5 July
PM
Four Rhinos were sighted on the Eastern site of long pole where the animals were on their way to Jordan's dam for water. We followed those animals and left them half way before they get any closer to the dam. When we got to the dam there was a very big Hippo in the water. We decided that we were going to stop for our sundowners on the dam wall. While we were busy packing out our drinks, two bull Elephants came from the North to the water. So instead of us having our drinks, we were then watching the two bulls having a drink. Two female Lions [sandy patch girls] were seen close to the gate by our other game drive vehicles and they went across the boundary to the area where we could not traverse. we then started making our way back to the Lodge and on our way we saw some bush babies, herds of Wildebeests, Zebras, Civet and the large sported Genet.

6 July
AM
We started our morning drive were we went straight down the main road to the Hyena den. When we got there was nothing outside the den, we then waited for three minutes and then the puppies came running to the vehicle where we sat and enjoyed them playing around the vehicle. we went west along the main road from the Dan and we driven into the small head of buff-bulls that didn't seems to be warring about us at all, there were red billed Oxpeckers having their morning breakfast on the buffaloes. After the Buffaloes there was a call about safari female walking along triple M to the North, we then made our way to that sighting where we followed here for five to eight minutes then she went across the boundary to the west. Styx pride was laying on the eastern site of triple M close to Philemon's Cutline. There was also lots of Zebras, Waterbucks, Monkeys and some Wildebeests.

PM
The evening drive was also very good. We went to the Northern part of the farm where we sported four Rhinos feeding on the southern site of rubbing post Dam. While we were sitting and watching them, our Tracker sported a Tawny Eagle sitting way on top of the Marula tree. Every one of us turn their eyes and looking at the Eagle. We then left the area and ended to the western site of Nyala Dam where there was a big Head of buffaloes laying down. After the buffaloes we went to Buffelshoek Dam for a drink and there were four Hippos in the water. We enjoyed our drinks watching the Hippos having fun in the water. On our way back there was a large herd of Impalas and Zebras together on the Northern site of Torchwood Camp. We had a Pearl spotted owl for closing our drive.

7 July
AM
There was great excitement when we saw two wild dogs heading south towards Mala Mala boundary. They were on the hunt from three in a row pan southwards. Unfortunately we could only stay with them for a while but it was good to see that they were in the area. An adult female cheetah and her two cubs were found on Torchwood headed north. We followed them for a while but left them in search of other animals. We also saw quite a few birds and some zebras, impalas, kudus, giraffe, bushbuck, a hippo and some warthogs. We had a wonderful Civet at the end of the drive near the lodge. As we were walking back to the lodge we saw a barred owl sitting in a tree looking for mice.

8 July
PM
One male leopard went hunting - den to den - along the eastern side of Hornbill Nest Road, he was traveling north. At one stage the leopard got close to the female reedbuck but the reedbuck was able to escape by running away. We followed through the thicket in pursuit, all the way out to the road at which point it went back into the bush and refused to come out again. We then left him with the other vehicles and went to find other animals. We found kudus, four rhinos - two males, and two females - they were on the northern side of Gowrie Dam and they were busy feeding. After the rhinos we saw two lions- one Manyeleti male and one Sandy Patch female. They were mating at Sussen's Dam and they ended heading north at which point we left them. We also saw a light herd of buffalo southeast from the western end of Buffelshoek airstrip. There was also one large spotted genet that was hunting mice.

9 July
AM
We found lots of lion tracks around the area but they were all crossing into KNP. We then saw zebras, giraffes, and some impalas, as well as monkeys everywhere. A large herd of buffaloes we followed headed east from Love Pen clearing.
After that we found one rhino bull that was also walking eastwards into the direction of KNP. Then there were a lot of francolin species hanging around the firebreak area, as well as lots of starlings. We went down to one of the watering holes where there was a crocodile lying on the bank. We enjoyed a stop there for coffee break and watched the crocodile. On our way back to the lodge we saw a large number of zebras, and closer to the lodge there was a group of impalas.

PM
We found three cheetahs lying down on the clearing south of Cruse Camp enjoying a rest. After the cheetahs we headed to the northern part of the farm where we located two lions, Manyeleti male and Sandy Patch female, where they were still mating at Brown Ivory Clearing. We sat and enjoyed them for a while since they were putting on a good show. After that we went to Jordan's Dam for our afternoon drink. In the water there was one male hippo, which we watched for a while. One the group had to go to the loo behind the car but came running back to the front of the car after she heard an elephant breaking branches in the distance somewhere. We used the spotlight to shine the area and for surely there was a small herd of elephants coming in the direction of the water. When the elephants got to the dam and started to drink the hippo tried to scare the elephants off it did not work. We were able to watch the whole thing while on our break. The elephants then continued on and left the area. We decided to head on as well in search of other wildlife. On our way back to the lodge we spotted a white tailed mongoose and some hyenas.

10 July
AM
We started the drive headed in the direction of the northern part of the farm where there was three lions- one Manyeleti male, two females, one being Sandy Patch. They were feeding off a young zebra on the western side of Brown Ivory Clearing. The way the male lion took the prey from the females and he was not keen to share with them and ate most of it himself. While watching the lion a female leopard was found around the area of Buffelshoek Dam hunting and laying around. Then we finally lost the female leopard when she headed into the thicket at which point we could no longer follow her. We saw some beautiful game like zebras, impalas, and hyenas at the den, waterbucks and some giraffes. Bird wise we saw some gray Louries, crested barbet, striped kingfishers, yellow billed hornbills, cape glossy starling, Oxpeckers, red crested Korhaan and the Coqui francolins.

PM
We headed back to the lions and they were stilling lying about at the kill site. They continued to mate and sleep looking quite full.
He watched them for a while and then headed on. At the watering hole we found two elephants drinking water. We then saw zebras, hyena limping with a slightly injured back left leg, wildebeest, duiker, giraffe, scrub hare and some waterbuck. Then bird wise we saw crested francolins, greater blue eared starling, crested barbet, red-billed Oxpeckers, blue gray flycatcher, ground hornbills, gray Louries, hoopoe, yellow-billed hornbill, as well as grassveld pipit. It was a bit quiet and cold for the evening.
11 July
AM
It started out very chilly with a layer of mist on the ground. We saw some impalas close to the lodge. Then we saw lots of birds on our way to the north, African jacana, blacksmith plover, Bateleur eagle, Egyptian goose, crowned plover, blue waxbill, white helmeted shrike, little bee eater, southern black tit, Coqui francolins and some Swainson's francolins. Animal wise we saw a large herd of zebras and some wildebeest hanging around together. We saw one hippo by himself in the dam. At another dam we found a crocodile lying on the bank asleep. There was one elephant bull pushing over a tree to eat the roots and being very relaxed. At the den we found some hyenas.

The Ranger's diary is updated weekly

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