20 October

Leopard Diaries 12^th - 18^th October 2009

Once again the weather decided to turn this week, and brought the clouds and a few little showers. This did not deter our game viewing. The week started off with a very large python being seen very close to the lodge and this was the first time we have seen one of these large snakes this year. It is quite a sight to see such a large snake moving around the bush, these large snakes are capable of taking an adult impala and swallowing it whole.

Other snakes have also begun to get active again as the temperatures have risen, with sightings of Boomslangs, Mozambique Spitting Cobras and of course the very well known Black Mamba.      

The leopards have also been active this week, with sightings of the new young male that is beginning to make the area around the camp his temporary domain He was seen quite frequently with at least two sightings of him this week. This young male has to be careful as he is moving around inside the territorial male Tyson’s core territory and if Tyson does find him he will chase him or might even kill him. Tyson was also seen inside the lodge this week, so he is still patrolling and looking after his piece of property.  

The older territorial male leopard Mafunyane was also seen on an impala kill; he remained there for about 3 days and then moved off to the East. The young female, Mbilo was seen once this week and is really growing into one of the most beautiful leopards within our area. Having a mother like Nyeleti and a father like Tyson she definitely has the right genes to make her into the most incredible leopard. We haven’t seen Nyeleti this week but news from the South is that she and her 3 young cubs are doing very well. We should get to see her soon as the cubs get bigger she will begin to move them greater distances.  

Salayexe was also seen this week and we found her on an impala kill not to far away from the lodge. She and the cubs fed on the kill and stayed in the vicinity of the lodge until the hyenas found the remains of the carcass and stole it from the leopards.  

Lion sightings also have been good this week, with the return of the Tsalala Pride with their 8 young cubs who are in great condition, very fat and healthy. The Sandypatch lioness has also been around this week and seemed to have killed something as she and her cub are looking fat and healthy again.  

Elephant, rhino and buffalo have once again been plentiful this week and other general game sightings have been excellent.  

Until next week.  
The Simbambili ranger team.