What a great week we had filled with amazing sightings, ranging from the smallest to the largest.

Little Bush female was still moving deep into Nottins’ territory, hoping to expand her own territory for when the time comes to push her cub away so she at least has some space to start her life as a solitary leopard. We also had some great sightings of the two of them all along the Msuthlu River when Little Bush took her cub into the new areas that the cub should probably soon go stay in - the only worry is will the cub survive with the limp she’s got on her back right leg? Will this affect her hunting? Only time will tell...

Nottins female has not been seen that often - is she feeling the pressure coming from the younger, probably stronger Little Bush female? Meaning she is pushing much further North East in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

Maxabeni male was spotted a few times not spending a lot of time relaxing but scent marking his boundaries heavily.

It’s been a real pleasure being able to spend some time with White Dam female and her two beautiful cubs that seems to be a lot more relaxed with vehicles around them than what their mom was a few years ago. We really hope to see them more in the next few months coming.

The 6 Southern Pride females are still avoiding any contact with the Sand River males. They literally move in opposite directions as soon as they pick up scent of the males. The Fourways males are roaring more often now and scent marking heavily in the northern part of Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. There has been no activity of the Sand River males up here so it is like no man’s land waiting for take over.

A big male cheetah has been spending a lot of time around our open areas, giving our guests quite a few sightings of him on top of termite mounds scanning the area for prey. Let’s hope he sticks around on the reserve!

We are having amazing times at the hyena den now that the cubs are all so comfortable with the vehicles. They are running and playing around us as if we were not there. The mind blowing thing is as soon as there is just a little sound coming from the bush they bolt for cover in the den and when we talk or drop a lens cap they act as if nothing happened. There are 3 sets of two cubs all ranging between 2 months and 8 months old.

In general we have been very lucky with massive herds of buffalo enjoying the high grazing value and no shortage in water. Some really big herds of elephant are spending good time in front of the lodge’s waterholes.

It’s been getting really cold in the morning going as low as 2°C causing the rangers and guests to dress up looking like we are going to an ice party. Can’t wait to see more changes in the bush with most of the trees already losing all their leaves and small waterholes drying up, causing animals to move great distances looking for food and water.