25 November
PM
The 2 maneless Lions were found moving eastwards into Torchwood, where they made an attempted hunt on a herd of Zebra.
A small herd of Buffalo was found at Cheetah plains.

26 November
AM
A few Elephant bulls were found at Kudu Corner grazing.
A large male Lion was found at Cheetah Plain pan sleeping.

PM
1 Sandy Patch female Lion and the Manyeleti Male were found at Sidney Frankel's dam laying down. The were very vocal and roared repeatedly into the evening but showed little signs of moving.
A herd of Buffalo was found in the north rock area.

27 November
AM
A large Male Leopard (Jordaan's) was found on the Kruger Boundary opposite Milkberry Lodge. He was laying in a large Tamboti tree.
1 Male Lion (Old Eastern Male) was found east of the Kaalkol. He was moving north through the woodland where he led us straight to 2 Elephants.

PM
1 Female Leopard (Beacon female) and her 2 cubs were found on Gowrie Cutline in the Mlowati River with an Impala kill. The mother had dragged it under a fallen Knob Thorn Tree and the next morning it was discovered that Hyenas had stolen it.

29 November
PM
2 Male Cheetahs were found on Cheetah Plains Laying down. This coalition have become the males to answer to if you're a male Cheetah and it seems that they are setting up a large territory with the core on Djuma Game Reserve.
A male Serval was located on Cheetah Plains hunting frogs and mice.

30 November
AM
1 Male Lion (The old Eastern Male) was found at Djuma Bush Lodge laying down where he had been roaring for most of the night.
1 Male Leopard (Newington) was found at Jacobin Camp moving east towards Djuma Dam.

PM
2 Large herds of Buffalo were found on game drive today.
The first was on Cheetah Plains and the second was found on the opposite end of the reserve at Big Dam.

1 December
AM
A large herd of Buffalo was found at Rhino pan, where they had spent the night sleeping.
2 Elephant bulls were found at Milkberry camp.
4 Lions (Western Pride) were found on Gowrie Main road at the Chitwa sign.

PM
The drive started with the Western Pride being located in the same spot as the morning drive.
The drive was then brought to a sudden halt, when the heavens decided to drop every bit of rain they had onto Djuma game reserve, or so it felt. We raced back to the shelter of camp where the bar was much drier and inviting.

2 December
AM
1 Female Cheetah was found at Bush Lodge Clearing. She had just killed a baby Impala and was busy feeding. Once finishing her "Breakfast" she moved swiftly west.
The Western Pride was found on Leadwood road where they had killed a baby Giraffe. They all looked well fed but that didn't stop the 2 young males trying to gorge themselves further.

4 December
PM
It was a quiet drive with regards to the big 5 and none of this group was seen. However at this time of year that's no problem as there is so much else to see. Migrant birds, Insects, Frogs, Baby Antelope, Flowers, Grasses and just the general scenery keeps anyone with interest totally absorbed.

5 December
AM
4 Rhino were found on Long Pole Road.
A large Herd of Buffalo was found on our Southern Boundary.

PM
A Large Male Lion (Old Eastern Male) was found at Djuma Dam laying down

6 December
AM
1 Male Leopard (Newington) was found walking south on Djuma Dam Road.
A female Cheetah and her Cub were seen on the North Rock Clearing laying down. It is the same female seen a few months ago that was first recorded having 3 cubs. The next sighting saw hers having lost 1 cub and now just the single cub remains.

PM
4 Rhinos were found on Long Pole Road sleeping. This "Crash" of 4 later moved north towards Nyala Dam.

7 December
AM
2 Elephants were found at Cruise Camp, grazing on the long grass just off the clearing.

PM
1 Female Leopard (White Cloth) was found on Drakensberg Drive. She was moving Eastwards and Hunting Impala for most of the time.

8 December
AM
1 female Leopard (Beacon female) and her 2 cubs were found south of Nyala Dam. They were all moving through the woodland before the mother slipped off without the cubs noticing presumably to go hunting.
1 Male Lion (Manyeleti Male) and 1 Female Lion (Sandy Patch) with her 2 young cubs were found at Jordaan's Dam laying down.
The Styx Pride (8 Lionesses in total) was found at the "Triple M" Junction laying down.
2 Elephants were found on the Buffelshoek Airstrip.
6 Buffalo Bulls were found at Long Pole.

The Ranger's diary is updated weekly

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