1 April
PM
A large herd of Buffalo were seen on the Umbrella Torn Clearing.
1 Elephant bull was found north of first rock.
1 Large male Leopard (Jordaan's Male), who is the father of Beacon Female's 2 cubs, was found at 2nd Rock moving north through the woodland. Although this Leopard is usually very nervous of the vehicles he seemed to be quite relaxed on this occasion and he gave all a chance to appreciate what a big Leopard he is. In comparison to the other males that roam Djuma Game Reserve he is a monster of a Leopard. Even his tracks are almost as large as a female Lions.

2nd April
AM
A large herd of Buffalo were found near to Khaya Manzi dam.
Male Elephant's were found all over the reserve.
1 Female Leopard (Karula) was found at Twin dams. This is the furthest East we have ever seen this young Leopard and as has been the case with her in recent months, she was scent marking profusely at almost every given chance. She was left crossing the boundary towards the south.

PM
1 Female Leopard (White Cloth) was found at 2nd Rock. She was calling for her cubs and we all waited with anticipation, very concerned as the Jordaan's Male Leopard had been in that exact vicinity the evening before. She called for a few minutes and was answered by the cubs a short while later. To our delight both of the cubs are alive and look very healthy.

3rd April
AM
2 young male Cheetahs (were found on Cheetah Plains. They were lying in the long grass looking over the plain for any potential prey.
A large herd of Buffalo were found at Impala Plains moving south.

PM
2 young Leopard (Son and Daughter) of the Beacon female were seen at Cobus se Dam. They were playing around and up to their usual games of stalking, pouncing and jumping on one another. They were eventually left moving into an area too wet to drive.
A herd of Buffalo was found on the main road near Kudu Corner.

4 April
AM
1 Male Leopard (Jordaan's) was found on the main road near Tree House dam. He was moving north towards Vuyatela.
2 Young male Cheetahs were found on Cheetah Plains.
A large Herd of Buffalo were found at 3 Pans.
An Elephant Bull was seen at Lucas' Open Area.

PM
The Sandy Patch Pride (1 male, 1 Female and 2 cubs) were found west of Galago Camp. The pride tried hunting impalas with limited success.

5 April
AM
2 Young Male Cheetahs were found on Cheetah Plains. They were relaxing in shade, scanning the open plain for any sign of prey.
A large herd of Buffalo were seen at Torchwood camp.

PM
1 Lioness (Sandy Patch), 1 Male Lion (Manyeleti Male) and 2 cubs were found at Galago Camp. They stalked a herd of Impala, but without success and were left heading north towards Hardekool Dam.

6 April
AM
Elephant bulls were seen all over the reserve.
2 Leopards (Son and Daughter) of the Beacon Female were seen on Vrystaat clearing. They were resting in separate Marula Trees, but eventually linked up and chased each other around the canopy of a large Marula before splitting up and heading north.

PM
1 Large male Leopard (Jordaan's) was seen on Vuyatela Lodge's entrance road. He was quite nervous of the vehicle and was not pursued.
1 Female Leopard cub (Daughter of Beacon) was found at Vrystaat clearing laying in a large Black Monkey Thorn Acacia. She lay there for ages before, descending and moved onto the clearing, where she lay down.

7 April
AM
A large herd of Buffalo was located at Buffelshoek Dam drinking.
Elephant Bulls were seen all over the reserve.
1 Female Cheetah was found at Big Dam moving from the woodland towards the open clearing.

PM
White Cloth and her cubs were located at the natural bridge near 1st Rock. Both cubs look in perfect health and were using the large Granite rock as their play-ground.
2 Male Lions and a single Lioness (Western Pride) were found at Vuyatela camp. They were scent marking and surveying the area where other track suggested they might be other Lions in the area.

8 April
AM
1 Male Leopard (Newington Male) was found after some good tracking at 2nd rock. He was sleeping in a large Guarri bush but started walking west towards 1st rock. He disappeared into a large thicket and returned with a young kudu hanging from his jaws. The kudu calf kicked and struggled for a short while before being dragged to the shade of a Leadwood Tree where the Leopard began to feed. Kudu will often leave their young in thick bush whilst moving away to feed, but in this instance it proved to be a fatal mistake.
2 Male Cheetah were found at Buffalo Pan. They were moving slowly eastwards and eventually crossed into the Kruger Park.

PM
A large herd of Buffalo were found at Sour Plum Junction. They were moving towards the North.
A large Herd of Elephants were seen close to rubbing post dam.
The Newington male Leopard was still feeding on the Kudu Calf he had killed in the morning. Just after dark, he dragged the kill to the base of acacia tree and hoisted it up into the canopy.

9 April
AM
The Newington Leopard was found at the same place with his kill. He had moved it back onto the ground and after a drink from a nearby stream, he lay down to rest.
The White Cloth female leopard was found at her den site with her 2 young cubs. They were playing around their mother and every time they moved out of site they were called back by the mother's soft contact calls. They are becoming more relaxed to the vehicles and the sensitivity shown towards her by all the guides is paying off with wonderfully special sightings of this special Leopard and her young.
2 Male Cheetahs were found near Kudu Corner moving west.
5 Rhinos were found on Vrystaat clearing moving east.

PM
2 Adult male Cheetahs were found on the Southern Boundary moving east towards Cheetah Plains, where they eventually lay down to sleep on the boundary.
1 Male Leopard (Newington) was found at his Kudu Kill still feeding.

10 April
AM
Newington Male Leopard was yet again at his kill and was feeding off the last bits of flesh of the carcass. He moved off later in the morning.
One female Leopard (White cloth Female) was at her den at the rock bridge near 1st rock where she was feeding her 2 cubs.

PM
2 Elephant Bulls were found near Buffelshoek Dam.
1 Buffalo Bull was found at Gowrie Cutline road moving towards Vuyatela.
1 Male Lion and 2 Lionesses (Sandy Patch) were found on Hunters drive hunting Impala. They gave up after being spotted in the bright moon light and went to rest out in the open.

11 April
AM
The Sandy Patch Pride and their 2 cubs were found east of the gate. They were lying down on the road until the sun dried the dew off the grass. They then moved into the shade just off the road to rest for the day.
4 Rhino were seen west of Nyala Dam. They were grazing peacefully in the shade of some Marula trees.
A large herd of Buffalo was seen near Vrystaat clearing near the "Long-Pole".

The Ranger's diary is updated weekly

ARCHIVES