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In the Ranger's Diary we tend to concentrate on the "Big Five" or rather the "Big Seven" since these are the most popular animals. The "Big Seven" includes lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo, cheetah and wild dog. The term "Big Five" (the first five animals listed) was historically used to denote the five most dangerous animals to hunt in Africa. Fortunately the term is now used to describe the most popular animals.
 

1 March
PM
-The White Cloth female Leopard was found moving westwards, away from the Mluwanini riverbed, after finishing up the remainder of their Impala kill.
-6 Lionesses and 1 male from the Nkuhuma pride were found in the same shady spot as where they were left on the morning drive. The Lions were still resting and showed no signs of moving any time soon.

2 March
AM
-2 Large Elephant bulls were found on the Quarantine open area near Vuyatela. They were both feeding on Marula fruits.
-4 Buffalo bulls were seen mud bathing in Chela Pan near Twin Dams.

PM
-The massive Jordaan's male Leopard was seen at Buffelshoek dam. After drinking he disappeared into the donga system behind the dam, where the bush was too thick to follow.
-12 Buffalo bulls were found drinking at Buffelshoek dam.
-4 Rhinos were found on Dolerite road. They were grazing slowly north towards Nyala Dam.
-A large breeding herd of Elephant were found near Sandy Patch.

3 March
AM
-2 Male Cheetahs (The Eastern Males) were found at 3 in a row pan. They were hunting impala and whilst stalking one of the males disturbed a Serval in the long grass. The Serval, fearing for its life, launched itself into a nearby Marula tree and out of reach of the Cheetah. It was a first time sighting for a few guides and trackers, who are more used to seeing Servals on the ground in long grass.
-The White Cloth female Leopard and her cub were found on Mamba road moving slowly southwards through the woodland.
-A rare sighting of a female Reedbuck was enjoyed close to Cheetah Pan. She was spotted standing on a termite mound.

PM
-3 Elephant bulls were found on Cheetah Plains feeding westwards along the fire-break.
-The Hyena den at 1st Rock was active with adults and cubs inter-acting close to our vehicle.
-A lone Buffalo bull was found bathing in the Torchwood waterhole.

4 March
AM
-1 Female Leopard (Karula) was found on Hyena road walking South. She was scent marking. This is something she will do frequently now to try keep other Leopards out of her territory in order to safe guard her cub/s. She has been seen between Vuyatela and Buffelshoek dam on a few occasions recently and it's in this area that we believe she is hiding her cub/s.
-4 Rhinos were found near Buffelshoek dam on the firebreak.
-The Nkuhuma pride was found at Baboon Pan resting close to the road.

4 March
PM
-6 Lionesses and 2 males (Nkuhuma Pride) were found again on the Gowrie main road close to Twin Dams. They got up and began to move eastwards along the road before moving southwards away from the reserve.
-A breeding herd of Elephant were Buffelshoek dam and another herd at Djuma dam. Both herds were drinking and mud bathing.
-3 Rhino bulls were found at Nyala dam drinking.
-The son of the White Cloth female Leopard was found towards the end of drive near Cheetah Cutline. He was found lying in a Marula tree. There were 2 Hyenas at the base of the tree suggesting that the Leopard had been disturbed and climbed the tree for safety.

5 March
AM
-A breeding herd of Buffalo was found at Kudu Corner. They were walking northwards along the Kruger Park boundary road.
-A breeding herd of Elephant were found at Chela Pan open area close to Twin Dams

The Ranger's diary is updated weekly

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