The sun started rising over a herd of Wildebeest on a cold winter morning and the sunshine flooded the open plains with golden light. Safaris have been a hive of activity – not only of the Big 5, but everything else in between too...

While watching a group of giraffe, we heard the alarm call of a kudu in the distance causing all the giraffe to turn and stare. When we moved into the area to investigate, we found N’weti strolling casually down the road, scent-marking regularly as he went.

Mawelawela is usually a very shy individual but not in this sighting! He sat beautifully allowing us just enough time to get a photo or two of him before moving off into the darkness.

With alarm calls of the baboons roosting in the big trees along the drainage line in the early hours of the morning, and the cry of a bushbuck while we were conducting wake up calls around Bush Lodge, Kigelia and her sub-adult cub, Tsutsuma, must have been feasting. When we came across them, both were boasting very full bellies, but clean fur, so they had taken the time to groom themselves before we found them.

With mom moving swiftly through the thickets, these two leopard cubs had to run to keep up. It soon became clear why – Ntsumi was leading them to a kill which she had stashed in a tree and not wasting any time. The cubs did not have the same determination, stopping to play and wrestle every now and then.

Salivating profusely, this male leopard was investigating his surroundings thoroughly. Perhaps another male in the area was piquing his interest, or there could be a female in oestrus in his domain.

With bellies full, this small pride of young lion rested in the shade. Lifting their heads rarely to check their surroundings and swat away a few flies, before dropping down to sleep again.

As these lionesses attempted to feed, the hyenas starting edging closer and closer, encircling the group with the intent of stealing their hard-earned meal. As their bellies were full, all the lions wanted to do was flop over and rest, but the threat of losing their food was too much to ignore.

With their tracks sending Rangers searching in the southern section of our reserve, close to Earth Lodge, these two male lions appeared unexpectedly in the north. After chasing a few hyenas that were trailing them, they settled in the shade as the heat of the morning set in.

His belly was full of warthog and a pride of lion lay sprawled out in the grass below him, this male leopard sat uncomfortably in the thinnest branches of a Marula tree. Apparently, his kill had been stolen by the lion, as one male sat feeding on what little was left under the watchful eye of two females. As the heat and the precarious sleeping place became too much for the leopard to handle, he slowly and cautiously made his was down the tree, checking every few steps to see if the lion were reacting to his movement. When he reached the last fork of the trunk, he made a break for it. As he ran - straight under the feet of our tracker Phios - a lioness came dashing towards him, but she was too late, and all she saw was the white of his tail tip disappearing into the thicket. She turned and went back to watch the male eating, hoping for her turn.

Two Kambula lionesses were found with one of the N’waswishaka males in hot pursuit. The male was salivating and vocalising a lot while moving with purpose. With this male still being injured he followed the females in hope for an easy meal.

The Styx Pride brought down a large warthog for breakfast this morning, which was rudely interrupted by a herd of elephants that sent the pride running in all directions. The pride eventually reconnected at a small pan, getting a drink of water before heading back to the remains of the warthog to fight over the scraps.

With a large herd of impala in the open fields before them, this cheetah mother with her cub watched and assessed the situation, hoping for an opportunity to attempt a hunt. As the sun sank towards the horizon and the colours of the sky changing quickly, she didn't have much time to waste.

A few days later, they were resting up on top of a termite mound looking out for prey. A duiker got their attention in the distance but was too far off to hunt successfully.

At the edge of an open area, this male cheetah waited patiently for any grazers to move into the grasslands which he could potentially hunt. With no opportunities being presented, he lay enjoying the sunshine and rolling in the sand.

Until next time