Week in Pictures: Big Cats and Scavengers

We seem to have plenty of scavenger sightings in conjunction with our big cat sightings. I guess that’s just the nature of the beast! Cats are always on the hunt for food and scavengers are always waiting in the wings to pick up available scraps and dine out on carrion. Scavengers serve a vital role in the ecology of an area. They clean up the debris and remains from a carcass, which prevents the spread of disease. When a kill is conducted, you can guarantee that the scavengers will be awaiting their take-out meal. Here are a few highlights from the camps:

Umkumbe Safari Lodge

  • The appearance of two new female leopards, Hlarulini female from the south and the Ndzanzeni female form the north.
  • A rare sighting of the Inyathini male who wandered over from the Kruger Park in 2014.
  • A moment with White Dam and her cub, who is old enough to fend for himself, but was seen on a kill with his mother.
  • The thieving hyena called Toothfairy who, yet again, stole another leopard kill!
  • The bush is very dry at the moment, so there are plenty of sightings of large mammals and plains game, which are on the move in search of fresh vegetation. When the food moves, the big cats are seen patrolling and hunting to their heart’s content.

White Dam's Cub White Dam's Cub Sunset Umkumbe Toothfairy the Hyena

Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp

  • New rogue male, Mabende, has been spotted on numerous occassions and even made a kill next to one of the waterholes.
  • The Ross Pride Breakaway lionesses are still living happily on their turf. Mabende seemed interested in following their scent and tracks.
  • The Trilogy males have been lying low for quite sometime. They decided to make a guest appearance last night, just to show the Mabende male who’s boss of the turf.
  • The vultures and hyenas descended upon the carcasses left by the Mabende male and the Ross Pride Breakaway lionesses.

Ross Pride Lionesses Hyena Klaserie Trilogy Lion Vulture Swooping Down Hyena nThambo Ross Pride Lioness Trilogy Boy Hyenas and Vultures

Ezulwini Billy’s Lodge and Ezulwini River Lodge

  • Two halves of the Mohlabetsi lion pride have been spotted lazing around in the thickets. The 3 lionesses are off raising their 4 cubs together, while the sub-adults and older female tend to congregate together.
  • Duma, the strong and dominant male form the Olifants West Pride was seen patrolling his turf.
  • Rangers had a brief sighting of handsome blue-eyed leopard, Chavalathu.

Chavalathu Duma Olifants West Pride Ezulwini Hyena Vultures Ezulwini