12 August
AM
The Styx pride (5 female and 3 sub-adults) and the 2 Western Males were found on Jacobin open area. The youngsters were very playful and were stalking one another, climbing trees and just generally showing the exuberance of youth. One of the females looked as though she was coming into estrus as on of the big males was shadowing her every move.
A female Leopard (white cloth) was found at first rock. She was hunting and moved through the woodland on the crest between the two big granite extrusions looking for an opportunity to kill. She was side -tracked by a large herd of Buffalo that were starting to reach 2nd rock and climbed a large Marula tree in order to get a good vantage point of the area.
The light was perfect and beautiful picture were taken of her in this classic pose. She climbed down the tree and was left heading south away fro the rocks.

PM
This evening's drive saw the Beacon female (large female leopard) hunting Kudu in the cheetah pan area. She was left after a failed attempt and was last seen moving north, perhaps back to her cubs.
The Styx pride and the two western males were found again at three in a row pan where they were trying to hunt Buffalo. We arrived at the pan in the middle of one of their attempts, where there were buffalo and lions running all around. They lay down just a short distance from the Buffalo. A small disturbance toward the back of the herd caused us to look where in the spot light were three White Rhino's moving their way toward the water for a drink. We sat with the spotlights off and in the moonlight managed to make out the shapes of all threes of these great African species.

13 August
AM
A large herd of Buffalo were found in the Mluwanini area moving North into Gowrie. 4 Rhino's were found at Cheetah pan, grazing in circles before moving off for shade. The Hyaena den was very active and we had great sightings of the clan including one of the youngsters trying to vocalise like an adult. A herd of Elephant was found at Buffelshoek dam and numerous other Elephant sightings were reported throughout the reserve.

14 August
AM
5 Lionesses (Styx) pride were found heading south front Cheetah plain pan. They stalked some Zebra on Cheetah plain but were soon spotted as they tried to creep over the open plain and soon gave up. They crossed the boundary to the reserve in the South.
1 Big male Lion (from the "Manyeleti" coalition) was found to the north of Vuyatela camp. He moved into the bush to the north of the camp and lay down in the shade for the rest of the day.
4 Rhino's were found at Cheetah pan, and were just grazing around. A large herd of Buffalo was found on the Southern boundary of Torchwood where they were moving south.
A female Leopard (Safari) and one of her female cubs (17 months old) were tracked and found at a Duiker kill in the Zoë's road area.
Elephant were found throughout the drive.

PM
We headed out on drive and were spoilt with great sightings of general game which included; Zebra, waterbuck, wildebeest, Steenbok and Impala.
4 Rhino's were found at Cheetah pan. They were covered in mud and had been for a mud bath a short time before to cool their bodies from the unusual heat we've been experiencing.
There was one big Elephant bull found at Kudu Corner.
One large male Lion (Manyeleti coalition) was found sleeping on Gowrie Cutline, just before the end of drive.
A very large herd of Buffalo was seen on Cheetah Cutline moving north, away from the main road.

15 August
AM
7 Lions (Styx pride) were found North of Rhino Pan. They were moving west towards the Euphorbia Trees when they began stalking Zebra and Kudu. The wind gave their scent away and as soon as the potential prey became aware of the predators they took off, leaving the lions to contemplate what might have been. They moved into the riverbed to lie down for the day.
1 Lioness (Styx pride) was found at Cheetah Plain Pan. This lioness has a badly injured rear leg and as a result often falls behind the rest of the pride. She remains with them enough of the time to receive the odd meal and as a result her condition is still better than if she was left behind completely.
2 Lionesses were found at Khaya Manzi lying on top of the dam wall.
A large herd of Buffalo was found at Buffelshoek dam drinking. Three hippos kept a close watch on the herd.
A large male Leopard (Jordaan's male) was found to the north of Galago camp with a duiker kill. He is known for his shy temperament and only allowed the vehicle to view him from some distance.

PM
We headed straight for where we had left the Styx pride in the Morning and ground them laying down to the East of the Euphorbia trees earlier that morning. We found them all fast asleep under a Guarri bush, escaping the unrelenting heat. They eventually got up and moved west before crossing south over the boundary of the reserve.
Two female lions (Skuthane pride) were found at Khaya Manzi. They looked very hungry and were left heading north towards Big Dam.
A large herd of Buffalo was found at Buffelshoek dam. They headed north after they had finished drinking.
A female Leopard (Safari Female) was found on our western boundary. She was walking in all directions, and looked to be hunting. She made an attempt first on a Scrub Hare and later a failed attempt on a Steenbok. She was left heading west back toward the boundary.
A Lioness (Styx pride) was found resting at Cheetah plain pan. She was left still sleeping at the pan.
Elephants were spotted throughout the reserve.
3 Rhino were seen to the west of Buffelshoek dam.

16 August
AM
The morning was cold, overcast and windy. There was plenty of general game found in the East of the reserve.
1 Rhino bull was found north of Galago camp, 5 Rhinos near Green pan and 2 Rhinobulls to the East of Cheetah Plains.
4 Elephant bull were located at Green pan.
A large herd of Buffalo was found at Buffelshoek dam.

PM
A large Herd of Buffalo was located in the Buffelshoek dam area. They were moving in the direction of the dam towards the east.
A large Rhino bull (Short Horn) was found sleeping on Hyaena road. He was very relaxed and showed no signs of moving as a few vehicles approached to view him.
The Hyaena den was very active, even though the weather wasn't suited to the cubes being out of the den. They usually stay down in the safety of the den when the wind is blowing.
A Breeding herd of Elephant was found at 3 pans.

17 August
AM
A large herd of Buffalo was found at Nyala dam. The herd had already drunk and was laying down.
A female Cheetah was found at Sidney's dam and was followed into the woodland to the East where she killed an Impala sub adult.
We watched her for some time as she filled her face with meat. When we left she had consumed almost half of the Impala and her stomach was starting to show the signs of her feast.
2 Leopards were found on Gowrie Cutline. One big male (Jordaan's male) and one adult female(thought to be the Beacon female due to the fact that she was lactating). The animals were lost when they headed into thick bush, which surrounds the riverbed on Gowrie Cutline.

PM
The female Cheetah was found south of Leadwood camp where she was laying down in the open clearing, she later moved towards the South and was left as soon as it got dark.
4 Rhino's were found at the old Hyaena den open area and 3 Rhinos were found at 3 Pan.
3 different, large herds of Buffaloes were found on Djuma Game Reserve this evening. They numbered approximately 120,300 and 550 respectively. The fires to the North and East of the reserve, as well as a lack of permanent water in those areas, could be a reason for the enormous amounts of water in the area.
One male Leopard (unidentified) was found to the west of the Hyaena den. He was lost in thick bush about half an hour after being found.

18 August
AM
A breeding herd of Elephant (23 in total) was found north of the Fig Tree. They were tiny calves among them and were extremely relaxed around the vehicles, providing an excellent sighting.
The three large herds of Buffalo were found once again this morning at Buffelshoek dam, one on Gowrie Cutline and one at Khaya Manzi dam.
The Breeding herd of Buffalo at Khaya Manzi had been hit by the Lions during the night and the remains of an adult female Buffalo was found in the water at Khaya Manzi dam and close by were one male and two female lions. (Skuthane pride and one male from the Manyeleti coalition)
3 Rhino were found at Buffelshoek dam. 1 Rhino bull was found north of the Buffelshoek dam. 2 young Rhino bulls were found on the Hyaena den open area.

The Ranger's diary is updated weekly

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