21 June
PM
The drive started with a gorgeous view of a Large male Giraffe, using his prehensile tongue to wrap round acacia branches. We then saw a group of Kudu. We came across a herd of Buffalo moving slowly through the woodland towards Torchwood Dam. There were 3 Bull Elephants spotted in the Mluwanini River shortly before dark. After sundowners we watched the full moon rising in the East to the distant "whoop" of a Spotted Hyena. We decided, after the prompting "whoops", to head to the Hyena den, and found two cubs and an adult lying at the entrance to their lair.
We later spotted a quick glimpse of a Reedbuck, which usually are quite difficult to see but towards the later half of the month have provided us with sights of six different individuals.
Speaking of rare sightings we had a sighting of a Serval cat who allowed us to approach fairly close which enabled us all to admire it's stunning spotted and striped coat.

22 June
AM
We started with sightings of Kudu, steenbok, a lone Buffalo bull and a Grey Duiker. A big Rhino bull (half ear) was seen on the Kruger Boundary, and later a "crash" of three Rhino was seen north of Buffelshoek Dam.
Elephant were also seen on Cheetah Plains and at Buffelshoek Dam.

23 June
PM
We saw a big herd of Buffalo just West of the Mluwanini who were slowly grazing south. We left them crossing the road. We saw a big herd of Kudu, some Zebra, Impala and a group of Vervet Monkeys before stopping for a "sundowner" at Jordaan's dam and were treated to a show of teeth by the resident Hippo bull waking up for his nocturnal excursions. A Rhino Bull (short horn) was spotted at Sidney's dam. After dark we saw a Hyena, scrub Hares, a Large Spotted Genet, a spotted Eagle Owl, and a Bushbaby.

24 June
AM
We started the morning with a sighting of a White Rhino walking east on Central Road. At Cheetah Plain Pan we found 3 female Lions (Skuthane Pride) laying down with swollen bellies. A clear indication of a kill made and consumed in the night. Another Rhino was seen at Buffelshoek Dam. A group of Male Buffalo was seen at Torchwood Dam drinking and playing in the mud. Elephants were spotted at Twin Dams and Gowrie Dam. We also saw an African Hawk Eagle Kill a Tree Squirrel, what a treat.

27 June
AM
1 Female Lion (Sandy Patch Pride) was found walking west towards Tamboti Dam. It is unclear why she has separated from her sister, the other member of this pride, but one reason could be is that the other female could be mating, and has paired off with a male, and hence left the other by herself.
The Styx Pride (9 in total) were found on Zoë's road Lying down. They had been tracked for over 8 KM and were clearly worn out from their evening's travels.
3 Lionesses (Skuthane Pride) were seen on the Kruger firebreak Lying down.
2 Lions (1 female and 1 young male) were seen at Hyena Dam drinking. It is unclear which Lions these were but they could be part of the 16 strong Manyeleti pride, who haven't been seen together for some time.
A large herd of Buffalo was also seen at Paradise Beach moving slowly south.

PM
This afternoon's drive started and shortly after leaving camp three Cheetah were found on Vrystaat Clearing lying down in the shade of a wattle tree. It had been a few days since we had last seen them and they were looking as though they could do with a meal.
We left them with the sun starting to fade.
A male Leopard (Mafufanyane) was found close to Tree House Dam and was followed whilst he moved south before crossing to a property to the South.
The Skuthane pride (3 Lionesses were) was still lying down on the Kruger firebreak well into the drive.
The Styx Pride (2 Males 4 Females and 3 sub adults) was also lying down on Zoë's road.
One big male Rhino (short horn) was found mud bathing at Twin dams before moving north and resuming his territorial duties.

28 June
AM
4 Rhino were found at Vrystaat clearing grazing on a cool, overcast morning.
A large herd of Buffalo was seen at Rhino pan which has long dried up and the herd was forced to move further South in order to find a reliable source of water at Jacobin pan

PM
3 Cheetahs (1 Female and 2 sub adult male offspring) were found in the Kaalkol area where they moved South East towards the Kruger Boundary before crossing into Kruger to the East.
A herd of Buffalo was found at 3 in a row pan having an afternoon drink before moving north into the woodland.
1 male Lion (Manyeleti male) was found at Jordaan's dam where he was lying down for some time before moving west into a donga, which became too thick for the game drive vehicles to follow.
2 lionesses (Sandy patch pride) were found shortly before the end of drive at the entrance to Bush Lodge. They moved towards the watering hole in front of camp before failing an attempted hunt on some Impala. It is not often that we see these Lions so far South in the reserve, but it could be due to the extended pressure being placed on them by larger prides in the North of their home-range. The next morning their tracks were found heading North-West, towards where we'd usually see them.
Giraffe, Zebra, Kudu, Waterbuck, Bushbaby and white tailed mongoose were also seen on drive.

29 June
AM
We started the morning's drive with a sighting of a herd of Buffalo near Cheetah Plains, They were slowly moving south towards Central road.
There were also 2 Elephant found South of Buffalo Dam browsing on saplings in the clearing.
A big Rhino bull (Short Horn) was found on the East-West firebreak walking slowly towards Brown Ivory.
Zebra, Giraffe, Side Striped Jackal, Impala, Kudu were also seen.

30 June
PM
Three different Leopards were seen to night on drive between the three Djuma camp's vehicles.
By far the highlight had to be Ncila (the two and a half year old son of White Cloth female). He was found at 3 in a row pan where he then moved south towards the Boundary to the South of the reserve. When he reached the Boundary he came across first a Buffalo Bull lying down in the woodland to the North of the Boundary which he stalked for a few minutes before been spotted by the big Buffalo Bull. The bull chased him for a bout twenty meters before giving up as the nippy cat made his escape from a rather optimistic dinner chance. He then came across a Wildebeest with a badly injured front leg which wasn't comfortable walking on at all. We watched as the leopard stalked close enough to, again be spotted by its prey and was snorted at by the wildebeest.
He tried again on a herd of Impalas who again spotted him. It was a very entertaining sighting, with all being amazed by this young Leopards persistence.
The Beacon female was also seen with a steenbok kill, but before she had the chance to hoist it to safety it was stolen be a group of Hyena.
The two-year-old male cub (Ndlothi) of the Beacon female was also found for a short while on central road before disappearing into the north, where the bush was too thick to pursue him.
Also seen on drive were Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, and Impala. Kudu and duiker

The Ranger's diary is updated weekly

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