19-20 March

Our evening drive started well as we departed the lodge, Bernard found a big elephant bull on Kruger boundary and we found a herd of elephant on Annet’s camp moving south from jacks pan. 

We then moved west in search of more animals, we succeeded in our quest as we found a big bull elephant had our attention on the southern side of Arathusa’s airstrip, and then we headed towards the Styx pride lazing about as usual deeper west in the thick bush veld, but the cubs were with them. Unfortunately there was no visual of the three young ones as the mother lioness had hidden them in a save spot in the drainage line where it was impossible to get to, none the less we had a great visual of the cats lazing about. Happy to have seen a big cat we headed back to camp after a lovely sundown drink stop. 

This morning was an exceptional drive! We barely left the lodge as we heard impala alarm calling and the blue wildebeest snorting distressed. Barely outside the electric border around the camp, We found what the commotion was about… Xivambalane! The male leopard was hiding in the long grass stalking the impala. Fortunately for the impala he was spotted before we got to him. He moved off south towards the lodge but sneaked out of sight on the western side of the camp. 

After starting the morning in such a good way we were excited to see what the rest of the drive held in store for us. A small herd of elephant was drinking water from a very small pool of water and the one female had a calf no older than eight months, since he was still learning the tricks of the trunk he couldn’t drink the same way as his mother so he took a short cut, he went head first into the pond drinking the water with his mouth. 

Soon after a tower of giraffe was spotted calmly browsing away with a quick glance at us to ensure we’re not a threat. 

Shortly after the tall mammals we encountered our second leopard for the day… Thandi! She was peacefully sleeping in a marula tree as we arrived, not a care in the world as she stretched out on the branch, soon after she came down very elegantly pouncing down the fruit baring tree one obstacle at a time until she finally jumped down and moved off into the bushes and disappeared as leopards do best! We decided to stop for coffee on the open area known as mike’s kitchen and watched some plains zebra moving over the open veld! 

We headed back after a very eventful morning, on our way back we had some great entertainment from the dwarf mongoose family on the side of the road curiously and carefully coming out of their hiding spot to investigate our presence, as Africa’s smallest carnivore these small mammals ensured a smile on our faces for our last stretch back to camp. All of this within four kilometers from camp!