Recent Big 5 Sightings
Weekly Big Five Sightings 20 July –26 July 2026
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...
Weekly Big Five Sightings 13 July – 19 July 2026
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...
Weekly Big Five Sightings 6 July – 12 July 2026
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...
Weekly Big Five Sightings 29 June – 05 July
Monday, 29 June 2026 (26°C) Xidulu, the female leopard mobile south on MMM from One Eye Pan. The two Imabli lioness, resting at Kobus Dam. A breeding herd of forty buffalo, on Simbambili firebreak at the quarry. A breeding herd of twelve elephants drinking at...
Weekly Big Five Sightings 22 June –28 June 2026
Monday, 22 June 2026 (26°C) Two pangolins on Grass cut Road. Makhomsava, the female leopard stationary on Arathusa Main Road East of Big Dam. Tuesday, 23 June 2026 (30°C) A breeding herd of fifteen African elephants drinking at Leeukuil Pan. Wednesday, 24 June 2026...
Weekly Big Five Sightings 15th June – 22th June 2026
Monday, 15th June 2026 (29°C) The Nkuhuma pride consisting of seven lioness and ten cubs, resting north of Gowrie Main in the Mluwati River. One buffalo bull, mobile west from Ntoma crossing. The two cubs of Xidulu, the female leopard hunting dwarf mongoose at...
Weekly Big Five Sightings 8th – 14th June 2026
Weekly Big Five Sightings 8th June – 14th June 2026 Monday, 8th June 2026 (27°C) Maribye, the male leopard, in a marula tree, with an impala kill, East of Kobus Se Dam, with one Ndzenga male lion and two Imbali lioness underneath the tree. Tortoise Pan, the...
Weekly Big Five Sightings 1 June – 7 June 2026
Monday, 1 June 2026 (27°C) Tiyani, the female leopard mobile West from Tamboti Crossing. One African wild dog mobile West from Sherley’s Crossing. A breeding herd of eight African elephants feeding along First Windmill Road. Tuesday, 2 June 2026 (29°C) Two sub adult...
Weekly Big Five Sightings 25 May – 31 May 2026
Monday, 25 May 2026 (27°C) Xidulu, the female leopard and her two cubs mobile West on Horseshoe East. A breeding herd of fifteen African elephants drinking at Bush camp Pan. Tuesday, 26 May 2026 (27°C) Xidulu, the female leopard and her two cubs mobile East of...
Weekly Big Five Sightings 18 May – 24 May 2026
Monday, 18 May 2026 (27°C) Tortoise Pan, the male leopard, mobile south on Sawmill The Kambula breakaway pride consisting of two lionesses and six subadults, stationary south of Marula Bult South/Arathusa Cutline. A pack of two African Wild Dogs, mobile north from...
Weekly Big Five Sightings 11-17 May 2026
Monday, 11 May 2026 (31°C) Two Ndzhenga male lions stationary with the Kambula breakaway pride, consisting of two females and six subadults, stationary at the northern end of Arathusa airstrip. Xidulu, the female leopard, with her two cubs on an impala kill, west of...
Weekly Big Five Sightings 04 – 10 May 2026
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....
Latest News
The first two years of a leopard’s life
AuthorThe first two years of a Leopard’s lifeSeeing a wild leopard in its natural habitat in Southern Africa must be on top of anyone’s safari bucket list! Their magical look and elegant movements are enough to send chills down your spine. Have you ever stopped and...
March Trumpet 2022
Photo above by Kayleigh-Rose Humphries Wow! Our first Newsletter of 2022 and the year is already well on its way! We hope that our previous and future guests alike, all enjoyed a well-deserved Christmas holiday break, together with family and friends. Elephant Plains...
September Trumpet 2021
Photo by Joshua Venter Spring is in the air. With it comes the promise of new life, new growth, new beginnings… As I sit here typing, contemplating what to write today, I scroll back to the previous newsletter, to read what I wrote back then and the first paragraph...
March Trumpet 2021
Sometimes, when a crisis arises, all you can do is to wait it out. To go with the flow, to tell yourself that “this too shall pass.
End of 2020 Trumpet
Life is unpredictable. That’s a given. But if anyone predicted the chaos that Covid-19 would cause during the past year, no one would have believed it. Still, the year 2020 threw a curveball to all of us, not only in tourism but worldwide, in every possible industry....
Oct & Nov 2020 Specials
Tired of sitting at home? Make a domestic arrival at Elephant Plains Game Lodge and come and enjoy nature in its purest form!
From the Kitchen
Lamb Curry
The smell of curry will hang in the air and make all your neighbors wish they had dinner with you
Pan Fried Sole
Ready in a mere 20 minutes, this pan fried sole recipe highlights the fish’s delicate texture and flavor without overpowering them.
Mushroom and Sundried Tomato Phyllo Cups with Basil Pesto
Good advice for all recipes – all the ingredients used in a dish should enhance the flavour of the dish. If it doesn’t, TAKE IT OUT!
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Make your children’s day with a warm hearty meal like spaghetti bolognaise, and I am positive the grown ups will come back for seconds
Crunchies
You will have the smell of freshly baked cookies hang around the house, and the cinnamon smell will attract the whole neighborhood. Enjoy! – Chef Yolandi Grobler
Grilled Honey and Garlic Salmon
Adding some fish to your dinner menu, will not only bring happy faces but also healthier feelings. Spoil your guest or family with this flavorful fish. You might even start cutting back on some meat, who knows?
Rooibos Milk Tarts
One usually enjoys the tea and the milk tart (melktert) separately, but with this recipe you get to experience the best of both in one bite, melting in your mouth and allowing the cinnamon to round this dessert off – Chef Yolandi Grobler
Peppermint Crisp Tart from Heaven
This recipe is my favourite sweet treat, and everyone I have made this for couldn’t stop talking about it. So it must be a winner! Please enjoy this recipe and may it bring you comfort and joy.
Beef Wraps
For a meal on its own or as a snack, these cheese and flavour-filled wraps will wrap everyone around your dining table