Final Rangers Report

Good Day Everyone

Before I start telling you of the unbelievable 6 months of game viewing at our beloved Leopard Hills I would like you to know that there will be changes in the future.

This will be the last ranger’s report that will be posted on our website and all future rangers reports will be posted directly on our blog: www.leopardhills.com/ full of great images and sightings to give you up to date information on all the incredible sightings that we have had every month.

 

Leopard

The last 6 months of leopard viewing was full of surprises and the action was nonstop almost on a daily basis.  The Tekwaan male leopard has now completely taken over as the territorial male of most part of the reserve and was seen mating with the Metsi, Hlaba Nkunzi and Shikavi female leopards in the last 2 months. Hopefully we will have new leopard cubs by early next year. My guests and I was fortunate to watch the Hlaba Nkunzi female leopard playing with a day old steenbok lamb before finally killing it. Even though it was harsh to watch we realized that the above behavior is very important as it hones her skills to become the perfect killing machine.

  

We have also had numerous new individuals moving into our area. But in nature as in life animals come and go, I am very sad to report the Wallingford male leopard haven’t been seen for almost 3 months and we are sure that he is finally dead after so many years of being the prince of the Western Sector.

 

Lion

Lion sightings have been phenomenal as usual with 4 of the 6 males in the Mapogo Coalition spending most of the time in our traversing area. All 4 males have been mating with the 5 females from the Ximungwe Pride and like the leopards we expect cubs in the near future. The Ottawa Pride of lions has now taken over the majority of the former Sand River Prides territory. This is great news for us as our lion’s sightings has improved vastly in the last 6 months. We have also had an unexpected visit from a pride of 11 lions in our reserve. After many phone calls to our neighboring properties we discovered that the pride comes from the North and is resident on the Mala Mala and Manyeleti Game Reserves.

 

Wilddogs

For the first time in more than 6 years have we enjoyed wilddogs sightings on an almost permanent basis. 3 different packs moved in and out of our traversing area on a permanent basis. A pack of 3, a pack of 6 and finally a pack of 11 dogs were viewed. In October for the first time in 20 years did we viewed 2 different packs in our reserve and many of our regular guests that have been coming to Leopard Hills for the last 10 years finally had the chance to see and photographed the African Wilddog.

 

Cheetah

W e has had some truly awesome cheetah sightings in the last few months. A new male cheetah from the North has moved into our area. Due to old age his lower lip has dropped remarkably, giving him a distinct feature. The most remarkable sighting was of a troop of Chacma Baboons charging and chasing the cheetah over a big open plain. Unfortunately we still haven’t seen any new females with cubs but we are all holding thumbs and will keep you updated if we have any luck in the future.

 

Buffalo, Elephants and Rhino’s

The Leopard Hills property has become a stronghold for elephant, rhino and buffalo sightings. Especially buffalo with a herd numbering more than 300 individuals was seen on an almost daily basis. The amount of rhino on our property is unbelievable. For almost a week now 7 individual rhino’s have stayed less than a kilometer from camp, and in the summer heat was seen frequently all lying together in the cool water of Tawny Eagle Pan.

 

 

Birds

The return of the summer migrant bird species added some great colors to the African bush. The odd rare bird have had everyone in great excitement and sightings of White-Fronted Plover (only recorded as south as the Olifants River) and a Grey Headed Gull was a first for many of us in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

Until Next Month

See you on our blog

Marius Coetzee and the Leopard Hills Guides