- April saw good sightings of the large herd of buffalo, but still mainly on the eastern boundary of the property where grass is still green as a result of mid-summer lightening fires and waterholes which have not yet dried up. Calving is still occurring and the large herd of buffalo is getting bigger by the day. This seems to correspond with population dynamics of buffalo within the Kruger National Park where, after some years of poor performance, numbers have recently shown a big increase.
- Towards the South of the reserve the small herd of buffalo were also encountered during April. As the dry season approaches and the level of the river drops, it can be expected that this herd will move off the property towards stronger flowing systems to the South. This movement was not seen last year when the exceptional rains kept the Sand river at a constantly high level.
- Good Rhino viewing has been the order of the day, particularly towards the northern, eastern and southern portions of the reserve. The central south of the property has typically been a portion not favoured by White Rhino, but for several months now, a group of very relaxed rhino have moved into the area and have provided hours of good viewing. In the very north of the property, localised areas of short grass and good mud holes have provided a major attraction for these creatures.
- Although elephants were seen on the reserve on every day during April, numbers have not been as high as might have been expected. Food throughout the entire area is good and water still widely dispersed, allowing for these animals to move at will.
- Dead male giraffe found on central Charleston; reason for death unknown, but it may have tripped itself amongst the branches of a fallen tree. Only one lion was seen near this carcass and it did not remain very long, apparently nervous of vehicles. Good hyena and vulture activity were witnessed. On one occasion, soon after the carcass was located, a group of giraffe arrived at the scene and for some minutes stood silently watching the feeding hyenas. They then wandered off, only to return 30 minutes later for another brief look.
- Consistent viewing of a Fiscal Shrike on the floodplain opposite the main camp as well as on the airstrip - almost certainly the same bird. Although a very well known bird in other areas of southern Africa, this species has not as yet been listed at Mala Mala.
- Four male lions were seen taking only ten minutes to kill an adult male buffalo after isolating it from a large herd.
- Five or six hyena were one night seen killing an adult impala in the Sand River in front of Harry's camp. Soon after the impala was killed, a male lion rushed in, scattered the hyenas and stole the kill.
- Two hyena dens have recently been found on the property. The one den appears well established and has been used in the past, whilst the other may only be a so-called 'birth den' - a temporary home for new born pups which are later moved to a more permanent residence.
- Witnessed during April was an amazing incident between an adult male waterbuck, some crocodiles and six hippopotami. The drama occurred over a 24 hour period in the Sand River in front of the main camp and started one evening when the waterbuck - which probably weighed nearly one quarter of a ton - was found having a 'tug-of-war' with the crocodile. The waterbuck managed to pull free, but had a broken leg and was bleeding badly. The following day the waterbuck was still close to the river, but could hardly move and was all the time being watched by two or three large crocodiles. That evening, the now evidently dying waterbuck was mercifully euthanased by camp staff. Five minutes after its death, the crocodiles emerged onto the sand bank and started to drag it into the water. However, before this task could be completed, a group of six hippos emerged from the water and made their way to the scene of the kill. The crocodiles abandoned the carcass and retreated to the river from where they watch the hippos spend the next twenty minutes smelling and nuzzling the dead waterbuck. Eventually the hippos moved off to graze and the crocodiles emerged once more to drag the waterbuck into the river where it was ripped apart in a feeding frenzy.
