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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

LIONS & LEOPARDS of Mala Mala Photo Safari July 2012

Just back from our 2nd "Lions and Leopards of Mala Mala" Photo Safari for the 2012 season and once again we had an amazing amount of photo opportunities and a few special treats.

We began at the Big Cat Reserve with great sessions of the Leopards, Lions, Cheetahs and the Caracal. Ferassi the Hippo was seen on the grass at the swimming pool on our way to our rooms after dinner !

Kruger National Park was very active with general game, lots of Zebras, Giraffe and great Elephant herds. 4 Cheetahs, a Leopard with a zebra foal kill and a mating pair of Leopards resting in a tree as well as the Lion pride that frequents the Kumana Dam area made up our bonus Cat sightings.

Off to Mala Mala for the last leg of our tour and we were very chuffed to find that the Wilddog den was still active and the pups have grown amazingly quickly since our last photo safari a few weeks ago. The pups spent a lot of the time out of the den exploring and running around just as young puppys should !

We spent some time with the Bicycle crossing Male Leopard as well as with the female that we briefly saw on the last safari with her two tiny cubs. We enjoyed watching her cross through the Sand River.

The Styx pride and the Eyrefield pride had an altercation over a Buffalo kill and it was the Styx pride that backed down. Some of the Manyeleti males were present at the kill.

One of the Cheetah brothers we saw on the last safari was seen calling for his brother who might have been off following a female.

The real treat was to see 3 tiny lion cubs only a few weeks old, cubs of one of the Eyrefield Lionesses.

Here are a few photos, enjoy !!

Look out for the next trip report from our 3rd "Lions & Leopards of Mala Mala" photo safari which begins tomorrow !!

Many thanks again to Jaco our ranger at the Big Cat Reserve and to Gary, our ranger at Mala Mala.

Kindest regards,

The Wild4 Team


MOVIE TRAILER from the Photo Safari


A very pregnant Zebra - Kruger National Park

Mating Leopard pair in Kruger National Park

Giraffe - Kruger Park

Sunset near Satara - central Kruger Park

Spotted Hyaena - Kruger Park

The oldest female of the Styx Pride - Mala Mala

Bicycle Crossing Male Leopard marking territory - Mala Mala

Adult Wilddogs returning to the den after a hunt to regurgitate food for the pups

The Alpha male - Mala Mala

Pups playing with the ear of an antelope - Mala Mala

Female Leopard - Mala Mala

Female Leopard crossing the Sand River - Mala Mala

Male Waterbuck drinking from the Sand River - Mala Mala

Lioness and cub from the Eyrefield Pride feeding on a Buffalo - Mala Mala

Lion cub - Mala Mala

One of the Eyrefield Lionesses with her tiny cubs - Mala Mala

African Hoopoe - Mala Mala

Zebra drinking - Mala Mala

Male Cheetah calling for his brother - Mala Mala

Lilac Breasted Roller - Mala Mala

Little Bee eater - Mala Mala

One of the Manyelethi Males - Mala Mala

Young Elephant chasing a Hammerkop - Mala Mala

Elephants dust bathing - Mala Mala

Elephants dust bathing - Mala Mala

Elephants crossing the Sand River - Mala Mala

Cape Hunting dog adult - Mala Mala

Cape Hunting dog Pup - Mala Mala

Cape Hunting Dog pup - Mala Mala

Cape Hunting Dog pup - Mala Mala

Cape Hunting Dog puppies - Mala Mala

One of the Manyelethi Males - Mala Mala

Male Lion and young Lioness - Big Cat Reserve

Impala jumping - Big Cat Reserve

Zebra drinking - Big Cat Reserve

Caracal - Big Cat Reserve

Female King Cheetah running - Big Cat Reserve

Cheetahs grooming - Big Cat Reserve

Caracal Jumping - Big Cat Reserve

Caracal with Guinea Fowl - Big Cat Reserve



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