Umlani Captured In Photos- Weekly Update
TEMPERATURES DROPPED THIS WEEK AND THE MORNING WINTER CHILLS HAVE DEFINITELY SET IN, THIS HOWEVER HASN'T AFFECTED THE FANTASTIC GAME VIEWING THAT WE HAVE HAD. ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED IS THE LACK OF ANIMAL ACTIVITY AROUND THE WATERHOLES, THERE STILL SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF SMALLER WATER HOLES SCATTERED THROUGH THE BUSH AND THEREFORE THE ANIMALS DON'T NEED TO COME TO THE BIGGER WATER POINTS JUST YET, HOWEVER IN THE COMING WEEKS AS WE MOVE FURTHER INTO WINTER THIS SHOULD CHANGE. FOR NOW THOUGH ENJOY THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THIS LAST WEEK IN PICTURES.
Lions and leopards ruled the week with us having almost daily lions sightings as the River pride still den on our traversing area, the cubs are still all doing really well and growing in size and confidence. The Nharu males have been ever present and have been still been seen mating with 2 of the River pride lionesses. 
When it comes to the leopards, the week started out with a bang and we found both Xisiwana and Nyeleti in the same sighting. One of the leopards had killed an impala ram. Which one it was we don't know, but I had stopped to photograph a tawny eagle when I heard growling and then saw a flash of rosettes and a leopards tail fro the branches of a tree, a lucky find to say the least. Nyeleti didn't hang around long but for 2 days Xisiwana fed on what was left of the impala kill providing some excellent photographic opportunities.
Nweti female also put in an appearance, and also with the remains of an impala ram kill. I also found her in an interesting way. I was sitting watching a hyena who was resting in a small waterhole, when suddenly it jumped up staring intently in one direction then began running it the direction it had been staring in. I followed the running hyena who lead me straight to the tree holding Nweti and her kill. One thing is for sure it often pays off to pay attention to whats going on in nature.
This past week also saw the return of Xidulu male leopard, a male we have not seen in months since he had a run in with Madzinyo male back in February. Once again a luckless impala ram had fallen victim to a leopard and we saw Xidulu feeding on the kill while 3 hyena waited at the base for any free scraps to fall.
Slowly but surely the elephants are making a return to the area in their search for food and water, there have been a couple of nice sightings of some big elephant bulls moving through, as water begins to dry up we can expect more and more sightings of elephants in the weeks to come.
General game and birding has also been fantastic this week and I have to say it really makes the safaris that much more interesting when you stop and notice the other things that nature has to show. From Hippos to a bit of a francolin fest there was never a dull moment out on safari.
That is all for this last weeks highlights and sights that we got to see whilst out and about in the Timbavati here at Umlani Bushcamp. Until next time...
Written & Photographed by: Greg McCall-Peat
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