21 May
AM
1 Rhino bull was found on Dolerite Road feeding.
2 Elephant Bulls were seen feeding on Sussen's Clearing.
1 Male Lion (Zambezi) was found sleeping at Nyala Dam Wall.
A large herd of Buffalo were seen west of Khaya Manzi.

PM
2 Male Cheetah were seen east of Cruise Camp. They were found when Vultures were seen dropping out of the sky and when the first vehicle arrived at the seen they witnessed the 2 cheetah brothers trying to chase off the vultures. However, the Vultures were too strong a force and the cheetahs had enough packed away in their bellies to keep fighting and instead moved off to rest in some nearby shade.
4 Lions (Collar Pride) were found near Nyala Dam feeding on a Buffalo Carcass. They were also roaring now and then.
2 Elephant bulls were found south of Bushbuck Dam feeding.

22 May
AM
They 2 cubs of the Beacon Female Leopard were found South of Jordaan's Dam. The young female, as always, was the star of the show. She climbed a large Knobthorn tree and lay there posing for the next half hour. She then spotted some nearby impala and descended from the tree and began stalking the unsuspecting antelope. The impala spotted her from quite a distance and sounded their alarm calls leaving the Leopardess empty handed.
The 3 males and 1 female Lion's of the Collar Pride were found resting a short distance from where they had been seen feeding the night before.
4 Rhinos were found east of Long Pole feeding.
A purple roller was seen feeding on a spotted bush snake near Big Dam.

PM
2 Lionesses (Sandy Patch) were found at /Sidney's dam near Gowrie Gate.
A Porcupine was seen at Nagaapie Draai.

23 May
AM
The 2 cubs of the Beacon female Leopard were seen on east of brown Ivory road where they had been seen the day before. They were found playing around a fallen over Marula tree but were soon lost to very thick bush.
The collar Pride (4 Lions) were found on the Manyeleti Boundary sleeping.
A Large herd of Buffalo was seen at Big Dam.
A female Ostrich was seen on Cheetah Plains.

PM
4 Lions (Collar Pride) were found still sleeping near Cobus se Dam.

24 May
AM
1 Female Leopard (Karula) was found on the main road hunting Impalas. She missed after stalking within meters of the impala then walked west and crossed our western Boundary.
2 Lions (1 Sandy Patch female and 1 Zambezi Male) were found on Zoë's Road Mating.
2 Male Cheetah were found near Green Pan moving steadily west. They moved 4 km before laying down to rest north of 1st Rock.
A Breeding Herd of Elephant were found near Brown Ivory Road.
1 Rhino Bull was found on Long Pole Road.
1 Female Reedbuck was seen at Cheetah Plain Pan.

PM
2 Cheetah were found near Cruise Camp hunting Impala and Zebra but were unfortunately unsuccessful.
1 Rhino Bull was seen on the Secret Clearing grazing slowly towards Vrystaat clearing.
A Breeding herd of Buffalo were seen on the eastern side of Nyala Dam where they had just drank and were found moving slowly away from the dam.
2 Lions (The Zambezi Male and one of the Sandy Patch females) were found mating on the short-cut to Galago Camp.
An African Wild cat was seen on Gowrie Main Road.

25 May
AM
1 Female Leopard (White Cloth) was seen on Greenthorn Road with her 2 cubs. She was walking south, stopping once in a while to feed her thirsty cubs. She crossed our southern Boundary in the neighboring reserve.
1 Male Lion (The older of the Zambezi Males) was sleeping on the Cruse cut-line.
A Breeding herd of Buffalo were found moving east from Hyena Dam.
2 Male Cheetah were found hunting near Cruise Camp. They were unsuccessful in their attempts and eventually lay down in some shade to rest.
2 Lions (The younger Zambezi Male and one of the Sandy Patch females were found mating at Hardekool dam.

PM
1 Male Lion (The older of the Zambezi Males) was located on the northern side of Cheetah Pan sleeping. He looked well fed and only lifted his head to scan the open plain, once in a while.
An adult Serval was seen near Cheetah Pan hunting.
An African Wild Cat was seen on Rhino Cut-Line.

26 May
AM
No Big 8 sightings were had on drive.
Plenty of general game was seen and as usual a huge array of birds too.

PM
1 Lioness (Sandy Patch) was found at Nyala Dam feeding on an Impala carcass with no sign of her cubs. It is worrying because she has not been seen with them for sometime now and the death of the Manyeleti male on the 12th of this month could mean that the cubs have fallen prey to the Zambezi males or one of the males in the Collar Pride.
2 Lions (Young Zambezi Male and one of the Sandy Patch females) were still mating on the Hardekool dam wall. They only mated twice in the space of an hour, and it looked as though this "honeymoon" was coming to an end.
A large herd of Buffalo were seen moving into Kruger Park east of Hyena Dam.

27 May
AM
1 Female Leopard (White Cloth) was found to the north of the Fig Tree. She looked to be in on the hunt and was followed for some time until she stalked straight to a steenbok that was unaware of her presence. She got to within range and pounced!! The steenbok, having a few tricks of his own, side-stepped her the second she pounced and avoided any becoming breakfast. The Leopard snuck off and on hearing a noise in the grass close by, once again went into stalk mode. This time she pounced and was successful, however her pry item much smaller. She killed a Coqui Francolin which she took no time in devouring, before leading us westwards towards the djuma old driveway. Their she led us straight to her 2 cubs who were hidden in a small drainage system and she began nursing them. After they had drunk some milk she led them north through the bush towards 1st rock.

The Ranger's diary is updated weekly

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