by Elephant Plains Rangers | Aug 16, 2026 | Weekly Big 5 Sightings
Monday, 10 August 2026
(22°C)
- Tiyani, the female leopard chased Mahlowasi, the female leopard of a bush buck kill at Ntoma crossing.
- Timbavati, the male leopard was mating with an unknown female leopard at Hardekoel Open.
- Tiyani, the female leopard feeding on an impala kill north of Guarri Central.
- The seven Kambula Break away lions, feeding on wildebeest kill at Tamboti drinks stop.
Tuesday, 11 August 2026
(20°C)
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard stole a kill from Tiyani, the female leopard north of Guarri Central.
- A breeding herd of ten elephants, feeding along A-main at the junction of Milkberry.
- The seven Kambula Breakaway lions, crossed MMM going West from Hoffman’s Drift.
- A pack of seven wild dogs, mobile south from Pungwe Pan.
Wednesday, 12 August 2026
(20°C)
- One Ndzenga male lion and one Imbali lioness, resting at a den site with an unknown amount of cubs west of Lion Cage Road.
- The two Plains Camp male lion, mobile North from Big Dam.
- The two cubs of Xidulu, the female leopard resting on MMM at the transformer.
Thursday, 13 August 2026
(18°C)
- The two cubs of Xidulu, the female leopard resting on MMM at the transformer.
- Tiyani, the female leopard mobile north from 16th
Friday, 14 August 2026
(22°C)
- A breeding herd of four elephants, mobile south from Simba Dam.
- The two cubs of Xidulu, the female leopard resting on MMM at the transformer.
- Xidulu, the female leopard resting at Xigodi Pan.
- A breeding herd of one hundred buffalo, mobile east from Rocky road.
Saturday, 15 August 2026
(25°C)
- Hlambela, the male leopard feeding on an impala kill on Sixes Road.
- A breeding herd of two hundred buffalo mobile north from Star Chestnut open.
- Tortoise pan, the male leopard resting at the junction of Kudu Drift and Leopard Drift.
- Seven Nkuhuma lioness and ten cubs with one Ndzenga male lion, resting north of Gowrie Dam.
Sunday, 16 August 2026
(25°C)
- The six Torchwood male lions, mobile north from Big Dam to the Manyeleti Boundary.
- A breeding herd of fifty buffalo, resting at Pungwe Pan.
- A breeding herd of two hundred buffalo, feeding at Elephant Plains Open area.
- Mahlowasi, the female leopard feeding on a Egyptian goose on the Island.
by Elephant Plains Rangers | Aug 10, 2026 | Weekly Big 5 Sightings
Monday, 3 August 2026
(22°C)
- Kambula Breakaway pride consisting of two lioness and five sub adults, mobile East from Leeukuil Pan.
- A pack of three African wild dogs mobile North on Marula Belt North.
- Xidulu, the female leopards two cubs, static on a termite mound on Safari Driveway.
- Xidulu, the female leopard, mobile South on Mehluane.
Tuesday, 4 August 2026
(21°C)
- Herd of 15 elephants, feeding along Londolozi boundary at the junction of leopard drift.
- Langa, the female leopard, mobile South from the junction of Lost Track and Central Road.
- Makhomsava, the female leopard, stole her kill back from a hyena and hoisted it into a red bushwillow.
- Kambula Breakaway pride consisting of two lioness and five sub adults, mobile east on Safari Driveway towards the airstrip.
- Nkuhuma breakaways, consisting of one male and one female, resting on EP Floodplains.
Wednesday, 5 August 2026
(25°C)
- Makhomsava, the female leopard, feeding on an impala ewe, up in a tree, South of Ngwenya South.
- Nkuhuma pride, consisting of 7 females and 10 cubs, mobile south along Vuyatela Access.
- Kambula Breakaway pride consisting of two lioness and five sub adults, sleeping on Safari Driveway, East of the airstrip.
Thursday, 6 August 2026
(29°C)
- Tiyani, the female leopard, caught an impala on the junction of Road Seven and Madash, the kill was scavenged by 15 hyenas.
- Nkuhuma pride, consisting of 7 females and 10 cubs, with one Ndzenga male, feeding on a big buffalo bull carcass at Simba Dam.
- 15 elephants feeding on EP Open Area.
- Two bull elephants drinking at Leeukuil.
Friday, 7 August 2026
(26°C)
- Ntsevu pride of lions, mobile East from Kudu Drift towards Big Dam.
- Makhomsava, the female leopard, static on Ngwenya South.
- Tlalamba, the female leopard, mobile East from Philemon’s Dip.
- Two honey badgers digging around on Safari Driveway.
Saturday, 8 August 2026
(25°C)
- Nkuhuma pride, consisting of 7 females and 10 cubs, static resting on Mehluane Open Area.
- Three wild dogs mobile North from MMM junction with Gowrie Main.
- Xidulu, the female leopards two cubs, static at the Brown Ivory on Safari Driveway.
- Breeding herd of 20 elephants drinking at Red Dam.
Sunday, 9 August 2026
(28°C)
- Nkuhuma pride, consisting of 7 females and 10 cubs, static resting on Mehluane Open Area.
- Mahlowasi, the female leopard, hunting Nyala at Pungwe Crossing.
- Nkuhuma Breakaways, consisting of one male and one female, chasing a group of 7 wild dogs at Rhino Pan.
- Kambula Breakaway Pride, consisting of 2 females and 5 sub-adults, resting on Mkombe Open Area.
by Elephant Plains Rangers | Aug 2, 2026 | Weekly Big 5 Sightings
Zebra Sunrise. Photo by Nicholas Greeff
Monday, 27 July 2026
(27°C)
- Tiyani, the female leopard. Stationary at Simbambili Dam.
- A pack of eight African Wild Dogs mobile east from Simbambili Dam.
- One Ndzhenga male lion, mobile from Arathusa Safari Airport link toward Magic Willie.
- Three elephant bulls feeding on Shortcut Wetpatch.
- Two buffalo bulls wallowing north of Jacana Dam
- A breeding herd of approximately 100 buffalo on Poacher’s Road.
Tuesday, 28 July 2026
(26°C)
- The Kambula breakaway pride, consisting of two lionesses and five sub adults, mobile west from Big Dam.
- One cub of Xidulu, the female leopard, stationary on Safari Donga South.
Wednesday, 29 July 2026
(26°C)
- Loloyiso, the female leopard, mobile east from Serengeti Open Area.
- Makhomsava, the female leopard, with a duiker kill stolen by an Unknown male leopard on Leopard Drift/Arathusa Main Road.
Ndzhenga Male lion on a Buffalo kill. Photo by Nicholas Greeff.
Thursday, 30 July 2026
(20°C)
- Two elephant bulls mobile south on Madash/Cutline
- The Nkuhuma pride of lions, consisting of seven lionesses and ten cubs stationary on Taxons Road, Djuma.
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard, mobile southeast from EP Driveway.
- One elephant bull drinking at Safari Dam.
- Ten elephants mobile south from Xigodi Pan.
Friday, 31 July 202
(24°C)
- Xidulu, the female leopard, mobile north from Safari/Simbambili Cutline.
- Three buffalo bulls stationary south of Woodpile.
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard, with an impala kill on Francolin.
Saturday, 1 August 2026
(24°C)
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard, with an impala kill on Francolin. Joined by Mahlowasi, the female leopard.
- PM Drive Hlambela, the male leopard, was chased away from the area by Tortoise Pan
- A breeding herd of eight elephants drinking at Big Dam.
- Two female Cheetah, north of Vrystaat Clearing.
- A pack of eight African Wild Dogs stationary on Elephant Plains Airstrip.
Nkuhuma lioness. Photo by Nicholas Greeff
Sunday, 2 August 2026
(26°C)
- The Nkuhuma pride of lions, consisting of seven lionesses and ten cubs, finishing a waterbuck kill on Hardekool Access.
by Elephant Plains Rangers | Jul 27, 2026 | Weekly Big 5 Sightings
Monday, 20 July 2026
(33°C)
- The four Torchwood male lions, resting at the junction of Central Road and Hyena Road.
- A breeding herd of forty buffalo, mobile north from Brown Ivory Road.
- The Elephant Plains hyena den was active, with two adults and one cub.
- Xidulu, the female leopard and her two cubs feeding on an inyala kill on Marikeni Drive.
- Two buffalo bulls, mobile north from the Ntoma Crossing.
Tuesday, 21 July 2026
(29°C)
- A breeding herd of ten elephants, feeding along Dolerite Road.
- The 2:3 male leopard, resting east of the quarry at Arathusa Airstrip.
Wednesday, 22 July 2026
(28°C)
- Two elephant bulls, feeding at the Maddash junction with 16th
- A breeding herd of thirty buffalo, feeding on the Island loop.
- Tiyani, the female leopard resting on the eastern side of the Marikeni at the junction of road seven .
Thursday, 23 July 2026
(30°C)
- Hlambela, the male leopard was feeding on a warthog kill on Elephant Plains cutline with Sherley’s.
- Tiyani, the female leopard was mobile west on the fire break from the woodpile.
- The two Plains Camp male lions, sleeping on Bush Camp West.
- Two buffalo bulls, feeding along Bush Camp East.
- A breeding herd of eight elephants feeding along Hyena Den Road.
- Mahlowasi, the female leopard mobile south west from Horseshoe Open.
- A breeding herd of ten elephants feeding on Sixes.
- Two of Xidulu, the female leopard cubs on Zebra Drive at the junction of Parallel.
- A breeding herd of thirty buffalo resting around Staff Camp Pan.
Friday, 24 July 202
(26°C)
- Hlambela, the male leopard drinking at Kraainess Pan.
- The two lioness and five sub adults from the Kambula Breakaway pride were mobile west from Gaby’s Open Area.
- Tiyani, the female leopard resting on Sixes Road.
- Two buffalo bulls, feeding west of Tamboti Crossing.
Saturday, 25 July 2026
(23°C)
- One Ndhzenga male lion mobile West from MMM junction Impala Road.
- Xidulu, the female leopard and her two cubs mobile South on Safari Donga North.
- A pack of six African wild dogs finishing off the remains of an impala kill on Road Seven.
- One African elephant bull feeding on the Northern side of Elephant Plains Airstrip.
Sunday, 26 July 2026
(28°C)
- Makhomsava, the female leopard, mobile South from Lost Track junction to Central
- The two lioness and five sub adults from the Kambula Breakaway pride, resting in the Mzimba river, between Rhino Pan and Mamba Road.
- Pack of 8 wild dogs, feeding on a female impala kill, on Island Loop.
by Elephant Plains Rangers | Jul 19, 2026 | Weekly Big 5 Sightings
Mahlowasi female leopard. Photo by Armand Otto
Monday, 13 July 2026
(24°C)
- Tiyani, the female leopard, stationary northwest of Gaby’s Crossing.
- Xidulu, the female leopard, mobile south on MMM with two cubs.
- A breeding herd of approximately 20 elephants feeding along EP Driveway, north of 5 Way Junction.
- Two buffalo bulls feeding along EP/Manyeleti Crossing.
- Makhomsava, the female leopard, hunting a scrub hare around Ngwenya North.
Tuesday, 14 July 2026
(25°C)
- A breeding herd of approximately 15 elephants feeding at EP Open Area.
- A breeding herd of approximately 15 elephants feeding at Kimbeon’s Crossing.
Wednesday, 15 July 2026
(25°C)
- Tiyani, the female leopard, mobile northeast from Safari Donga South.
- A breeding herd of approximately 15 elephants feeding at Mfezi Open Area.
- Three buffalo bulls stationary on Saseka/Londolozi Boundary.
Side Striped Jackal. Photo by Armand Otto.
Thursday, 16 July 2026
(26°C)
- Tiyani, the female leopard, mobile southeast from Rhulani/Madash.
- A breeding herd of approximately 15 elephants feeding along Marula Bult South.
Friday, 17 July 202
(31°C)
- Two elephant bulls feeding at Seef’s Pan.
- A breeding herd of approximately 12 elephants feeding at Matandaluka Pan.
- Mahlowasi, the female leopard, with a duiker kill south of Ntoma Crossing.
Saturday, 18 July 2026
(33°C)
- Mahlowasi, the female leopard, with a duiker kill south of Ntoma Crossing.
- A breeding herd of approximately 12 elephants feeding on Arathusa Main Road, north of Silvan Driveway.
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard killing an Nyala bull at Kimbeon’s Crossing, stolen by Hyenas.
- Two buffalo bulls south of Pungwe Pan.
Nkuhuma Cub. Photo by Armand Otto.
Sunday, 19 July 2026
(32°C)
- One Torchwood lioness with two sub adult males, hunting Banded mongoose on Short horns Road.
- Two sub adult male Cheetah mobile east from Sour Plum Road.
by Elephant Plains Rangers | Jul 12, 2026 | Weekly Big 5 Sightings
Ndhzenga male lion. Photo By Nicholas Greeff
Monday, 6 July 2026
(25°C)
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard scavenged an impala kill from Langa, the female leopard and her cub with Xidulu, the female leopard sitting at the base of the tree South of Arathusa Safari Driveway.
- Mahlowasi, the female leopard East from EP Open Area.
Tuesday, 7 July 2026
(27°C)
- The Nkuhuma pride of lions consisting of six lioness, five cubs and the two Ndhzenga males mobile East on Central Road Djuma.
- Mahlowasi, the female leopard with a scrub hare kill on Eastern Bank Manyaleti.
- Two Imbali lioness stationary on the Manyaleti Boundary junction Lion Cage Road.
Wednesday, 8 July 2026
(27°C)
- A breeding herd of approximately twenty African elephants feeding at The Rocks.
- Xidulu’s two cubs stationary South West of Mafufenyane Crossing.
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard mobile North West on Balanites Road.
Mahlowasi, the female leopard. Photo By Nicholas Greeff
Thursday, 9 July 2026
(26°C)
- Xidulu’s two cubs stationary North of Mafufenyane Crossing.
- A breeding herd of twelve African elephant feeding along Madash.
- Two Ndhzenga male lions stationary on Cheetah Cutline.
- A Pack of six African wild dogs mobile East from Twin Dams.
Friday, 10 July 2026
(27°C)
- Two Plains Camp male lions mobile West on Sawmill.
- The Nkuhuma pride of lions consisting of six lioness and ten cubs feeding on a kudu bull kill at One Eye Pan Open Area.
- Hlambela, the male leopard mobile West on Sawmill Road.
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard with an impala lamb kill East of EP Driveway.
Saturday, 11 July 2026
(26°C)
- The Nkuhuma pride of lions consisting of six lioness and ten cubs stationary East of One Eye Pan MMM North junction.
- Two honey badgers feeding along Marikeni Drive.
- Two Ndhzenga male lions mobile West on Londolozi boundary from Londoz Drift.
- Hlambela, the male leopard finishing off the remains of the impala lamb kill that he scavenged on Elephant Carcass Parallel junction.
- Two Cape buffalo feeding around Old Staff Camp Pan.
Nkuhuma cub. Photo By Nicholas Greeff
Sunday, 12 July 2026
(22°C)
- Two Cape buffalo feeding West of the quarry on the firebreak.
- Hlambela, the male leopard mobile East from Gaby’s Open.
- A breeding herd of approximately twenty African elephants drinking at Rampan Pan.
- Two Imbali lioness stationary South of Jordan’s Dam.
- The Nkuhuma pride of lions consisting of seven lioness, ten cubs and one Ndhzenga male mobile South from Zoe’s Road.
Monday, 10 August 2026
Thursday, 13 August 2026
Sunday, 16 August 2026
