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a week in the bush: vol 41

on Mar 04, 2015

The interactions within the bush this week have really kept guests on the edge of their seats and with their cameras clicking! We start off with a few great pictures of an often rare sighting of one of the most endangered cats on the continent, the cheetah.

These amazing cats, when found, really love showing off for our guests, climbing up fallen down trees and termite mounds. They really know how to show off in front of a camera!

Lion sightings this past week have also been very good. Most notably being the three Sand River males and the three Southern Pride females being found on a young elephant kill. Doing what lions do they gorged themselves and slept for small intervals before returning back for some more, this lasted for four days! Sadly however there was no sign of the last remaining cub, we can only assume that this meal came a little late for the young one who was desperate for a large meal like this.

The Fourways males were also found on the reserve, pushing into the Northern sector of the Sand River males’ territory. Interesting times lie ahead.

Mike L Four Ways Males 2 2

The Fourways males were found very close to the Southern Pride split, so maybe these gorgeous looking boys are looking for a pride to call their own.

Kyle SP Split

Leopard sighting this week have been prolific, proving why Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is one of the best places to view leopards in the world. Maxabeni was actively marking his territory making sure that he keeps other males at bay. This male is formidable and doing a great job of defending his females and his cubs.

Nottins and her cub were not seen as much as they usually are but when they were found they gave our guests some great sightings.

Courtney Dalziel Nottens 01 03 3 2

Nottins` cub is growing in confidence everyday, so much so that he was found stalking one of our trackers Cremson while on a sundowner drinks stop!

Little Bush`s cub, like Nottins` cub the offspring of the dominant male Maxabeni, was also found regularly and sometimes by herself. She is reaching a stage of independence but still relies on her mum for the majority of her meals.

However, the sighting of the week has to go to the "leap of Leopards" found fighting over a young waterbuck calf kill. At one stage it was four leopards in one sighting! Unbelievably they were all females: Little Bush and her cub, Outcrop female and her independent cub Kelenge.

It was a special week this week, but then again as guides, every week is special to be a witness to how these animals live out their lives. I can’t wait to see what happens next week!

  • BY TERRY ENNEVER – EARTH LODGE RANGER
  • IMAGES BY TERRY ENNEVER, KYLE STRAUTMANN, MIKE LAUBSCHER, COURTNEY DALZIEL, JONATHAN MCCORMICK AND STEVE VOLKWYN
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