BUFFALO SIGHTINGS - 2005
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December 2005
Good buffalo viewing continued in December with 250 to 400 members of the large herd frequenting the northern and central parts of the property as well as the less seen herd of about 150 animals from the Clarendon area. Smaller herds of less than 100 were also seen regularly in the south. Numerous groupings of buffalo bulls were also sighted, mainly along the Sand River where the thick vegetation provides them with protection that they lack from being in a herd. The favourable conditions also brought about the births of numerous calves during December.
November 2005
Buffalo viewing in November was at its best, with herds of buffaloes being seen on a regular basis. Small groups of buffalo bulls were also seen frequently. The November rains filled most of the pans and other water holes, the Sand River is flowing, and lush green grass is now in abundance, so the buffaloes are all doing rather well. So far, no new calves have been recorded this summer.
October 2005
Buffaloes were once again plentiful in the month of October with herds of these animals being seen on most days. The “Large Herd” may well have split up into a number of smaller groups and this might also have been the case with the Clarendon Herd. The small herd, usually seen in the southern parts of the reserve, spent relatively little time on the property.
No new-born calves have been seen yet, but buffaloes have an extended calving season in this area with young being born any time between October and June, the peak being around February or March.
September 2005
Buffaloes were seen daily on Mala Mala in September. The Large Herd made many appearances, visiting the Sand River regularly. The Clarendon Herd spent some time on northern Eyrefield, but these buffaloes are still drinking from a water source north of our boundaries. The Small Herd of buffalo, usually seen in the south of the reserve, spent relatively little time on our land this month, but some fairly large groups of bulls, sometimes numbering up to 20 animals, were seen regularly. A sizeable herd of buffalo also moved onto Charleston from the west.
Despite the drought, most of the buffaloes seem to be in reasonably good condition. The grass, although very dry, is still providing them with sufficient food.
August 2005
A look at the map will indicate that the large herd of buffalo spent a great deal of time on Mala Mala in August, but these animals again spent some time to the north of our boundaries on Gowrie. Grazing is still plentiful, even though all the grass is very dry, but water is in short supply. The small herd of buffalo was not seen as frequently as might have been expected, probably because there is very little water in the Sand River in the southern part of the reserve. Buffalo bulls were in good supply, sometimes in groups of up to 20 animals.
July 2005
Buffalo viewing was particularly good in July. The large herd of buffalo spent much of the month on Mala Mala land, drinking regularly from the Sand River. The Clarendon Herd was also seen in the north-eastern parts of the reserve, while the small herd of buffalo, true to form, spent a good deal of time along the Sand River on Toulon. Buffalo bulls in small groups were seen on most days, and most of them seemed to be in good condition. There are a number of really young calves in the large herd, confirming that calves are born any time between October and June or July, but the peak is typically in February, March or April.
June 2005
Buffalo viewing was good in June, with buffalo bulls being seen daily. The large herd of buffalo also spent a good deal of time on the property, coming to drink frequently from the Sand River, especially in the vicinity of the confluence of the Matshapiri and the Sand Rivers. The Small Herd of buffalo was also regularly encountered, down in the far south of the reserve.
Generally, the buffaloes are still in good condition, and most of the calves appear healthy. There is still abundant grazing, although much of the grass is no longer green.
May 2005
Predictably, the large herd of buffalo returned to Mala Mala in May. They were seen on eleven of the days that month, and there were numerous calves in the herd. The buffaloes generally looked to be in superb condition. Another herd was seen once, at night, on western Charleston, and the small herd made several appearances near the Sand River in the south of the reserve around mid-month. Buffalo bulls, either solitary or in small groups, were seen daily.
April 2005
Yet again, the large herd of buffalo failed to make an appearance on Mala Mala over this game report period. They are likely to return to drink from the Sand River in the winter months, however, particularly if other water sources dry up. There were frequent sightings of the small herd of buffalo in the south of the reserve, usually close to the Sand River, and two sightings of a substantial herd coming in from the west. Sightings of buffalo bulls, whether alone or in small groups, were commonplace.
March 2005
Yet again, the various large herds of buffaloes made no appearances on Mala Mala in March. The small herd was seen regularly in the south of the reserve, and there were numerous sightings of relaxed buffalo bulls, either singly or in small groups. There is no shortage of palatable grass on Mala Mala, and water is also readily available, so the long absence of the buffalo herds is difficult to explain. As winter approaches, however, it is likely that we shall start seeing regular visits from buffalo herds. The large herd of buffalo sometimes spends several weeks on Mala Mala without leaving its boundaries.
February 2005
Buffalo sightings in February were made up mostly of sightings of small groups of bulls. There were two sightings of a group of forty or so buffaloes, and numerous sightings of the small herd of buffaloes in the south of the reserve.
The large herd of buffalo and the Clarendon herd of buffalo were not seen at all during this game report period. It is likely that the large herd has been “camping” in a property to the north of Mala Mala, while the Clarendon herd is known to spend a great deal of time in the Kruger National Park, to our east.
Sightings of buffalo bulls were numerous, and many of these were along roads adjacent to muddy pans, where buffaloes love to wallow.
A couple of very young calves were seen in the small herd of buffalo in the south of the reserve during the month.
January 2005
Apart from regular sightings of buffalo bulls, either singly or in small groups, the following herds of buffalo were also seen:
LARGE HERD (500 – 600 animals): The entire large herd of buffalo was never seen as a unit in January, but two groups belonging to this herd were encountered. Approximately 150 animals made up the one group, while the other group numbered well in excess of 350 animals. Their condition is good, and a newborn calf was seen around the middle of January.
CLARENDON HERD (approximately 300 animals): The Clarendon Herd, previously known as the nervous herd of buffalo, spends most of its time off Mala Mala to the north and east, but there were a few sightings of part of this herd along the upper reaches of the Matshapiri and also near Clarendon Dam.
SMALL HERD (approximately 20 animals): The small herd of buffalo continues to provide good viewing in the south of the reserve, and mainly along the Sand River. They were harassed by male lions during the month, but the lions failed to bring one down.
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