MalaMala - The Wildlife

BUFFALO SIGHTINGS - 2006

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Photograph by ranger Bruce Hedges

December 2006

Large herds of buffalo were not seen as frequently as they have been during the previous two report periods. There has been very little rain, and the areas that were burnt in November are not attracting as many buffaloes as they did after the late November rains. A large herd of buffalo was seen fairly regularly in the northern parts of the reserve, spending time at Mlowathi and Clarendon Dam. The small herd of buffalo continued to be seen consistently in the southern parts of the reserve. There were daily sightings of old male buffaloes, commonly referred to as ‘dugga boys’.

November 2006

Buffalo sightings were very consistent during the November report period. Most of eastern Eyrefield was burnt mid way through November, and following some good rain the new growth has been excellent. This has attracted a number of animals over from the neighbouring Kruger National Park, and buffalo sightings have been numerous in this area.

Photograph by ranger Sheldon Williams

At least three new large herds of buffalo were seen with some regularity on eastern Eyrefield. These buffalo herds were slightly nervous of vehicles and evidently had not encountered landrovers on a regular basis. The relaxed large herd of buffalo was also seen on a few occasions and the small herd of relaxed buffalo in the south of the reserve was a common sighting.

October 2006

Buffalo viewing was again very stable during October and some fine viewing was had of the various large herds. One of the large herd that was commonly seen during September seems to have moved back into the Kruger National Park, this coinciding with two of the dams drying out in the east of the property.

Photograph by ranger Giles Kelmanson

In the south of the reserve the small herd was also frequently seen. During October some large herds of buffalo bulls were sighted on Marthly and Flockfield.

Photograph by ranger Giles Kelmanson

However the lack of water and good grazing owing to the absence of rain has left some of the buffalo very weak. The Styx Pride alone accounted for 6 buffalo kills during the month. Three of these buffalo’s were not in good shape, probably suffering from Bovine TB and being seriously weakened by the ever increasing harsh conditions for these grazers who are very dependant upon water. Buffalo were also sighted on every day of the report period.

September 2006

Buffalo sightings continued to be very good during the September report period. The large herd of buffalo has fragmented again, and now three distinct herds are seen in the north of the property. The Clarendon herd was also sighted on a number of occasions in the north eastern parts of the property. This herd is relaxing down but is still very wary of vehicles and can only be viewed from a distance. In the south of the reserve the small herd of buffalo was again frequently seen, mainly in the Sand River.

Buffalo bulls were frequently encountered throughout the reserve. A herd of bachelor bulls were seen towards the end of the report period in the north of the reserve.

Large herd of Buffalo - Photograph by ranger Sheldon Williams

Towards the very end of the report period a very large herd of slightly nervous buffalo were seen crossing into the property from the Kruger National Park. There was approximately 600 buffalo in this herd. There were three cases of buffalo kills in the report period. The Styx Pride was found on a large buffalo bull kill that they made on eastern Eyrefield. The Split Rock Male discovered a sick buffalo cow one evening and killed it. The buffalo was thought to be suffering from bovine TB. And then towards the very end of the report period the same lion found another buffalo carcass. This buffalo was a young bull and was also suffering from a sickness, thought to again be Bovine TB.

August 2006

Sightings of Cape Buffalo were very consistent during the August report period. Most of the sightings in the northern parts of the property were of large herds of buffalo. The large herd of buffalo that frequents Mala Mala seems to have fragmented into smaller groups, numbering around 300 animals in the one group, and at least two different groups of around 150 animals. These herds were sighted frequently moving through the property in search of good grazing. Unlike past more harsh winters, the grass is still of good quality considering the time of the year, and water is still abundant in the Sand River. Buffalo bulls were also frequently sighted, although not as frequently as the large herds. At least two herds of 15 buffalo bulls were sighted during the report period as well. In the south of the reserve the small herd of buffalo was also frequently sighted, mainly along the Sand River on northern Toulon.

Photograph by ranger John Gold

Lions attacked and killed a young wounded buffalo that the large herd had abandoned mid way through the month, but other than that the large herds repelled all other lion attacks on them.

July 2006

Buffalo sightings continued to be good during the July report period. At least two separate large herds were frequently encountered, similar to June. Lone buffalo bulls were also frequently encountered. As the bush starts to dry out, the buffalo are becoming more and more dependent on the Sand River for water, and this is where most of the sightings of the large herds occurred.

Photograph by ranger Wesley Neuman

On two occasions the Styx Pride made an attempt on the larger of the two buffalo herds. On both occasions the lions got very close to the buffalos, and even managed to leap onto one on one occasion. The herd managed to chase the lions off on both occasions though, proving that they are still a force to be reckoned with.

June 2006

Buffalo sightings on Mala Mala were very good during the month of June. The large herd of buffalo returned and stayed on the property throughout much of the report period. There were only three days during this report period when a buffalo herd was not seen, but on all these days lone buffalo bulls were encountered. The large herd seems to have split into two components, one herd numbering around 150+ animals and the other herd about 300+ animals. Both herds moved through out the northern parts of the property and are staying closer to the Sand River as the water in the interior dries up. The small herd of buffalo also spent a good deal of time on the southern parts of the property and provided some excellent viewing. Lone buffalo bulls were also commonly sighted. Two buffalo deaths were recorded, one through predation and the other died of natural causes. Lions consumed both. Lions also followed the large herds in the north frequently, but were repelled by the buffalo on several occasions as the buffalo are still in good shape.

Photograph by ranger Wesley Neuman

May 2006

Buffalo viewing was somewhat limited due to the relative absence of the herds over most of the last month. A group of approximately 80 members of the large herd were only seen 7 times in the north whereas the small herd that usually frequents the south was only seen on three occasions. The remaining abundance of surface water from the summer may be responsible for this absence of the herds as they remain fragmented and not yet dependent on the Sand River as their main source of water. As the environment gets dryer and the widely distributed surface water recedes it is anticipated that the herds will return and become more resident in the area of the Sand River . Although the herds were largely absent, single or small groups of bulls provided steady viewing along the Sand River and buffalo were still seen on every day in May.

April 2006

The Large Herd of buffalo was somewhat fragmented in April, with smaller groups of this large herd being frequently seen. Members of this herd were seen as far south as the Kapen River , but were most frequently seen on the northern parts of the property, on Eyrefield. Due to the wet summer, there is plenty of good grazing, and most of the buffalo encountered in April appear to be in superb condition.

The Small Herd of buffalo again formed the mainstay of the buffalo viewing in the south, and was frequently seen along the Sand River on Toulon .

Single or small groups of buffalo bulls were frequently seen all along the course of the Sand River . Being solitary or in bachelor groups, these old males tend to favour the thick reedbeds along the Sand River and its tributaries, were there is ample food, water and cover.

March 2006

Sightings of the Large Herd of buffalo (or members thereof) were confined to the northern Eyrefield area. While this herd may number over 600 at its highest, two groups of about 200 buffalo were frequently seen. With the abundant green grass and ample water around, times are good for buffalo, and all the buffalo encountered look in superb condition. There were a very high number of new-born calves in the herd midway through the game report period. Obviously, it is advantageous to lactating females, as well as the youngsters themselves, to have a calving peak in times of plenty such as now. As conditions dry out from now onwards, one may expect these herds to amalgamate and possibly start moving south to unexploited pastures.

The Small Herd of buffalo continues to provide very steady viewing along the Sand River on Toulon.

Sightings of single or small groups of buffalo bulls were frequent along the Sand River. Whenever the large herd of buffalo was not seen, there were sufficient old buffalo bulls to provide steady buffalo viewing.

February 2006

Two herds of buffalo comprising approximately 300 animals each (members of the Large Herd) spent mainly the first half of the month concentrated around the Mlowathi River . Unlike last month neither of these herds ventured south of the Picadilly area and due to the relative absence of any lions in the northern parts of Mala Mala, they enjoyed a peaceful existence feeding on the lush green vegetation and wallowing in the abundance of mud pans available. A buffalo cow was found dead in the Sand River north of Wildebeest Crossing but she was not killed by a predator. A Sabi Sands Veterinarian took blood and a tissue sample to investigate the presence of bovine terberculosis or anthrax but the cause of death is still unknown. Hyaenas and two large crocodiles eventually consumed the carcass.

The Small Herd of buffalo continued to frequent the Sand River on northern Toulon and was seen on 16 occasions. Sightings of single or small groups of buffalo bulls were plentiful and also largely concentrated along the Sand River and its tributaries.

January 2006