This week has been amazing out here in the paradise we call home. The lions have been giving us countless remarkable sightings as well as many of our resident leopards. There have also been quite a few out of the ordinary sightings from time to time that have our love for the bush burning brighter than ever.

The lions continue to go from strength to strength as they pull down buffalo after buffalo and display their prowess to us on a daily basis. The little cubs are thriving and look really healthy, no small feat out here in this tough landscape! The females have kept the cubs well fed and we often see them with bulging bellies. The little ones are extremely playful and often get in a little bit of trouble for being a bit too boisterous with someone’s tail or ear.

With the onset of the amazing rains we had a few weeks ago, there is mud all over the place and the animals are all revelling in it, especially the hippo and elephants who have all been seen enjoying their spa time, soothing dry cracked skin after these tough times.

Birding has been fantastic and there have been some exceptional sightings ranging from multitudes of predatory birds such as a lovely Pale Morph Tawny Eagle, to an amazingly friendly ostrich who allows us to appreciate her unique beauty from up close.

Leopards have been on the move in a big way and we see them ranging far and wide, marking their territory as well as defending it tooth and claw. Mahlathini and Maxabeni were seen on our north eastern most boundary having a go at each other. It has been a long while since we have seen old Mahlathini and it warms the heart to know he is still around. White Dam and her cub have been spotted on several outings with each other and Hlarulini is making inroads into becoming a more regular resident with many fantastic sightings of her throughout the last week.

A male cheetah wondered onto the reserve for a day and allowed us some fantastic time with him as he posed regally surveying the landscape and keeping himself out of trouble. There have been multiple sightings of Honey Badgers over the past few days and even some great time spent with the ever elusive Civet.