We start this weekly highlights blog with a highlight of my game drives, and one most take for granted. Even though it requires getting up when it’s a little chilly, a sunrise represents the birth of a new day and the start of things to come.

There is an ancient battle that has taken place in the animal kingdom since the beginning of time, a battle for survival. It doesn't matter where you are in the food chain, this battle is continuous. This week our guests and the safari team saw evidence of these battles.

Large breeding herds of buffalo have been making their way around the reserve, constantly searching for water and good grazing. Due to the harshness of the winter, the availability of water and good grass has been hard to come by, taking its toll on these large creatures.

With this, the weak, sick and old, struggle to survive and there is always somebody in the food chain who is ready to benefit from this, namely the largest land predator in Africa.

The Southern Pride took down a large buffalo bull which satisfied them for a few days. The young cubs certainly took advantage of this large meal with them walking around as if they had swallowed a football.

Initially the Charleston male with the damaged tooth was not there, but towards the end of the kill being finished off, he decided to join the rest of the pride.

After moving off in search of the next meal, we couldn't help but notice how protective the blonde Charleston male was acting towards one of the females.

Given the lack of water around at this time of the year, it is always a joy for guests to experience the euphoria of elephants as they make their way to water for a well-deserved drink, even if it means disrupting some of the other inhabitants.

Our leopard sightings this week have been incredible, with the highlight for most, having Little Bush and her cub up a tree on a female impala kill. This is always a quintessential experience for all safari goers and gives a chance to see a superior predator doing what it does best and a little cub adds that extra element of cuteness.

Later on in the week, Little Bush was found on another kill, which later that night was stolen by hyenas. However, driven by the need to feed herself and her growing cub, she was seen stalking impala and scent marking her territory. Forever the opportunist.

We were also visited by some new and some old leopards. The Ndzilo female was seen around Bush Lodge enjoying some of the sights and sounds of the area, but very conscious that she was moving into Little Bush’s territory.

An older leopard seen back in the southern section of his old territory was Mahlathini. It was great to have seen this old soldier who has been missing for some time since he was pushed out by Maxabeni back in 2013. We have seen him on and off since then but three sightings within the last week has maybe asked the question – has Maxabeni bitten off more than he can chew in terms of territory? Is there a chance for Mahlathini to come and stake a claim on the southern edges of Maxabeni’s territory?

Ever the opportunist, he was first found hanging around the buffalo kill made by the Southern Pride and then later stole the impala that Little Bush and her cub had been feeding on.

Well that concludes our highlights for the week, we end off with one of my favourite birds, the Lilac-breasted Roller, bathed in the beautiful fading light of sunset. Have a great week everyone!