May 2008

Rhino sightings for the report period showed that they were widely distributed throughout the property but the best viewing of this now common animal continued to take place around the central Matshipiri as well as almost daily viewing in the vicinity of the Kapen. The highlight of the month was a crash of 8 rhinos seen on one occasion and many more small crashes been viewed, during the report period only one day was recorded with no rhinos been seen.

April 2008

White rhino sightings have been excellent over the last month. As the leaves have started to fall with the coming autumn the rhinos have been easier to spot and hence a very good month for rhino viewing was had. Rhinos are also animals that need to drink on a regular basis and so the river has been a good source of rhino as they move away from the drying waterholes on their territories.

There have been a number of sightings of mating rhinos, an especially rare sighting in the African bushveld. There have also been a number of territorial fights, another rare and especially and powerful display that is capable to shaking the very ground on which the battle is fought. Most of these encounters have been ritualistic, with little physical contact, but a few of them were truly earth moving, with some injuries being incurred on both sides.

January 2008

Rhinos continued to be plentiful on the reserve for January. They seem to favour certain areas and this is understandable for the males that are territorial, however there have been a number of stable female/sub adult/juvenile herds that have remained in the same area for some time. These are very productive areas with good palatable grasses. Interestingly there were two occasions this past month where rhinos have interacted with lions. Typically lions do not attempt to catch the adult rhinos, however they will go for the juveniles and there was one occasion in particular where the Styx pride made an attempt on a juvenile rhino on the airstrip. It was, however, well protected by the adults and the lions came off a hard second best.