The cats are out!

The cats are out!

Blog, Seen on Game Drives

The last week has definitely been a cat week in Pilanesberg.  Lots of cats!!! We have had some remarkable big cat sightings while out on game drive from Lions to cheetahs and even the elusive Leopards. Here are some of the big cats we would like to share with you.

Pride of lions on a kill, seen while on afternoon game drive.

The three cheetah brothers have been seen a few times over the last couple of days.

Lions and leopards rock jumping, same place on different days.

All we can say is what a sighting!

All we can say is what a sighting!

Blog, Seen on Game Drives

Field guide Patrick Sefako tells the story: “While on a game drive in Pilanesberg with guests we came across a pride of lions. It is always exciting when we get to share these big cats with our guests”.

“There was a troop of baboons not far from where the lions were headed. When they saw the approaching lions they made a run for the trees. They were clearly not happy with the approaching big cats as they were alarm calling and even fighting amongst each other. At one point one or two fell from the tree, one youngster ended up being injured in all the commotion. He seemed to no longer have control of his back legs. So he was left hanging quite low down in the tree with the others watching from above. The struggling youngster captured one of the lionesses attention and that marked the end for him”.

As sad as it may seem this is nature’s way and it is probably a good thing that this little guy didn’t suffer for long as he would never have been able to keep up with the troop or look after itself.

Pilanesberg’s super star “Rain”.

Pilanesberg’s super star “Rain”.

Blog, Seen on Game Drives

In April we did a blog post introducing you all to “Rain” the only female cheetah in Pilanesberg ( https://www.mankwegametrackers.co.za/meet-rain-and-her-three-cubs/).

Her three male cubs that we wrote about in the last post are doing very well and thriving in the North of the park. Rain was seen with the two big males a couple of months ago and there after no sightings of her had been reported. We were all starting to get a little worried that something had happened to her. Something had happened to her but it was something exciting that we were all ecstatic to find out about…

Rain has four new cubs that are estimated to be around 8-10 weeks old. Since they were sighted last week there have been numerous sightings of them and both them and mom seem to be doing well. It is very exciting to have yet another litter of cheetah cubs to watch grow. Rain did a fantastic job with the boys and we hope she will be as successful with this litter.

The Leopard and the Terrapin

The Leopard and the Terrapin

Blog, Seen on Game Drives

While on a morning game drive we came across a leopard that was captivated by something moving around in a shallow mud pool. We watched for quite a while as it pawed and mouthed at the mud trying to pick up something.

Eventually it moved off, with a terrapin in it’s mouth! This was something totally unique to see. Leopards are just like your house cat and have the instinct to catch anything that moves.

It wouldn’t necessarily eat the terrapin but possibly just play with it, until it looses interest. Leopards are known to catch all sorts of unusual prey including fish and other smaller creatures.

A once in a lifetime sighting!

A once in a lifetime sighting!

Blog, Seen on Game Drives

It may seem cruel agreed, but this is nature at its’ best.

Only around 30 percent of lion hunts are successful making it a rare and fantastic sighting when you can actually see it for yourself. Our guides and guests were treated to such an experience on 27 November 2015. Below are the photos of the action as it happened, taken by one of our field guides Greg Esterhuysen.

While on an afternoon game drive the guests and guides were sitting watching a pride of lions walking along the waters edge at Mankwe dam. After a little while they all started looking intently in one direction, the next thing out of nowhere a warthog dashed out of the treeline and one of the lionesses gave chase.

Her speed was enough and she managed to get a grip on the back of the warthogs neck.

The male and other members of the pride then came running to see if they could help or in the males case take over.

The female was not impressed with the male and swiped at him as he came closer.
In doing so she lost her grip on the warthog, almost losing it.

The male was quick enough to re-catch the warthog and suffocate it.

The whole pride then joined in on the feast. There was a lot of growling and snarling over the warthog as with a big pride like this a warthog is not the biggest of meals.

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