The prolific sightings through this winter continues. With scattered buffalo herds through the area and an abundance of grazers and browsers present.
The resident Hyena clan almost living permanently around the Lodge have been hunting regularly and very successfully in the area. With the last Impala escape still a mystery to me, this clan once again proved that they are actually very capable hunters and seem to make kills in close proximity to the Lodge, this time taking down an Impala ram within the staff camp during early parts of the morning. With lots of vocalization over the excitement of the kill, the 3 sub adults enjoyed the early morning breakfast provided by the Adults while our in house guests had a chance to witness this awesome sighting right in front of them. It definitely seems as if the Wild dogs and hyenas in the area have become accustomed to hunting Impala close by to the unfenced Lodge and having great success in doing so as the Impala always seem to approach the Lodges deck and main areas as a last resort.
Guests were also treated to an unforgettable sighting of the resident male Leopard up close. This Leopard has a liking to our waterhole infront of the Lodge and spends alot of time long the thicket of the drainage line to the East. Hes made numerous kills in close proximity to the Lodge and we would often see his tracks very close to the Lodge and at times right between the buildings infront of the rooms. Although, never spotted him that close before.
After a group of guests stumbled into him on a walk not far from camp, he ran off, crossing the riverbed and into the thicket before dissapearing. That afternoon, relocating this Leopard was not even a task as he surprised everyone when he suddenly approached the Lodges swimming pool in full daylight showing his spectacular body and pattern close up and in full as he made his way all along the building and at times, even pausing to look into the passage way of the interior almost with an understanding of the inside structure and walkways (makes you wander…).
He then sat just outside the garage before slowly making his way into thicker bush. The confidence and relaxed behaviour around the Lodge showed by this Leopard to approach a camp full off guests who were at the time all on the deck goes to show that this Leopard definitely knows his way around the Lodge and is a regular visitor! We look forward to many more sightings of the majestic animal!
