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27
March
PM
1 Female Leopard (Beacon Female) and 2 cubs were found on Sour Plum
Road. They were lying under a Large Fruited Combretum Tree and at
first we could not see what had their interest up in the high branches.
The female cub launched herself to the top of the branches and a
Lesser Bushbaby jumped to the next tree. Then it became her brother's
turn and he jumped to the tree where the Bushbaby was trying to
take refuge.
This went on for some time till eventually all lost interest and
moved northwards through the woodland.
28 March
AM
1 Female Cheetah and her 3 sub-adult cubs were found close to Gowrie
gate feeding on an Impala. They made short work of the adolescent
Impala's carcass, before moving east along the fire-break.
PM
2 Adult Male Cheetahs were found at Cheetah Plains. The animals
were sitting on the southern boundary.
A large breeding herd of Buffalo were found on the Manyeleti Boundary
just as it was getting dark. We watched them from a distance as
they were slowly moving south. All of a sudden there was a disturbance
at the back of the herd and it became clear that the herd was being
trailed from behind by 2 male Lions (Zambezi Males). They chased
the herd to try unsettle them, but without success. While this was
going on, a female cheetah moved towards the scene but moved on
briskly once she got wind of the Lions.
3 Elephants were seen at Big Dam feeding.
29 March
AM
1 Elephant Bull was found at Sandy Patch.
2 Male Lions were found on the Manyeleti Boundary. It was difficult
to see in the long grass what it was that they were feeding on but
it is thought that they were eating a young Buffalo.
A Herd of Buffalo were feeding in the same vicinity as the Lions.
PM
1 Female Leopard (Beacon Female) was found on the Buffelshoek Fire-Break.
She was laying on a fallen over Marula Tree. After some time she
descended from the tree, only to be to the long grass.
1 Female Cheetah and her 3 year old cubs were found lying on the
clearing south of Hardekool Dam.
30 March
AM
1 Female Leopard (Beacon Female) and her 2 cubs were found on the
Buffelshoek fire-break and in the distance, along the road, we saw
4 Cheetahs. The minute the cheetahs got wind of the Leopards they
turned to the west and made a hasty retreat.
Later in the drive the cheetahs were seen a further 5 Kilometers
to the west crossing our western boundary.
In the meantime the female Leopard led her cubs straight to an Impala
carcass she had killed earlier, and the cubs began to feed.
2 Male Lions (Zambezi Males) were found on the main road. They eventually
crossed the boundary to the south.
2 Elephant Bulls were seen on Dolerite Road feeding.
3 Buffalo Bulls were found in the big dam area.
PM
2 Of Djuma's adult male Leopards were seen on the drive.
Mafufanyane (father of Karula) was found on the main road south
of the gate, where he was scent marking profusely on just about
every bush he passed.
The Jordaan's Male (father of Beacon Female's cubs) was seen close
Frankel's Dam, but was soon lost to thick bush.
1 Female Leopard (Beacon Female) and her 2 cubs were seen at the
same sight as where they had been seen on the morning drive, still
feeding on the kill.
31 March
AM
2 Male Lions (Zambezi Males) were found at Vrystaat Clearing.
They moved slowly to the east in the direction of Big Dam.
1 Female Leopard (Beacon Female) was found at the same place as
the kill.
1 Male Rhino was found at Brown Ivory Clearing moving west.
A large herd of Buffalo were found east of Rhino Pan.
5 Elephant bulls were seen in the Sour Plum area.
PM
2 Male Lions (Zambezi Males) were found near Tortoise Pan. They
were moving slowly North towards the Manyeleti Boundary.
1 Rhino bull was seen near Nyala Dam, moving slowly southwards.
Beacon Female Leopard and her cubs were seen feeding on the same
Impala kill near Buffelshoek Dam.
A large herd of Buffalo were seen at 2nd Rock.
A group of 4 Elephant bulls were found on Gowrie Cutline.
1 April
AM
1 Male Leopard (Ncila) was found at Djuma dam. He lay on the dam-wall
for some time before finding a suitable tree to rest in the shade.
He later moved west and crossed the boundary south of Bush Lodge.
A large herd of Buffalo were found near the hyena den open area
on Torchwood.
4 Rhino were found to the East of Gowrie Gate.
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