28 September
AM
1 Male Lion was found at Cheetah Plain Pan. He was found sleeping, but later moved to the water for a drink, before heading to the shade of a Guarri Bush to resume his sleep.
1 Rhino Bull was found at Nyala Dam.
There were many Elephant Bulls found throughout the reserve.
A large herd of Buffalo was found grazing at Galago Camp.

PM
The Hyena den was very active. The cubs were socializing around the entrance of the den, and when an adult female arrived they rallied around her begging her to share some milk with them. The cubs, who are also very curious of the vehicles, came round to investigate by sniffing the tires and side running boards.
A large herd of Buffalo was found on the Vuyatela access road laying down.

29 September
AM
1Large male Lion was found sleeping on the South East boundary of the reserve.
A breeding herd of Elephants were found at 3 Pan drinking.
A breeding herd of Buffalo was found at Cheetah Plain Pan drinking.

PM
A large herd of Buffalo was found at Vuyatela camp. The animals drank at the dam and later settled down to sleep just to the North of the camp.
There were male Elephants seen on the Torchwood Chitwa boundary.
A female leopard (White Cloth) was found on Cheetah Cutline. She was moving through the woodland hunting a Steenbok. She made a few attempts at bringing it down, but the small antelope was always 1 step ahead. She gave up eventually and resumed scent marking her territory.

30 September
AM
3 Rhinos were found to the East of 2nd Rock. The male was acting very aggressively towards the female and calf, and we were all amazed by the pig-like "squeals" made by these huge animals.
4 Elephant Bulls were found at Torchwood Camp drinking from the water hole.
1 female reedbuck was seen west of Cheetah Plain Pan.

PM
2 young Rhino bulls were found on our South East Boundary.
A herd of Buffalo was found at Khaya Manzi waterhole drinking.
A group of 4 Rhino was found at Milkberry waterhole.

1 October
AM
3 Lion (Sandy Patch females and Manyeleti male) were found on the Eastern side of Frankel's waterhole. Their bellies were very full and they were laying lazily under a thorn tree.
3 Rhino were seen north of Kudu Corner.
A large herd of Buffalo was seen on the Jacobin Open Area.

PM
The 3 Lions were found again about 1 km north of where they were in the morning. They showed little signs of becoming active and were left sleeping in the same spot.
3 Rhinos were found at Sussen's dam drinking and enjoying a mud bath.
A large herd of Buffalo was found at Buffelshoek Dam having a late afternoon drink.


2 October
AM
White Cloth female Leopard and the Jordaan's Male Leopard were found mating at Nyala dam. This is the furthest north we have ever seen this female, but is not uncommon for a Leopard to move far out of her home range in order to mate with a male.
The Sandy Patch Lions and Manyeleti male Lion were found to the East of Galago Camp.
1 Large male Lion was found at Cheetah Plain Pan. He was laying down at the edge of the clearing.

PM
3 Lions were found in the same spot they were in on the morning drive. They got up and moved westwards and the females made a few failed hunting attempts on Impala.
The lone male Lion was relocated on Kalkol open area. He was left laying down.
A large breeding herd of Elephant was found on the eastern side of Cheetah Plain Pan. They had broken up into small family groups and were feeding widespread of one another.
A large herd of Buffalo was found at 3 Pans.

3 October
AM
We left the lodge and right on the Bush Lodge driveway we were swarmed by a black sea of Buffalo. This large herd had bedded down in front of the camp and was slowly getting active.
6 Elephant bulls were seen on Cheetah Cutline feeding in the woodland.
1 Rhino bull (Half Ear) was seen on cheetah Cutline. He was moving east and scent marking as he went.
1 young male Leopard (the late Kaalkol female's offspring) was found on the Gowrie main road inside the Mluwanini riverbed. It has been some time since we have seen this leopard that has grown into a beautiful cat after being orphaned when a male Lion killed his mother 5 months ago.

The Ranger's diary is updated weekly

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