Some spring specials

After a long dry spell, the rains have finally arrived. A good number of leaves have already started to emerge on the trees, but this rain will certainly kick-start the spring spin around.

Boulder’s female leopard has done it yet again, raising another cub to independence. She has recently been found mating with Ravenscourt and left the youngster to enjoy its new found freedom.

The likelihood of these young leopards making it to independence is usually quite slim. Therefor it comes with a huge celebration when their mother’s let them go. We usually wait until they move alone before assigning a name to each individual. Boulder’s cub has finally been named “Ruxaka (pronounced Rushaka). This loosely means Family.

It is nearly impossible to create a post without Ravenscourt making an appearance. The times that I have enjoyed with this super cat is endless. He still delivers and puts on a show, when I can actually find him.

Love them or hate them, the cheeky smile from this young hyena keeps melting hearts. The various hyena dens are currently extremely active and the little ones are already plotting their next set of mischievous escapades.

Believe it or not, some of the larger animals blend in incredibly well in the dull and dry winter bushveld landscape. Trying to spot some of the smaller critters can be an even greater challenge. Every now and then your eye might catch a glimpse of a silhouette that seems completely out of place. This flap-necked chameleon tried its utmost best to blend in with the lifeless bare bush-willow branches. The chameleon matched the colour and various blotches of the surrounding branch structures perfectly.

Watching the two Othawa lionesses set their own paths has been such an amazing journey. They are healthy, fighting fit and simply keep moving forward.

My driving cycle could not have ended on a better note with a sighting from this charming cheetah. Not a cat that I get to see too often in my area of operation so each sighting with these regal cats is highly treasured.