This week has most definitely pushed our imagination and caused us to rethink many things we knew about our area in terms of the amazing things we have experienced. The sightings have been so varied and unexpected that we are all in awe of the power of the bush!

The birds of Sabi Sabi are all returning from their migratory routes and therefore our birding experiences are becoming more varied from the winter residents. The watering holes are always still a great place to catch a few in action.

The cubs of the Southern Pride are doing exceptionally well, mainly due to the excellent parenting and survival skills of their parents. The females are hunting very successfully and are keeping the pride well fed. The males are very actively scent marking as well as interacting with the cubs in spectacular displays of fatherhood.

The cubs keep us in stitches with their playful antics and are growing quickly. Altogether, there are 15 in the pride now and it looks as if the Southern Pride is slowly returning to its former glory.

The general game has been prolific and the recent small amounts of rain are slowly bringing the vitality back to the bush, already there are a few green shoots coming up and the Marula Trees are budding as well as many of the Knobthorn Trees. The buffalo and elephant are loving this as well as multitudes of other herbivores.

The leopards have most definitely been busy and Little Bush is, as always, making many kills to be able to support her fast growing and very adventurous cub. There have been a few occasions where Maxabeni has come through to claim her kills as his own.

Maxabeni has recovered well after his ordeal with Kashane and the other big male has not been seen recently after moving further south into the reserve.

Hlarulini has been seen exploring her new-found territory and is making herself very much at home in the south of our reserve. She has been seen a few times actively scent marking and just recently was see trying to mate once again with the Mandleve male who was not at all interested.

The bush is ever-changing and we have been there to witness this first hand. We are indeed fortunate to live in this amazing haven surrounded as we are with magnificent nature and a thriving ecosystem of such varied fauna and flora.