19 July
AM
Elephant bulls were seen all over the reserve.

PM
A breeding herd of elephants were seen at 3 in a row pans. They were feeding and heading north.

20 July
AM
Three buffalo bulls were found sleeping on Cheetah cutline.
A bull elephant was found feeding in Bush Lodge clearing.

PM
One male leopard (Newington) was found at Kudu Corner feeding on a warthog carcass.
Two elephant bulls were seen feeding just north of Kudu Corner.

21 July
AM
A breeding herd of elephants were seen feeding on Central Road Djuma.
One elephant bull was also seen on Central Road Djuma. He was in Muskth and following the breeding herd.
One male rhino was seen feeding and heading north on Hyena Road.

PM
The Styx Pride of lions (1 male and 6 females) were seen at Bush Lodge and eventually headed into Mala Mala.
Two bull elephants were found drinking at Milkberry Dam.
Two ostriches, a male and a female, were seen at Big Dam as well as a female Reedbuck.

22 July
AM
The two lionesses from the Sandy Patch Pride were feeding on a female Nyala on Gowrie Cutline.
Four lions from the Collar Pride were seen at Vuyatela Dam. There were 3 males and 1 female. 1 male chased a Sandy Patch female south.
Two rhino bulls were seen feeding at Twin Dams.

PM
One female cheetah with her 3 cubs (about 15 months old) was found at Cruise Camp. They were hunting and moved to Umbrella Clearing.
White Cloth (female leopard) was seen at 1st rock, she had killed a female impala.
Five lions were seen at Vuyatela Dam, the Collar Pride and the Sandy Patch Pride. It looks as though only one sandy patch female is comfortable with the Collar Pride as one of the Sandy Patch females was missing.
A breeding herd of Elephant were found on Cheetah cutline.

23 July
AM
Two leopards, White Cloth and her cub, were see on an impala kill at 1st Rock.
The Sandy Patch pride and the Collar Pride, a group of 5 lions in total, were found lying just south of Vuyatela Dam.
Four cheetahs, one female and her 3 cubs, were seen hunting without much luck on Dolerite Road.

PM
Three lions from the Collar Pride were seen on Central Road Gowrie. The 2 young males and 1 female were roaring to try relocate each other.
Two leopards, White Cloth and her cub were found feeding on a kill at 1st Rock. She had still not hoisted the kill into a tree. A big risk once night has fallen!!
Two male cheetahs were found at Jordaan's Dam. They were moving east along fine break. They tried hunting impala and were lost after they chased impala into thick bush.

24 July
AM
Two male leopards (Jordaan's male and Newington male) were found in a territorial stand-off on Euphorbia Road. They were walking up and down, scent marking and vocalizing. They left heading north to 1st Rock.
Whitecloth and her cub were found on Old Entrance Djuma. Tracks suggested that their kill had been stolen by the Collar Pride lions and White Cloth was moving steadily south east until sleeping north of Djuma Dam. The swelling on White Cloth's neck is concerning us.

PM
One lion (old eastern male) was seen on the Mala Mala boundary resting throughout the whole drive.
Two leopards, White Cloth and her cub, were found resting in the same place as this morning. Both were relaxed and grooming on a termite mound in the gorgeous afternoon light.

25 July
AM
Four cheetahs, 1 female and her 3 cubs, were found moving south of our reserve on Cheetah Cutline Road.
One male cheetah of about 3 years was found moving east on Jacobin driveway. He had a full stomach and was looking for a place to rest.
There were many sightings at Djuma Dam this morning. Two leopards, White Cloth and her cub, were resting on the eastern side of the dam, they were grooming and playing. Three buffalo bulls and a breeding herd of elephant were drinking. At one point all three groups of animals could be seen from one position.

PM
A large breeding herd of buffalo were seen east of Milkberry Dam. The herd was moving into the Kruger.
Two elephant bulls were seen at Kudu Corner grazing.
Two special sightings after dark included a small spotted genet and two reedbuck.

26 July
AM
Five rhino were found south of Bushbuck Dam. Two of the "crash" were large bulls and were engaged in a stand-off. Both bulls were vocalizing whilst trying to intimidate one another and after some time turned their separate ways.
Three large buffalo bulls were found right outside bush lodge lying down.

The Ranger's diary is updated weekly

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