The bush has been alive with some glorious sightings of buffalo who were in search of water... and they did not disappoint with amazing sightings!

Predators were also out in full force trying to make the most of this opportunity with the Tsalala males, Southern Pride and the two Avoca males in the same area, all within 1km of one another!

Shortly after the above sightings, we found the Tsalala males once again – this time with an unknown female with whom one of the males was mating. The Tsalala males look like they were in a bit of a tuff with some visible wounds.

We have once again enjoyed heart-warming sightings of the Southern Pride as they lazed around between bouts of playing and failed hunting attempts.

We were surprised one morning by the two Charleston males moving around the central part of the reserve. Their visit was short-lived as their tracks showed them moving back into the Kruger National Park.

Maxabeni was found marking territory and patrolling from the Western sector of his territory until he found a waterhole with dense shade and decided to settle down to rest as we enter the heat of the day here on the reserve.

The Ntsumi female has been hanging around Bush Lodge this week and decided to hunt a bushbuck within the lodge grounds, but was not successful and headed off to the Amani Spa gardens for a drink of water. The following day she tried her luck on another bushbuck and a young nyala but was also unsuccessful.

We ended the week with a sighting of the Xovonekela male who was sporting some fresh wounds on his neck – possibly bite marks from a larger male leopard. This did not seem to affect him much as he continued to enjoy his impala kill.

This hippo bull was showing off in front of a hippo cow that made her way into his dam.

On Tuesday morning Franscois and his guests spent some good time with a Hooded Vulture and were rewarded with some amazing behaviour!

Elephants have been in abundance with regular sightings out on safari and from the lodges.

A large kudu bull shows off his physical abilities as he fleets and jumps over the road as a potential threat of a male leopard moves through a thicket nearby.

A Spotted-Eagle Owl perched in a Marula tree poses perfectly for a good photo or two before flying off into the night of the African bush.

A Three-banded Plover tries it’s best not to get trampled in between a herd of buffalo at a water source.

A zebra consumes some palatable grass that was growing from the top of a termite mound while getting a good vantage point within an active open area.

We end this week’s highlights with this male cheetah who was wondering through our property. He utilised many vantage points such as pushed over Marula trees for a better view of the surrounding areas and possibly nearby prey.

Until next time...