Let’s jump straight into the most exciting sighting of the week and certainly the one that caused quite a stir in the resident lion pride. After consuming the two buffalo carcasses, the Charleston males and two of the Southern Pride females had separated overnight. The next morning, to everyone’s amusement, we spotted the two females in the company of one of the Toulon males. The females were very comfortable in his presence even though the Charleston males were calling frequently not too far from their position. The Toulon male himself also seemed unfazed at the time and snoozed in the same spot throughout the afternoon. That afternoon, while watching the Toulon male and Southern Pride females resting, we got a call on the radio that two male lions were charging straight towards our location. Immediately in the distance we noticed the Charleston males running straight towards the sleeping Toulon male. The two females noticed them first and bolted to safety and the Toulon male was rudely awoken and ran in a different direction. The Charleston’s stayed hot on his heels for at least 30 minutes and eventually gave up. Since this incident we haven't seen the Toulon male again, and I doubt he will make an appearance again after the message the Charleston males sent him.

The following day, the two Southern Pride females that were with the Toulon male, joined up with two other Southern Pride females and the two older cubs. They were seen far from the Charleston males.

During the course of the week, the Charleston males managed to bring down a buffalo bull and are still feeding on it as I'm writing this blog post. Unfortunately, they dragged the carcass into a drainage line where it was impossible to get any photographs. But now and then they would come and rest on the banks of the drainage line.

The five Southern Pride females, all united, also brought down a kudu bull not far from the Charleston’s buffalo carcass. The next morning, one female was nowhere to be seen and this may be a good sign that the three younger cubs, or at least one, is still alive.

My fondness for Hlarulini is growing day by day, and now that she is quite a regular in our area, we are awarded with amazing sightings of this young and very confident female leopard. She is quite the poser, just like the Kigelia female, and will jump on every rock or fallen tree if given the chance.

Hlarulini’s new found territory used to belong to Warthog Wallow, who has been seen quite regularly throughout the past week, but ranging all over the show. From her usual territory, far into White Dam’s territory and even Little Bush’s territory. We witnessed her catch a tortoise during the week and sometime during the night she managed to bring down an impala but that was quickly stolen by hyenas. She is not looking too good and her age is definitely catching up with her.

Other leopards that featured during the week were Maxabeni, White Dam and her cub, Little Bush and her cub, and Kigelia with an impala kill.

A very skittish male cheetah was also seen during the week. He only allowed us to view him for a couple of minutes before disappearing into some thickets.

During the past week the Umlechwaan River was flowing after a very long time. The recent rains have transformed the land into an Eden. Day by day the grass is growing taller and taller and the landscape is starting to look like it usually does during an average summer season.