MalaMala Diary Entry: 10 June 1998 Cheetah viewing over the last few days has been very good with at least four different sightings in two days. One sighting was of an adult female and her approximately
Lion sightings over the last few weeks have been good, but with the Styx Pride moving away for several days, much depended upon other prides such as the Charleston, The "large herd" of 500 or so buffalo have been seen on a consistent basis on Mala Mala, but lone or small groups of buffalo bulls as well as the "small herd" of sixty or so animals also make for excellent viewing. The latter herd have nearly doubled in number in recent years, thanks largely to good rains during that period. At this time of year calving is coming to an end and the buffalo become far more reliant on the rivers, the Sand River in particular, for their supply of food and water.
Other leopards spotted recently include White rhino viewing has been very good, particularly since the Sand River is now probably the only major source of water for many animals in the region. Some of these rhino have come in from the Kruger National Park and generally spend only a few hours on the Reserve before returning to their grazing grounds. At this time of year such behaviour is common and the rhino use the same routes to their favourite drinking spots.
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eight-month-old cub. This cheetah has been seen over a period of three or four days and was found eating the remains of an adult female impala. Another interesting sighting was that of a nervous male cheetah feeding on an adult male ostrich - since cheetah do not eat carrion it is very likely that this cheetah was the killer of the huge bird. One of the other cheetah sightings was of a female and her three approximately 15-month-old cubs. This group moved onto the Mala Mala airstrip but stayed only briefly, perhaps frightened away by lions which also moved into the area.
River Rocks and Marthly prides. The Charleston Pride in particular has been providing some splendid viewing with good daylight hunting. Kills over the last few days have included both kudu and impala. Needless to say, the ten lions of this pride are in fine condition. Another of the lionesses seen over the last few days was the sole survivor of the Emsagwen Pride. This lioness was spotted hunting off the Matshapiri River and although no kills were observed, her superb physical condition indicated a good success rate. The Emsagwen Pride went into decline a year ago when the companion and daughter of this lioness was killed, probably by an elephant. The five young cubs of the pride were also killed subsequent to this, with the culprits almost certainly being aggressive male lions which were not the fathers of these cubs.
Leopard sightings continue to be good. Towards the north of the Reserve the Hlabatini female and her nearly twenty-month-old cub have provided some entertaining viewing, particularly the latter as he continues on his way to independence. The Newington female was encountered recently for the first time in several months. She seemed rather agitated and another leopard was heard calling close by. A similar scene occurred with the Kapen female a few days prior to this in the same area. This incident has no doubt been a consequence of these two leopards reaffirming some or other territorial boundary. The Newington female is still lactating, a good sign since her last two cubs died. Of her first litter nearly three years ago, the young male cub is still seen on a regular basis along the length of the Sand River. At this stage this individual is apparently not antagonising any of the resident and dominant males.
the Toulon, White Cloth, Harrys, Mlowathi and Chellahanga females as well as the Jakkalsdraai male and several other as yet unnamed leopards. The naming of leopards on Mala Mala is done for record keeping purposes and names are only given when the animal has firmly established itself within a territory and once its identification features are known - every leopard has a unique pattern of spots which can then be used to identify the animals.
