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December 2001

Although there were daily rhino sightings over December, viewing was relatively slow towards the beginning of this game-report-period, but then picked up well and by the end of the month, sightings were good and plentiful. Several factors probably contributed to this viewing trend. In the beginning of the month, hot conditions and plenty of water and mudholes probably allowed rhino to stay deep in the bushes in some or other wallow, safe from insects and away from the heat of the sun. Abundant high quality grazing also permitted these animals to either stay localised or to wander and eat where they wanted to. This feeding habit would influence the chances of encountering a rhino as it moved around.
By the end of December, many rhinos seem to have started their 'rotational' grazing within their respective home ranges. Whilst uneaten grass grows tall and stemmy, the grazed grass produces fresh shoots within a few days of being defoliated. The rhinos then return to these original areas and feed upon the regrowth, ignoring the tall and unappetizing uneaten material. When such feeding starts, the behaviour of the rhinos becomes more predictable and so sightings become more frequent.
Good rhino viewing occurred on the Mala Mala airstrip where anything up to 7 animals were seen at a time. There was also fine viewing on the western bank of the Sand River on Charleston which was burned earlier on in the year. Here anything up to 9 animals were seen together at one time.

November 2001

Rhino viewing changed during the course of the month, with these large grass-eaters becoming relatively scarce towards the end of November. This was almost certainly due to the good rains which have fallen and the availability of better grazing on areas adjacent to Mala Mala. As grass growth continues at pace, so it can be expected that the quality of the grazing will become less varied and rhino numbers will 'normalise'. Areas close to Mala Mala which experienced recent fires would at this stage have the newest and best quality grazing and so would for a few weeks at least be more attractive to the rhinos. A typical summers grazing habit for White Rhinos is to occupy an area which they are familiar with and which has ample supplies of good grazing, water and mudholes as well as some bushes and gullies which provide protection from the elements. During these times grass growth within such an area is usually faster than the rhino can remove and it can be expected that those animals in the area will change their feeding habits so that they can in fact make use of the best quality grass. And to achieve this, rhinos will have feeding zones within the region they occupy, rotating amongst these grazing patches as regrowth from the previous grazing event becomes available. Under such conditions, rhino viewing usually becomes reasonably predictable as the animals move from one area to another over the course of several days, returning to the original area when new succulent grass appears.

October 2001

Rhino viewing was good during October and, particularly towards the end of the month when light rains caused a flush of grass growth on the areas burned in early September. There were some days this month when in excess of a dozen different rhinos were seen. In addition to the territorial animals expected on various places of the reserve, there were many rhinos entering Mala Mala from the adjacent Kruger National Park. Several of the animals encountered were mother and young combinations, some of the babies born within the last few months. As could be expected, these animals were wary of vehicles and usually jogged off when approached. If the rains which contributed to the new growth of grass on the burned areas are not followed up by other more substantial falls, then things will dry up and the influx of rhinos will stop. Although water supplies away from the Sand River are dwindling in both quantity and quality, the situation is still good for the rhinos. In fact, in the burned areas of the north-east of the reserve, the Matshapiri River and some of its tributaries are still supplying good drinking water. This water would still be from the heavy rains of the 1999/ 2000 rainy season. Several mud-wallows are also keeping the rhinos happy.

September 2001

Rhino sightings this month continued to be good even though a 'typical' dry season has not yet materialised; several waterholes are still functioning and so the Sand River has not become the sole source of water. Nevertheless, certain rhinos are definitely making more use of the river than was the case a month or two ago and some prominent rhino paths are quite evident. Various other animals then use these well-worn trails and so their prominence increases.

Another factor which has not yet encouraged rhinos to enter the reserve in the increased numbers often associated with the late dry season has been the lack of rain on the areas of the north-east which were burned in the beginning of September as part of Mala Mala's controlled fire-management. Rain on these areas produces a flush of green grass which is almost irresistible to rhinos and other quality-grass seekers. This dry season has also seen several rhinos with small babies, these born over the last few months. A well-known rhino about to give birth is the female with a long straight horn which typically lives along the upper reaches of the Mlowathi River. It was her approximately 2-and-a-half-year-old calf which died in such a strange manner a few months ago when it became wedged beneath a fallen tree whilst trying to scratch itself. Anyway, she has become a solitary animal and by all physical appearances is about to deliver a new youngster.

August 2001

Rhino viewing has been very good with an abundance of young calves to be seen, particularly in the southern parts of the reserve. Quite unusually, many of these youngsters have been most unafraid of vehicles. The female rhino with the long straight horn which lost her previous calf last month when it became wedged beneath a fallen tree appears on the brink of giving birth and has been wandering around alone for several weeks now along the upper reaches of the Mlowathi River.

July 2001

July was a good month for rhino viewing, the usual territorial animals and those with established home-ranges providing most sightings. A sad item of news was the extraordinary death of an approximately three-year-old female rhino. The carcass was found wedged beneath a fallen tree. When the State Veterinarian from the Kruger National Park examined the carcass, it was determined that the rhino had somehow become wedged beneath the tree whilst it was scratching itself. A most bizarre and tragic death. It is thought that the calf belonged to a female with a particularly long and straight horn which has been seen frequently in the area and is often accompanied by an adult bull. She is hopefully pregnant and may soon give birth. Lions, hyaenas and vultures consumed the carcass. An item of good news is that the male rhino mentioned in last months report with the septic looking wounds around the groin and flank area is far healthier and looks close to his normal belligerent self. Interestingly, there have been few sightings of the male rhino thought to have beaten him up. In fact, towards the end of this game report period, the once-wounded rhino was courting a female with a year-old calf, and in the process chasing off another male also vying for her attention. The second and apparently subservient male in this courtship was younger and has a very torn right ear. It is thought that the 'once-injured' rhino may have inflicted this wound a month or two ago. Although the ear is torn in two and the wound mostly healed, oxpeckers still feed from the edges.

June 2001

May 2001

Rhino viewing has changed very little over the last few months with there being regular sightings of the more territorial and home-range-bound members. Due to both the abundance of watering areas away from the Sand River and also the plentiful supply of green grass, the expected dry season rhino viewing pattern has not yet started. At such times when the Sand River becomes the principle drinking spot, it is usual to expect rhinos from as far afield as the Kruger National Park to wander along increasingly obvious game paths to their favourite drinking spots in order to get their water. What has changed somewhat as winter is felt is that most rhino viewing has taken place during the latter parts of the day when conditions are somewhat warmer. The cold mornings are usually reason enough for rhinos - and many other animals for that matter - to stay in the shelter of the bushy and higher-lying areas.

April 2001

Rhino viewing has seen little change since last month when certain territorial animals or others with known and static home ranges provided the bulk of the viewing. Generally cooler weather has also probably continued to contribute towards daytime sightings of these large animals which may otherwise have waited to head out to their favourite feeding grounds only after nightfall. The most prolific rhino viewing this month has been in the general area of the Mala Mala airstrip where the short and high-quality grass has proved a major attraction. Compared with what may be typically expected at this time of the year, the quality of the grass still remains very high and is hardly showing any signs of turning brown - this no doubt to the delight of the rhinos. Interestingly, there still appears to be something of a territorial struggle taking place around the Mala Mala airstrip. The male which came off second best in the fight reported some months ago is still around and proceeding to behave in an unusually arrogant manner. Two younger bulls have also been in the area and one of them was seen with fresh facial wounds, particularly around his right ear which was hanging at an angle. The male rhino which was deemed the victor of the battle some months ago is also encountered from time to time, but perhaps more south of the airstrip area and where the other bull (the one he beat up) has been seen.

March 2001

Rhino viewing was very good during March with their being close to 20 different animals seen on several days. Now that the growth of grass is slowing down, the rhino have cause to move further afield to new grazing areas. Also, with daytime temperatures not as extreme as they were a month or so ago, activity starts earlier in the late afternoon and continues later after sunrise, perhaps allowing better opportunities to view these animals. This change of animal movement which occurs when water and grazing quality and quantity change is part and parcel of rhino life and interactions on a scale greater than occurs at other times of the year can be expected. The Mala Mala airstrip and immediate surrounds with its level land and short green grass proved particularly good with groups of over half-a-dozen rhino encountered at some sightings. The dominant bull of the area (which is the same one which recently took over the territory some months ago after a fight with the previous male), is perhaps a little stressed with the situation.

Not only have several other bulls been coming out to graze in this area, but there have also been at least two females making regular appearances. However, he probably needs not concern himself with any competition at this stage. Not only have none of the other males shown any signs of wanting a piece of the action, but none of the females appear near mating. Nevertheless, the dominant bull was taking no chances and territory marking took a major part of his time this month.

February 2001

Rhino viewing continued to be good, but with nothing exceptional to report. For several weeks (until a flooding Sand River encouraged him to move) a single rhino bull took up residence in the immediate environs of the Sand River opposite the Main Camp. This rhino could be seen on an almost daily basis from the swimming pool area and the deck. A closer inspection of the rhino indicated that it had been in a fight, but that the lacerations towards its rear were not too serious. When last seen they appeared to be healing well and although the rhino was limping, no bones appeared to have been broken. It is thought that this rhino was the same young bull which was trying to move into the area around the Mala Mala airstrip, a territory which has drawn a number of contestants over the last few months. It is highly likely that the large male which last month beat up the old male also saw this other younger male on his way. Towards months end, the Mala Mala airstrip had become a most sought after area for rhinos and several were being seen there on a daily basis, mostly in the evening. In the south of the reserve, a nice gathering of five rhino were also being encountered on a regular basis this month.

January 2001

For the first half of January, rhino were thin on the ground and then started to appear in bigger numbers. On one day there were nine sightings of rhino, totalling 18 different animals. Why the great variation in sightings over a short space of time is not known, but it almost certainly has to do with the weather and how the food supply has been influenced. The dry and hot conditions experienced over the last month or so would have slowed the growth of grass, forcing the rhinos to move to different foraging areas, rather than simply rotating amongst a certain number of 'regrowth areas'. Fortunately for the rhinos, mudholes are still in good supply. One of the more exciting items of rhino viewing this month was perhaps also the end of the long-standing territorial dispute which has been taking place in the immediate area of the Mala Mala airstrip. After several weeks of territory marking between the rival bulls in the area, two of the animals eventually had a physical encounter. Although this was not witnessed, the male which has controlled the area for some years now and which several months ago beat off another competitor, came off second-best. He was seen one evening, bravely trying to mark territory, but battling to move due to cuts and bruises from the fight. The next morning he was still in the area, but being harassed by another bull, almost certainly the one which had inflicted the injuries. This time the two did not have a set-battle and all behaviour from the old bull indicated submission. After the 'new' bull chased the injured animal around for a time, the latter sought sanctuary in a muddy pond, standing in the knee-deep water whilst his competitor circled around him. After twenty or so minutes of this, the winner wandered off. The loser stayed standing in the water for some time before summonsing the courage to head out. Just what this once-proud territory holder will now do waits to be seen. Interestingly, in the weeks following this showdown, he stayed in the area, but obviously behaved himself and did nothing to incur the wrath of the one which had so recently spared him from an even more savage beating. Fortunately the wounds did not appear deep and there were no signs of internal injuries. Interestingly, the reason why the vanquished male may have had so many territorial challengers over the last half-year or so may have been as a result of an injury which he sustained around his genitals and this may have influenced the effectiveness with which he spray-urinated the area. A relative lack of attention to this would have indicated to others that the 'owner' was waning in power and ripe for a take-over. For the victor, he now has to keep holding the territory with regular markings of its boundaries. Towards the northern end of the Mala Mala airstrip another rhino has made an appearance, this a younger bull which has a nervous disposition towards landrovers, indicating that he grew up in some far-off area where this type of game-viewing operation was not common. However, his wanderings have taken him to this area and he now feels sufficiently confident that the area can be taken. So far his movements do not appear far and wide, but will certainly bring him into contact with the new owner of the territory south of where he has so far placed himself. The story continues. Other good rhino sightings have involved a large male rhino which has a territory which includes some mud-holes on the mid regions of the Matshapiri River. These wallows have not been for his exclusive use and have been much frequented this month by the large herd of buffalo. Most times when these large bovids have been present, the territorial rhino appears and mingles inamongst them. Although he has shown no blatant aggression towards them, his interaction with them has been to encourage them to keep moving. This has entailed gently prodding them if they lie down in the open area surrounding the mud-holes and also following them at least some of the way when they leave.

MalaMala Game Reserve, PO Box 55514, Northlands, 2116, South Africa.
Telephone: + 27 11 442 2267 or 0861 SAFARI.
Facsimile: + 27 11 442 2318
e-Mail: reservations@malamala.com

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