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December 2005

Rhino sightings were sporadic with daily sightings varying from just a couple on some days to as many as twenty on other days. A rare sighting of a grouping of fifteen animals was also recorded on one occasion. Two very young calves were also seen occasionally, however, viewing was limited as their overprotective mothers quickly ushered them away into thick bush when the vehicles approached.

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November 2005

There was no shortage of white rhino in November, and with the recent rains, these thick-skinned animals would have welcomed all the recently-filled pans and mud wallows. The areas that were burned shortly after the first rains of November, would also have attracted these grazers as soon as the green flush came through.

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October 2005

White rhino were again very plentiful in October with many of the traditionally good rhino spots again being productive. By next month there should be plenty of water in most of the pans so this will alter the distribution of rhino sightings significantly.

A male rhino died of injuries sustained, perhaps in a fight with another rhino bull. The carcass was discovered by vultures and subsequently lions and hyenas.

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September 2005

There was again no shortage of rhino, although rangers sometimes had to work quite hard to find them. A few of the regularly seen rhino often “saved the day”, particularly in the early evenings, when they headed down towards drinking spots. Rhino will sometimes, of necessity, move right out of their own territories, crossing the territories of other rhino, in order to find water.

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August 2005

Rhino viewing was again consistently good, with these large creatures being found on all parts of the reserve in August. With the very dry conditions, rhino are not finding any mud wallows, with the exception of those that they find in the Sand River . This lack of mud can be frustrating for them.

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July 2005

A look at the map will show that there was a good distribution of white rhino on the property in July. One might have expected a higher proportion of the sightings to be concentrated along the Sand River, as there is no other surface water on Mala Mala, except for what little is left in Mlowathi Dam. It is known that rhino most regularly drink at night, so it would be a good tactic, if one had not seen rhino during the day, to try some of the popular drinking spots in the Sand River.

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June 2005

White rhino sightings were again plentiful, and a look at the map shows that they were quite well distributed. An apparently healthy adult female rhino was killed, presumably by lions, and the lions fed on its carcass for more than a week.

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May 2005

Once again, there was no shortage of white rhino sightings. The tributaries of the Sand River were all productive areas, as were some of the large open areas, such as the airstrip, Mlowathi Dam and Jakkalsdraai Open Area.

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April 2005

There were daily sightings of rhino in April, with productive areas along the Kapen, Mlowathi and Chellahanga Rivers, as well as parts of the Sand River. The airstrip delivered a good many rhino sightings, particularly in the evenings and early mornings. Many mud holes are now dry, and rhinos will have to travel further in order to have their mud wallows, so important for controlling external parasites.

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March 2005

Rhino viewing continued to be consistent in March, with as many as 15 to 21 animals being seen on a day on many occasions. Productive areas were along the main tributaries of the Sand River, and of course where ever some of the pans still held good mud for wallowing.

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