard has been sighted at Simbambili Dam feeding on an impala kill which he dragged up into a tree. While eating he noticed another impala and came right down to hunt yet again. Within seconds the poor impala came crashing down as Mvula made another kill. Usually leopards will rest briefly after making a kill but Mvula ripped open its stomach and started devouring the contents immediately.

The following day we returned but there was no trace of either impala or the male leopard...

 

 

 

The Simbambili Team