April 2012

Autumn is upon us and I am looking at a new paint of red and yellow coloured leaves through the window while writing this report. The days and nights reverberate with the rutting calls of impala rams advertising their territories while jealously guarding over ewes that might have wondering eyes.

This is a great time for photography as the contrasting colours works wonders on any photograph.

It looks as this might be the end of an era in the western part of Balule as Big Boy, the territorial male lion of the western region of Balule, seems to have lost his status as the undisputed king as he was seen chased around by his younger sons while they were following a lioness in oestrus. I 1st saw him as a young male, together with his coalition partner Mazinyo, 9 years ago.

He subsequently became a living legend winning many battles and fathering many offspring. It is sad, but the future coalition of 6 would be something to behold as normally a coalition only consists of 2-4 lions.

Black rhino are highly endangered and seldom seen. Pondoro is one of the best places in Africa to see this amazing animal and April did not disappoint as we had an incredible 17 sightings during the month. Their much bigger cousin, the white rhino, was seen frequently as well.

We also enjoyed regular leopard, elephant and buffalo sightings as well. The area is great for general game with zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and impala a near certainty. The river is also a bit lower with winter approaching and guests have regular sightings of hippos and crocodiles during bush walks with an armed guide.

Highlights of the month were sightings of the Olifants west pride feeding on a giraffe calf on the 1st of April close to Chavaluthu road as well as a seeing the same pride feeding on a buffalo kill on Impalabos west on the 7th and 8th of April.