In my time spent in the bush I have learnt many things, but what has been most noted is an addiction to the suspense and unpredictability of the bush. Indeed, this week has shown that there is no soap opera more volatile than bush television...

We started off the week with the Southern Pride missing yet another member. Rangers speculated her whereabouts with rumours of birthing cubs, death or what we all most dread, abandonment in the midst of another territorial take over.

The significant presence of the Charleston males over the last two weeks revealed, the female’s disappearance was more associated with the latter as, much to our horror, the Charlestons were found harbouring the missing female. This was later in the week overshadowed by the discovery of the one Charleston male in the presence of all five females! Although no mating has been witnessed, and the females have been far from welcoming, the Charleston showed no indications of cowardice when resting for the day less than 2km from the Fourways males. When both male coalitions finally met, it was indeed the Fourways who spared no second thought to running. Only time will tell if the Charlestons are on the brink of a new take-over, but with at least one of the Southern Pride females showing signs of being pregnant with the offspring of the Fourways males, it will certainly have disastrous repercussions for the future of the cubs. We wait with baited breathes!

On a more positive note – Little Bush’s cubs have officially been spotted for the first time! She has been incredibly successful in her hunting expeditions of recent; managing to secure a meal out of a duiker earlier this week, leaving us with high hopes for her little one to make it through.

Certainly if Kigelia is anything to go by, Little Bush bares strong genetics. Kigelia was glowing with health and her green eyes continued to captivate us as they caught the light as she moved through some thick bush. In my opinion she may be one of the prettiest leopards I have had the privilege of seeing!

Little Bush isn’t the only mother who has been busy prowling. Lisbon was found hunting deep in her territory in the early afternoon but failed to catch a lucky Scrub hare. We have not seen her cub for some time now, but remain confident that it is well and just being it’s elusive, shy self.

As with the lions, we have also seen some unusual territorial trespassing with our oldest resident leopard in the north – Nottins. For a large portion of the week she tempted fate by pushing far into Little Bush, Warthog Wallow and White Dam’s territory. Although no scent marking was witnessed during any of these sightings, one does wonder what she is up to. She was looking very malnutritioned upon the last sighting of her and her age is definitely becoming apparent.

A very welcome surprise of a large male Hippopotamus in front of Bush Lodge has been a fantastic addition to enthralling conversations of yet another epic week spent in the bush!

We hope you can join us as the drama continues to unfold next week. If Sydney’s smile is anything to go by, drama in the bush is about the best drama you can get!