by Elephant Plains Rangers | May 10, 2026 | Weekly Big 5 Sightings
Weekly Big Five Sightings
04 May – 10 May 2026
Monday, 04 May 2026
(26°C)
- The Nkuhuma pride, consisting of five lionesses and two cubs, feeding on a buffalo kill east of Baobab Dam.
- Xidulu, the female leopard, mobile west on Simbambili/Elephant Plains cutline.
- Two elephant bulls, feeding along Simbambili Driveway.
- One elephant bull, drinking at Bush Camp Pan.
- Mahlowasi, the female leopard, mobile east on Horse Shoe East.
- One Temmincks Ground Pangolin, static between the Manyeleti and Sasseka road.
Tuesday, 05 May 2026
(24°C)
- The Nkuhuma pride, consisting of five lionesses and two cubs, feeding on a buffalo kill east of Baobab Dam.
- A pack of ten African wild dogs, resting on Arathusa airstrip.
- The two Ndzenga male lions, scavenged a buffalo kill from the Nkuhuma pride east of Baobab Dam.
- Langa, the female leopard and her cub, mobile south from the Boer Bean on Seepline East.
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard, feeding on an impala kill east of Elephant Plains Airstrip.
- Tiyani, the female leopard, mobile east from Guarri Central.
Wednesday, 06 May 2026
(27°C)
- The two Plains Camp male lions, mobile east from Josie Flood Plains.
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard, mobile east on Simba Firebreak.
- Two elephant bulls, feeding along Gabe’s Crossing.
Thursday, 07 May 2026
(22°C)
- A breeding herd of approximately thirty elephants, feeding along the Island Loop.
Friday, 08 May 2026
(26°C)
- The eight Kambula breakaway lions, mobile east from Bush Camp West.
- Tiyani, the female leopard and Mahlowasi, the female leopard, mobile east from Marula Bolt Central West.
- A breeding herd of twenty-five elephants, feeding along Drongo South.
- Xidulu, the female leopard and her two cubs, feeding on a scrub hare kill on Imboma Road.
Saturday, 09 May 2026
(24°C)
- The Kambula break – away pride of lions, consisting of 2 lioness and six cubs, feeding on an impala kill on Central Marula Bolt West.
- Makhomsava, the female leopard, mobile north on Leopard Drift towards Kudu Drift.
- One elephant bull feeding along Elephant Plains Driveway north of Five Way Junction.
Sunday, 10 May 2026
(29°C)
- Two elephant Bulls feeding along Bush Camp East.
- The Kambula Break – Away pride, consisting of two lionesses and six cubs, mobile south from Rhino Ring North.
- Mzemba, the male Leopard, mobile east along Long Pole East.
by Elephant Plains Rangers | May 3, 2026 | Weekly Big 5 Sightings
Monday, 27 April 2026
(26°C)
- A breeding herd of ten elephants, mobile North from Rampan.
- The two Plains Camp Males lions feeding on a buffalo east of Wet Patch open.
- Two Nkuhuma lioness and ten cubs, resting around One Eye Pan.
- A breeding herd of seventy buffalo, mobile south from Pomeys Pan.
- The female cub of Tiyani, the female leopard was mobile south on Bush Camp East.
Tuesday, 28 April 2026
(24°C)
- The two cubs of Xidulu, the female leopard resting at Second Windmill.
- A breeding herd ten elephants, at Safari Dam.
- The two Plains Camp male lions, static at EP/Manyeleti Crossing.
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
(27°C)
- Xidulu, the female leopard and her two cubs, static on first windmill Road.
- Tiyani, the female leopard feeding on a scrub hair at the wood pile on the Fire Break.
Thursday, 30 April 2026
(22°C)
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard mobile south from Pump House Road.
- The two Plains Camp male lions, mobile east from Gaurie Central.
- One of the Ndzenga Male lions, drinking at Chelle Pan.
- The 2:3 male leopard, resting in a marula tree on Philemon’s Cutline.
Friday, 01 May 2026
(26°C)
- Xidulu, the female leopard and her two cubs mobile east from Safari Donga South.
- One elephant bull, feeding along A-main.
- One Kambula Male lion, mobile east from Big Dam.
- The two Plains Camp Male lions, resting on Simba Dam Road.
- A breeding herd of twenty five elephants mobile east from Kudu Drift.
Saturday, 02 May 2026
(24°C)
- Three elephant bulls, feeding on Ep/Sherley cutline.
- Two buffalo bulls, mobile South from KBR at the Junction of Serengeti Open.
- A pack of eight wild dogs, mobile west from Mkombe Road.
- Xidulu, the female leopard and her two cubs resting on Safari Donga South.
- A breeding herd of fifteen elephants, feeding at Eagle Owl Crossing.
Sunday, 03 May 2026
(29°C)
- One elephant bull, drinking at Cruz Camp Dam.
- Two sub adult cheetahs, mobile north on Python Road.
- Xidulu, the female leopard and her two cubs resting at Safari Donga South.
- Two buffalo bulls, mobile west from EP/Manyeleti Crossing.
by Elephant Plains Rangers | Apr 26, 2026 | Weekly Big 5 Sightings
Monday, 20 April 2026
(26°C)
- Tiyani, the female leopard, feeding on an impala kill on Rampan link road.
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard, mobile east from Kimbeon’s crossing.
- A breeding herd of approximately twenty-five elephants feeding around Leeukuil.
- Two cubs of Xidulu, the female leopard, stationary at Mafufenyane.
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
(24°C)
- A breeding herd of approximately twenty-five elephants feeding along Ekiso.
- Hlambela, the male leopard, feeding on an impala kill on EP driveway north of Drongo North.
- Two Plains Camp male lion’s mobile west on Simbambili firebreak.
- One elephant bull feeding along Simbambili firebreak west of Simbambili driveway.
- Tiyani, the female leopard, stationary on a termite mound southwest of Gaby’s causeway.
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
(27°C)
- One elephant bull feeding along Simbambili firebreak west of Josie Road.
- Hlambela mobile south from EP Driveway/Drongo North.
- Two Plains Camp male lions, crossing west into Ottawa from Ekiso/Ottawa boundary.
Thursday, 23 April 2026
(22°C)
- Two elephant bull’s mobile north from Serengeti Open Area.
Friday, 24 April 2026
(26°C)
- Tiyani’s cub, the female leopard, mobile south from Simbambili Open Area.
Saturday, 25 April 2026
(24°C)
- A breeding herd of seventy buffalo, mobile south from Mumphs crossing.
- One elephant bull feeding at Mumphs crossing.
- The two plains camp male lions, mobile east from Leeu Kuil.
Sunday, 26 April 2026
(29°C)
- Three elephant bulls, feeding at Hoffman’s Drift.
by Elephant Plains Rangers | Apr 19, 2026 | Weekly Big 5 Sightings
Monday, 13 April 2026
(31°C)
- Xidulu, the female leopard, with her two cubs on a kudu calf kill on Simbambili/Arathusa Safari Cutline, west of Xigodi Pan.
- Two buffalo bulls feeding east of Pungwe Pan.
- A breeding herd of approximately 20 elephants drinking at Simbambili Dam.
- Seven Nkuhuma lionesses with 10 cubs and two Ndzhenga male lions, mobile east along the firebreak, east of the quarry.
- A breeding herd of approximately 20 elephants drinking at Leeukuil.
Tuesday, 14 April 2026
(27°C)
- Three buffalo bulls stationary on the firebreak, east of the quarry.
- Three elephant bulls feeding at Mfezi Open Area.
- Two Kambula male lions, one mating with a lioness, at Big Dam wall, Buffelshoek.
- A breeding herd of approximately 100 buffalo crossing into the Manyeleti reserve at Million’s Corner.
- Tiyani, the female leopard, fetching her cub from Horseshoe block. Mobile towards an impala kill on Marula Bult East/Madash, kill stolen by Hyenas.
Wednesday, 15 April 2026
(30°C)
- A breeding herd of five elephants feeding along Madash/Cutline.
- Tiyani, the female leopard, with her cub feeding on a squirrel at Horseshoe Open Area.
- A breeding herd of ten elephants drinking at Leeukuil.
- Xidulu, the female leopard, only her two cub’s stationary at 2nd Windmill Crossing.
- Two Hyenas chasing a wounded impala on Horseshoe West.
- Three Kambula male lions, stationary at Tortoise Pan, one male mating with an unidentified female lioness.
Thursday, 16 April 2026
(28°C)
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard stole Tiyani, the female leopard’s impala kill at the junction of Xinzele and Xidulu.
- Tiyani, the female leopard’s cub was resting on Pomeys Pan Road.
- One elephant bull, feeding at the junction of Sasseka Road and Londolozi Boundary.
Friday, 17 April 2026
(29°C)
- Two buffalo bulls, feeding at Ngala Open.
- Tiyani, the female leopard and Tortoise Pan, the male leopard mating in the Pungwe river.
- Tiyani, the female leopard’s cub resting on Pomeys Pan Road.
Saturday, 18 April 2026
(30°C)
- Xidulu, the female leopard and one of her cubs feeding on an impala kill on One Eye Pan Road.
- Three Nkuhuma lioness and eight cubs, resting in a Tamboti thicket on Southern Fork.
- Tiyani, the female leopard and Tortoise Pan, the male leopard mating at Kimbeon’s Crossing.
Sunday, 19 April 2026
(31°C)
- Tiyani, the female leopard and Tortoise Pan, the male leopard mating at Five Way Junction.
- A breeding herd of five elephants, swimming at Big Dam.
- Xidulu, the female leopard and her two cubs feeding on a impala kill on Mhuluwane Road.
by Elephant Plains Rangers | Apr 12, 2026 | Weekly Big 5 Sightings
One of Xidulu’s Cubs. Photo by Armand Otto
Monday, 6 April 2026
(33°C)
- Xidulu, the female leopard, stationary in a tree with her two cubs west of 2nd Windmill Road’s mud wallows.
- A breeding herd of elephants feeding along Big Dam link north.
- One elephant bull feeding in a thicket at the southern end of Arathusa Airstrip.
- A breeding herd of approximately 100 buffalo being hunted by three Kambula male lions, in the block between Waxbill and Lapwing, Buffelshoek.
- The three Kambula male lions were relocated at Cheetah Pan during PM Drive, Buffelshoek.
- Mzemba, the male leopard, stationary on a termite mound in the thicket west of Cheetah Pan, Buffelshoek.
- One Nkuhuma lioness mobile from Djuma into Arathusa Safari from Impala Clearing.
Tuesday, 7 April 2026
(22°C)
- Xidulu, the female leopard, feeding on an Nyala carcass with her two cubs. Stolen by Hyena.
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard, mobile north from Nyala Crossing to the northern end of EP Airstrip.
- A breeding herd of ten elephants feeding at EP Driveway/Airstrip Junction.
- A pack of four African Wild Dogs stationary at Jacana Open Area.
- Two Ndzhenga male lions, four Nkuhuma lionesses with two cubs stationary on Gowrie Main, south of Twin Dams.
- A breeding herd of 15 elephants feeding around Xihumbane.
Wednesday, 8 April 2026
(26°C)
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard, mobile northeast from EP/Manyeleti Crossing along East Bank Manyeleti.
- Makhomsava, the female leopard, stationary in a Marula tree on Arathusa Main Road, west of Leopard Drift.
- Two African Wild Cat Kittens playing on the Manyeleti Boundary, west of Big Dam, Buffelshoek.
Hippo and Baby. Photo by Armand Otto
Thursday, 9 April 2026
(28°C)
- Tiyani and Xidulu, the female leopards, having a territorial interaction around Horseshoe Open Area.
- Makhomsava, the female leopard, hunting impala around Big Dam Link South.
- Seven Nkuhuma lionesses with six cubs and two Ndzhenga male lions stationary on the firebreak of Gowrie Main and Cheetah Cutline.
Friday, 10 April 2026
(30°C)
- Tiyani, the female leopard, mobile north from Drongo North.
- One buffalo bull east of The Island Crossing.
- Three elephant bulls feeding along One Eye Pan, east of Simbambili Dam.
Saturday, 11 April 2026
(32°C)
- Tiyani, the female leopard, stationary in the Manyeleti river, south of Ntoma Crossing.
- Xidulu, the female leopard, mobile east on Arathusa Safari Driveway with her two cubs.
- One elephant bull mobile north on 1st Windmill Road.
- One buffalo bull on The Island.
Kambula Male lion. Photo by Armand Otto
Sunday, 12 April 2026
(32°C)
- Three Kambula male lions and one unidentified female at Big Dam.
- Six Nkuhuma lionesses with one Ndzhenga male lion stationary, south of One Eye Pan Road.
by Elephant Plains Rangers | Apr 5, 2026 | Weekly Big 5 Sightings
Giraffe with Oxpeckers. Photo by Armand Otto
Monday, 30 March 2026
(31°C)
- The Toulon pack of African Wild Dogs (15) stationary on the northern end of Arathusa Airstrip.
- The Ntsevu Pride of lions, consisting of six members, mobile south east from Arathusa Main Road/Leopard drift.
- Approximately 10 members of The EP Hyena clan, finishing off a zebra carcass scavenged from the Ntsevu Pride on Arathusa Main Road/Leopard drift.
- Xidulu, the female leopard, stationary on Pipeline Road.
- One elephant bull, stationary on Arathusa Main Road at Silvan Entry.
- A breeding herd of elephants feeding along Old Borehole.
- One elephant bull feeding along Francolin.
Tuesday, 31 March 2026
(31°C)
- The Toulon pack of African Wild Dogs (15) stationary in the Manyeleti towards Serengeti Crossing.
- Tiyani, the female leopard, just her cub, mobile west from Leeukuil to Five Way Junction.
- One Imbali lioness mating with an Ndzhenga male on dolerite/Sally’s Road, Buffelshoek.
- A breeding herd of 15 elephants feeding on Vrystaat Clearing.
- Hlambela, the male leopard, hoisting an impala lamb kill on Nyati Road.
Wednesday, 1 April 2026
(30°C)
- Seven Nkuhuma lionesses with ten cubs and one Ndzenga male lion, resting on Gowrie Main at the Junction of Weavers Nest.
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard and Tiyani, the female leopard was mating on Track South in the Tamboti Thicket.
- Two Imbali lionesses and one Ndzenga male lion, mating east of Pump House North.
- Hlambela, the male leopard finishing of an impala kill between Elephant Plains airstrip and Inyati Road.
Nkuhuma Cub. Photo by Armand Otto
Thursday, 2 April 2026
(30°C)
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard resting at Londolozi Drift.
- Six Ntsevu lions, resting at the junction of Grass Cut and Londolozi Boundary.
- Tiyani, the female leopard resting in a Jackelberry tree east of Sherley’s open.
- Xidulu, the female leopard mobile east from Airport Link.
- Tiyani’s cub, the female leopard, was feeding on an impala north of Five Way junction.
Friday, 3 April 2026
(22°C)
- A breeding herd of six elephants, feeding at Sherley’s Crossing.
- Tiyani, the female leopard and her cub resting in a Marula tree at Marula Bolt Four Way North.
- Two elephant bulls feeding along the firebreak, west of One Eye Pan.
Saturday, 4 April 2026
(30°C)
- One elephant bull feeding at Leeukuil.
- Six Nkuhuma lionesses, stationary with two Ndzhenga males on Ellie Alley.
- Ndzhenga males mobile north west from 1st windmill during PM Drive.
- Xidulu, the female leopard, withger two cubs mobile north on Zebra drive.
- Maribyes, the male leopard being chased up a tree with an impala kill by two African Wild Dogs, east of Dolerite/Gowrie Cutline.
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard, stole the kill in during PM Drive, joined by a pack of 8 African Wild Dogs.
African Wild Dog. Photo by Armand Otto
Sunday, 5 April 2026
(28°C)
- Tortoise Pan, the male leopard, mobile southwest from Long Pole, crossed into Djuma from Buffelshoek.
- One Nkuhuma lioness and one Ndzhenga male, mobile south with four cubs on Parallel Road.
- Xidulu, the female leopard, with two cubs, hoisting an impala kill on 2nd Windmill/Zebra Drive.
- Two elephant bulls feeding on Arathusa Main Road/Grass Cut.
