The bush has been thriving this week with the most incredible game viewing for some time. Guests have not only been treated to some of the most sought after predator sightings but just generally gorgeous scenery as the first buds and new leaf shoots of spring started to unveil themselves. It has been a week to fall in love with the bush...

The leopards of Sabi Sabi have been on spectacular form all week keeping everyone on their toes, delighted in all the surprises they have had for us. We started off with responding to the alarm calls of a flock of guinea fowl, finding Maxabeni on yet another duiker kill. By the end of the week, his grand total of kills rested on three duiker within a 2 week period! He is emulating health and dominance and it has not gone unnoticed by the females in the area. He and Warthog Wallow were found later showing a substantial amount of aggression towards each other before later mating – at one stage their place of preference was actually just outside Selati Camp!

Nottins, whom although we saw last week, is still missed on the property as a regular inhabitant. Whilst we admired her elegance in a great photographic opportunity during drinking, we were astounded when she scaled a tall Marula tree fleeing from the pursuing Sabi Sand pack of wild dogs! Her hissing, only exciting the pack as they jumped trying to get to her before eventually growing bored and moving off.

White Dam and her two cubs have been exceptionally prevalent in the area over the last week. She has proved herself not only a great mother in successfully rearing her two cubs, but a formidable predator too. After a successful tracking expedition she was found moving away from a bushbuck kill that had been well concealed in some thick bush. The cubs were found on a number of occasions playing with each other within the areas proximity looking very healthy but continue to be shy.

Lisbon has also proved to be a brilliant guardian and provider for her little cub. After making a kill herself, she fetched her cub and led it to the feast. Whilst also still very skittish, sightings of this little one are becoming more frequent and it is slowly becoming more accustomed to vehicles.

An elusive subject, Mandleve, was found stalking a bushbuck before finally leaping into success and bringing it down in full view of guests!

In other news, the Fourways lions have indeed proved why they are the new dominant males in the area. After finishing off their buffalo kill, their team effort with one of the Southern Pride females resulted in the successful hunt of a large male kudu! Watching them grow with bellies on the verge of explosion, we were flabbergasted to see the one male emerge from the bush with yet another kill – this time an impala!! The Southern Pride females have certainly have seen the benefit of associating with the males should this feeding streak continue, we have no doubt that the Southern Pride females will deliver cubs in great condition in the coming months!

The Sparta males have taken full opportunity to hide in the North of our property whilst the Fourways males gauged on their buffet further South. They too looked healthy and were found with full bellies.

The Toulon Pack of wild dogs have continued their hunting expeditions around the reserve providing endless amounts of entertainment and excitement for guests and rangers alike. With all 13 puppies still remaining, we are becoming increasingly hopeful that the numbers keep.

With the setting of each day, the illumination of the night sky is just a feint reminder of the beauty that awaits us. May the coming week bring us just as many exciting and beautiful as this week has proved to be.