Saturday, December 31, 2011

AM Drive Sightings

Tlangisa female leopard with a baby impala kill
Dewane male leopard, still with his kudu kill
Buffalo bulls
Elephant bulls swimming
Hippo
Impala
Kudu
Waterbuck

***Mini-Pog Update***
The separated young male joined up with the Ximhungwe pride again this morning, the idube stations were not there but the report was that the females were slightly aggressive towards their nephew but the males stepped in in his defence. By the end of drive the situation was calm and the youngster was lying down only a few meters away from the others.

PM Drive Sightings 30 December 2011

Xinzele male leopard
Dewane male leopard with a kudu kill
Ximhungwe lion pride 3 + 4 and 2 Mapogo males
Big buffalo herd
Buffalo bulls
Elephant herd
Elephant bulls
Impala
Kudu
Waterbuck
Scrub-hare

Thursday, December 29, 2011

AM Drive Sightings

Shy male leopard, running away, no ID
Makulu Mapogo, sleeping alone
Elephant bull
Elephant herd
Buffalo bulls
Hippo
Zebra
Impala
Waterbuck
Kudu
Steenbok
Duiker
Burrowing asp
Rainbow skink
Plated lizard

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

PM Drive Sightings

No pictures due to rain...
Ximhungwe pride 3 + 4 and Pretty Boy mapogo resting
Buffalo bulls
Large herd of zebra, wildebeest and buffalo all together
Honey badgers
Elephants
Impala
Steenbok
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AM Drive Sightings

Tlangisa female leopard posing in a tree
Hlab'nkunzi female leopard
2 Mapogo male lions, 1 Ximhungwe lioness and the lone Mini-pog Ximhungwe male all together, seems to be no aggression from the older males towards the youngster at the moment
Elephant herds
Buffalo bulls
Hippo
Kudu
Impala
Duiker
Waterbuck

PM Drive Sightings 27 Dec 2011

Dewane male leopard
2 sleeping Mapogo male lions
Huge elephant bull
Elephant herd
Buffalo herd
Zebra
Giraffe
Kudu
Duiker
Huge termite emergence

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

AM Drive Sightings

Tlangisa female leopard, stalking impala
Hlab'nkunzi female leopard on her way to where we think her cubs are
One Ximhungwe lioness having her kill stolen by a clan of hyena
Elephant herd being followed by a Musth bull
Hippo
Impala
Kudu
Waterbuck

PM Drive Sightings 26 December 2011

Xikavi female leopard hiding in some thick bush
3 Mapogo, 3 Ximhungwe lionesses + 4 cubs, 1 Othawa male approached the pride and got a hiding from pretty boy and the 3 lionesses, no serious injuries though
Elephant herd
Buffalo herd
Hippo
Impala
Waterbuck

Monday, December 26, 2011

AM Drive Sightings

Ximhungwe pride 3 +4, with 3 Mapogo males
Buffalo herd
Elephants
Hippo
Waterbuck
Impala
Zebra
Giraffe
Steenbok

The lone Ximhungwe youngster was seen with a full stomach this morning, he was reportedly still skinny though. He has joined with the pride once in the last week but the three Mapogo surrounded him and started roaring so he left again. If he can join the pride whilst the males are away he should be accepted.

PM Drive Sightings 25 December 2011

Hlab'nkunzi female leopard outside the lodge
2 Mapogo male lions, one feeding on tge buffalo kill
2 Othawa male lions, still close to the Mapogos
1 Ximhungwe lioness
Elephants
Hippo
Nyala
Waterbuck
Impala

Sunday, December 25, 2011

AM Drive Sightings

Wishing everybody who is celebrating Christmas a wonderful day!
Tassleberry female leopard and Kashane male leopard mating on the main road junction with Idube access
Mapogo lions Makulu + Mr T with a young buffalo kill - also 2 Othawa males within 1km of the kill (maybe it was their kill that the big guys stole?)
Huge elephant bull
Big buffalo herd
Impala
Zebra
Giraffe
Hippo
Waterbuck
Duiker
Kudu
Honey badger digging up a scorpion

Sightings 23 Dec PM + 24 Dec

23 December PM:
Xindlevhana male leopard, acting shy
Tlangisa female leopard
Ximhungwe pride of lions and 2 Mapogo males
Makulu Mapogo, alone
Huge python up a tree
Elephants
Impala
Kudu
Nyala
Steenbok
Spotted eagle owl chick

24 December AM
Lots of rain - 83mm total
Big buffalo herd
Zebra
Giraffe
Kudu bulls
Banded rubber frog
Steenbok
Impala
Waterbuck

24 PM
2 Mapogo male lions close to the lodge
Big elephant herd
Huge elephant bulls
Waterbuck
Impala
Steenbok
Duiker

Friday, December 23, 2011

AM Drive Sightings

Hlab'nkunzi female leopard trying to avoid Dewane male leopard. She does seem to have had a new litter of cubs...
Makulu Mapogo and one lioness sleeping north of the river
Buffalo bulls
Elephant bull
Elephant herd
Giraffe
Impala
Waterbuck
Zebra
Side-striped jackal and pups
Kudu
Nyala

PM Drive Sightings 22 Dec 2011

Tassleberry female leopard
Ximhungwe pride of lions with one Mapogo male
Elephants with one day old baby swimming at Scotia dam (at the back of the lodge)
Pack of wild dogs hunting then going for a drink at Scotia dam
Hyena at Scotia dam
Hippo displaying and leaving the water at Scotia dam
More elephants all over
Snouted cobra
Impala
Waterbuck
Scrub-hare
Nyala
Kudu
Duiker

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Sightings from last two drives

Tassleberry female leopard (PM)
Dewane male leopard and Hlab'nkunzi female leopard walking past one another on opposite sides of the Mabrak river (PM)
2 Mapogo male lions (roaring - PM, sleeping - AM)
Ximhungwe pride and one Mapogo (AM)
Elephant herd with newborn calf - female eating the afterbirth! (Seen both drives)
Wild dog pack hunting, and eating a baby impala
Buffalo herd
Zebra
Impala
Waterbuck
Kudu
Nyala
Warthog
Hippo
(All both drives)

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

AM Drive Sightings

Tassleberry female leopard
2 Mapogo male lions
Elephant herd
Elephant bulls
Buffalo herd
Hippo
Giraffe
Kudu
Impala
Side striped jackal pups
Chameleon
Hinged tortoise
African finfoot

PM Drive Sightings 20 Dec 2011

Tlangisa female leopard resting in a tree before chasing a warthog
Lone Ximhungwe Mini-pog male lion
1 Othawa lioness
Buffalo bulls
Elephant bull
Elephant herds
Zebra
Giraffe
Ground hornbills
Kudu
Nyala
Steenbok
Impala
Genet
Hippo
Crocodile

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Sightings from the last two drives

Xinzele and Dewane male leopards circling one another (PM)
Ximhungwe lion pride with 1 Mapogo male (outside Othawa camp PM, and north of the Sand river this morning)
Pack of 9 African hunting dogs (PM)
Reedbuck (AM)
Bushbuck (AM)
Buffalo bulls
Impala
Kudu
Nyala
Waterbuck
(All both drives)
Giant Eagle owl (PM)

Monday, December 19, 2011

AM Drive Sightings

Tlangisa female leopard stalking impala
Ximhungwe male Mini-pog with a tortoise kill
Pack of 9 African wild dog
Giraffe
Hippo
Impala
Bushbuck
Steenbok
Duiker
Waterbuck
Warthog
Slender mongoose

PM Drive Sightings 18 Dec 2011

Kashane male leopard, inside the buildings at Idube bush camp
2 Mapogo male lions in front of the lodge
Elephants
Zebra
Impala
Waterbuck
Nyala
Kudu
Spotted Eagle-owls

Sunday, December 18, 2011

AM Drive Sightings

2 Mapogo male lions chasing the Kashane male leopard in front of the lodge
4 ground hornbills harassing a tawny eagle, also outside the lodge
Elephant herd
Waterbuck
Impala
Hyena
Vultures on the remains of the Southern males buffalo kill
Steenbok
Hippo playing with a stick

PM Drive Sightings 17 Dec 2011

2 Mapogo male lions
African wild dog pack with impala kill
Hippo
Elephant herd
Elephant bull
Reedbuck
Impala
Waterbuck
White-tailed mongoose
Steenbok
Duiker
Side-striped jackal

Saturday, December 17, 2011

AM Drive Sightings

Elephant herd
Elephant bull
Buffalo bulls
Ground Hornbills
Hippo
Giraffe and baby
Impala
Waterbuck

The remaining Mini-pog Ximhungwe male lion was feeding on a tortoise kill this morning but had moved on by the time we got to the area
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PM Drive Sightings 16 Dec 2011

Kashane male leopard patrolling territory
Dewane male leopard with the remains of his kudu kill (the scraps the pack left behind)
2 Mapogo male lions, nearly done with their buffalo kill
Southern/Selati male lions lying up with their buffalo kill (just east of our boundary)
Pack of 9 African wild dogs, sleeping
Elephant herds
Elephant bull
Zebra (fighting)
Kudu
Waterbuck
Duiker
Hyena
Impala
Lots of Giant land snails

Friday, December 16, 2011

AM Drive Sightings

2 Mapogo male lions with a young buffalo kill
4 Southern/Selati Pride male lions with an adult buffalo kill
African Wild Dog pack stealing a kudu kill from Dewane male leopard
Hippo
Duiker
Steenbok
Impala
Kudu
Bushbuck
Nyala

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Sightings from last night and this morning

Kashane male leopard (finishing impala kill) AM
Hyena at Kashane's kill (PM)
Ximhungwe lions + 1 Mapogo (PM)
Elephants (AM)
4 Southern Pride Male lions (AM)
African Wild dog pack (AM)
Giraffe (AM)
Impala (PM + AM)
Zebra (PM)
Kudu (AM)
Duiker (PM)
Crocodile (PM)
Hippo (AM)
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Sightings from last night and this morning

Kashane male leopard (AM)
African Wild Dog pack(AM)
Zebra (PM + AM)
Elephant (AM)
Impala (AM + PM)
Duiker (PM)
Steenbok (PM)
Kudu (AM + PM)
Waterbuck (AM + PM)
Genet (PM)

The remaining 1yr old Ximhungwe cub has been spotted closer to the river now, he seems to be fine for the moment, looks like he is heading towards the area the rest of the pride was last seen.
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

PM Drive Sightings 12 Dec 2011

Dewane male leopard, marking and calling
3 Mapogo male lions and the Ximhungwe pride stealing a baby waterbuck kill off a huge python
Pack of African wild dog
Hyena
Buffalo bulls
Elephant
Hippo
Impala
Waterbuck
Steenbok
Duiker
Kudu
Nyala
Saddle-billed storks

We are also very sad to have to report the death of one of the young Mini-pog male lions of the Ximhungwe pride, it seems he was in a fight with something bigger and stronger than he was. Suspects include hyena, leopard or one of the Mapogo. The two young males had been doing so well up to that point, we just hope the second cub manages to avoid the same fate.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Sightings from last night and this morning

Kashane male leopard (PM)
Elephant herd (PM + AM)
Elephant bulls (PM + AM)
Buffalo (PM)
Giraffe (AM)
Hyena (PM)
Side-striped Jackal (PM)
Impala (PM + AM)
Waterbuck (AM)
Nyala (PM + AM)

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Sunday, December 11, 2011

AM Drive Sightings

Dewane male leopard
Buffalo herd
Lots of impala and lambs
Lots of waterbuck
Rain...

The two young mini-pog male lions of the Ximhungwe pride were seen close to the lodge last night and one was spotted briefly further north of that position this morning. The lioness seems to have left them alone whilst she looks for food. They are still healthy, just sorry we still don't have a picture of them to share with you.
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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

News From The Bush

It has been a busy month for the animals as summer starts to take hold and the rains finally start in earnest, there has been a baby boom in the past few weeks and we have been seeing new baby elephant, giraffe, warthogs and of course it it’s the impala lambing season now too!
The first impala lamb reported in our area was seen up in the north of the reserve, sadly the next morning the Ximhungwe pride were seen snacking on it!
The fact that the impala have their lambs in a very short space of time means that despite the predators getting hold of some of the youngsters, many more are able to survive as the sheer number of lambs means only a small percentage are lost.
Other young animals we see are the young cubs of the Ximhungwe lion pride: The pride has been having a bit of a rough time over the past few weeks with the youngest litter of cubs seemingly being lost to the Dewane male leopard and one of the slightly older cubs being badly injured by a hyena. The injured cub eventually seems to have succumbed to his injuries despite his mother’s long treks between the pride and him to try to help. The oldest female of the pride also died recently and for a while their was a great deal of concern over her cubs – the oldest in the pride but we are happy to report that they are now with the female who lost her cubs and seem to be fine. The main core of the pride has been moving up and down our entire traversing area and has been very successful with kills; despite the setbacks the pride looks well and healthy. One of the meals they had was actually inside the lodge grounds, right up against the manager’s house – a fantastic start to that particular morning drive! The three Mapogo males were also present with the pride for a lot of the time and the interactions between the cubs and their fathers was always a delight to see.
The Mapogo males did also leave the pride from time to time and had a good time hunting Buffalo – one adult bull in the north and later on another bull and an adult cow – that time with the help of the one Ximhungwe lioness who had lost her cubs. They were also seen mating with the same lioness on a few occasions.
The Othawa pride is not seen so regularly these days so it was a treat to see first the three lionesses close to the river and later in the month the two young males in the south following the buffalo herd. The three lionesses are old enough to reproduce now and have reportedly been seen mating with young males from the East (Nkuhuma males) as well as the Mapogo males. The young males are looking magnificent, their manes are nearly complete and they are big strong lions, despite their determination in following the buffalo they did not manage to catch one whilst they were in our area.
We have also been treated to many magnificent leopard sightings:
The Shangwa female and her approximately one-year-old son have been seen around the eastern stretch of the river a lot more frequently recently and we have been treated to some fantastic interactions between the two and also between the youngster and other animals as he learns to hunt, one morning we watched him stalking buffalo – the buffalo were aware of his presence and just chased him away each time he got too close.
The Xikavi female was also seen a few times very close to the areas that Shangwa has been in and the similar size and looks of the two (Xikavi is Shangwa’s daughter) has had many people momentarily confused1 One sighting actually saw Shangwa and her cub together with Xikavi – there was some argument over the possession of an impala kill!Hlab’nkunzi is still coming through the lodge on a regular basis and she was seen with an impala kill up a tree just outside the lodge, there were also hyena and a herd of elephant on the scene.
The Tlangisa female is still moving all over the place trying to avoid conflict wit the other female leopards, she also came quite close to the lodge where she was seen with a duiker kill. At over 2 ½ years old she will soon have to find herself a permanent home, she is already starting to show interest in the males and will need a defendable core territory by the time she has cubs.
The Metsi female has been trying very hard to attract the attention of the Dewane male recently and it seems to have worked as they were spotted mating recently, she was also seen on her own a couple of times but not very regularly.
The Tassleberry female has only been spotted a couple of times since she was seen mating with the Kashane male, the skittish female known as the Mobeni female was also reportedly mating with Kashane, this may mean she has lost her remaining cub.
The Dam 3 female was seen a couple of times and it seems she has a new litter of cubs, as she is not a relaxed female we wont see all that much of them but it is nice to know they are there!
The Xinzele male was seen regularly in his usual core territory south of the river and there were a lot more sightings of the Dewane male, he seems to have settled in our Southwestern corner.
The Kashane male was seen with an impala kill for a few days in the south, he also managed to hide a bull nyala kill in front of the lodge for a few days and was only discovered when the kill was finished!
There was also a sighting of a handsome young male leopard up in the north, he was a bit shy and as yet we do not have an ID for him.
The pack of painted hunting dogs also came through the area quite a few times and as always were very successful with their hunts whilst they were here, the three remaining pups are almost as big as the adults and it is getting quite hard to see which is which whilst they are all running around. The fact that the pups are that big now increases their chance of survival and it looks like the pack will stay strong for a while.
Recently the reserve has had an increase in pangolin sightings and we are averaging 1 sighting a week at the moment, these peculiar creatures, also known as a scaly anteater, are usually shy and roll into a ball when disturbed. One of the pangolins that was seen was so relaxed it actually walked up to the vehicles and had a sniff around!
The lush green bush has resulted in a lot of elephants being attracted to the area, many of which have had extremely young calves with them, the hot weather has also meant we have had some great sightings of the herds swimming in the many waterholes.
The buffalo herd has also been in the area regularly, it seems that a couple of the smaller herds have joined up at times leaving us with one massive group of close to 1000 animals on occasion!

Video highlights for November can be found on Idube’s facebook page and on youtube
Daily Updates are back soon!