Singita Kruger National Park: March 2022

March 2022

Singita Kruger National Park: March 2022

March is been an interesting month, we had a different weather experience where some days were windy, hot, and raining. In most of the area, the grass is still green because of the recent rain received. This is very unusual for the month of March! When we check our rain record for the year we have not received a lot compared to other years but we have enough water in the rivers because we had enough rain in the previous season. We believe we are going to have a beautiful winter because we have enough water and food in the concession. Most of the game is spread out along the Nwanetsi River and the Xinkelengana drainage where we have water and good grazing land. General game has been so amazing in that area, it is mind-blowing seeing a lot of different animals feeding together in one area - giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, impalas and warthogs.

Here’s a Sightings Snapshot for March:

Lions

Out of the three different prides that we have on the concession, lion sightings have been very good for all of them this month.
The Mountain Pride was seen a couple of times around Pony Pan. One lioness seems to be ready to breed again and the pride have been moving way south across their boundary to the sticky thorn area. The Shish Males have been away from them for a long time, and new males have been following them, so we are looking forward to seeing what is going to happen next.
The Mananga Pride is doing well and has been spending some time around the north-west section of the concession. We found them feeding on the zebra kill the other day and counted 28 together, including the Shish males.
The two Shish lionesses with cubs have been spending time around H6, S37, and south towards Sweni Bird Hide - they were hardly on the concession this month. We also think they might have lost four of their cubs because we only see two of them now. Recently we found three nomadic males on H6 and the Shish lionesses with two cubs were at Granophyre. The other five members were north of Ostrich Link. It seems like they have been chased away from the west by the nomadic males.
Maputo and Kumana were also seen a couple of times around H6 and north of the lodge. They have been roaring in their territory but it seems like their territory is shrinking because the Shish males are also pushing them from the north.

Leopards

Dumbana female and her two cubs were spotted around Pony Pan this month. They were also seen coming south towards the Green Apple Hill area and Mondo Pan. We have seen them south of their territory in the past few weeks and we think the nomadic male that is often seen around Nyokeni Ridge and Ostrich Fly Camp might be pushing them.
Nhlanguleni female has seen with two new cubs that she introduced to us.
The Mbiri-Mbiri male was spotted near the Xinkelengana drainage. We are hoping that he sets his territory somewhere on the concession because he is soon to leave his father’s territory.

Wild dogs

A pack of seven wild dogs was seen a couple of times.
The pack of nine was also seen around Double-Crossing. They did not stay for too long this month and they headed west towards Kruger.

Spotted hyenas

We had a couple of sighting around Nyokeni Ridge and Ntsimbitsane. We are suspecting that this clan might have a den east of Nyokeni Ridge along the drainage line. Unfortunately it is too rocky for us to access the area with a vehicle.
Single hyenas have been spotted around the Border Road, Green Apple Hill, and Pony Pan.
The Xinkelengane clan was spotted around with the sub-adult cubs.

Elephants

Elephant sightings have been very good. We have seen a couple of bulls in musth, and most of the cows have young calves. The population is doing well and looking very healthy.
At least three different breeding herds of elephants were recorded each day, and they have formed large groups of more than fifteen together.

Buffalos

Buffalo bulls were seen near the drainage lines.
We had a large breeding herd of more than 800 come in from the north around Mbatsane. They came in and split into two groups, so we now have a group of about 400+ and 300+.

Plains game

Very good general game in the depression, and a large dazzle of zebras, wildebeest, and giraffes feeding on the western side of the Xinkelengana drainage.
It's been so amazing driving Leadwood Road from Sticky Thorn to Golf Course Clearing - almost everywhere you looked there was something to see.

Rare animals and other sightings

An African wild cat was spotted hunting some spurfowl that were resting at the base of a tree, but it was not successful.
A single porcupine was also spotted in the area of Nwanetsi West and Park Road. Another porcupine was seen crossing the road near Gundzane Dam.

Birds

The birdlife has been so good! We do not hear a lot of our summer residents calling, it looks like they are done breeding and just looking for food before they depart. The summer visitors are also still around catching insects and eating as much as they can to make a strong departure.
A pair of greater painted snipes was seen around the Xingwenyana Crossing.

Read the full report here >>