There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
The first day of the reporting period saw us spending some more time with the Giraffe Pride that had all but finished off their zebra kill and had gathered around a nearby mud wallow to cool off and digest their meal. The roars of the pride through the entire night led to us to checking up on them again the next morning and being greeted by the amazing sight of all eighteen pride members lying around the same mud wallow – not a bad way to start off the day! The pride did move out of our concession after that and despite hearing the roars of the two dominant males close to us later in the week, they remained AWOL. The mating pair of Mayambula lions spent a few more days mating in the far east, and on my one journey to that part of the Timbavati one morning, we found the three mothers of the older cubs resting near the den site. In the days that followed, the little ones did show themselves again after several day’s absence, and all eight youngsters are doing well as they enter the fourth month of their lives. The other younger lionesses of the Mayambula Pride were still moving around in the south-eastern sections of the concession, but our one attempt at tracking them did lead them towards the boundary with the Kruger National Park. The River Pride returned for their weekly visit when they were found with a zebra kill in the north-western corner of the concession.