26th February: At Long Last!

Pic of the Day.

Morning Drive.

( Herald, Elliot & Johannes)

Leopard ( Kuhanya) / Karans – Western Cutline.

Elephant ( Kambaku) / Peru – Timbavati/ Umbabat Cutline.

Elephant ( Kambaku) / Motswari – Motswari Southern Access.

Buffalo ( Dagha Boy) / Borneo – Abercrombie Dam.

Afternoon Drive.

( Herald, Elliot, Johannes & Grant)

Elephant ( Breeding Herd) / Mostwari – Motswari Southern Access.

Elephant ( Breeding Herd) / Motswari – Xinatsi Dam.

Elephant ( Kambaku) / Motswari – Barnes Post.

Elephant ( Kambaku) / Motswari – Sean's Clearing.

Elephant ( Kambaku) / Vielmieter – Hide Dam.

Leopard ( Kuhanya) / DeLuca – Timbavati / Umbabat Cutline.

Lion ( 3 x Maghlatini Males) / Scholtz – Scholtz Dam East.

Buffalo ( Breeding Herd) / Scholtz – Scholtz Trough.

Buffalo ( Dagha Boy) / JayDee – Madala Crossing.

Buffalo ( 3 x Dagha Boys) / Java.

Daily Synopsis.

My guests choosing to sleep in rather than go on drive before checking out, meant no morning game drive for us. By the sounds of things we missed out on busy morning, filled with general game and most importantly, finally a Leopard in the North! And not any Leopard, but the ultra relaxed Kuhanya resting in a Maroela Tree while half heartedly taking in the world below! Being a rather toasty day we are hoping she is still around for this afternoon when we start with new guests.

Having all new guests, Jacky and I were starting a fresh and looking for anything and everything. Herald, Elliot and Johannes were all in search of Rhino, this would mean an afternoon in the West and the South for them.

We got off to a great start with a small breeding herd of Elephant at Xinatsi Dam, drinking and taking the proverbial afternoon mud bath. We also got lucky with a young Hyena sleeping below the dam wall in a drainage line, sheltering from the day's heat.

We did not have to travel far before our next sighting of a beautiful Bull Elephant, who we spent considerable time with as he was so relaxed and went about his business without paying us any attention.  

We had to travel even less distance to our following sighting, as Kuhanya had heeded our plea's and remained in a Maroela Tree not far from where she had been all morning. It was a great sighting as she was quite active and appeared to be keeping a close eye on something that caught her attention nearby, that had her posing in a number of fashions. The highlight coming when the big Bull Elephant made his way in her direction. She was totally aware of his approach yet remained completely relaxed and only turned to face him before lying down to watch him as he passed directly below her, completely unaware of her presence, and here I was telling my guests Elephant have a great sense of smell!

Lucky for Kuhanya it was a male tree, otherwise she would have been on the receiving end of a good shaking, as Elephant are inclined to do when passing Maroela Trees bearing fruit. With the Elephant moving off we also took our leave and left Kuhanya to herself and whatever was catching her fancy off in the North.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the North taking in general game and appreciating the smaller things, and the fact that we did not need to travel South for a change. The others did not have much success with their Rhino but did pick up on a fair amount of general game, as well as finding the Mahlatini Males late in the evening resting at a pan. This must have made a great sighting with them sitting out in the open at the water's edge and the sun setting in the background. They appear still to be following the herd of Buffalo as they to were also found not far off to the North.

Guess what we'll be doing in the morning!