Two lions are resting on the dry grass of the Sabi Sands, with one lying comfortably and another sitting alert beside it.

September Sightings at Silvan Safari

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Silvan’s game drives thrill with big cat sightings—from leopards with kills to the mighty Kambula males—bringing excitement to the Silvan family.

Recent weeks on Silvan's game drives have been filled with big cat activity, so there's little surprise they steal the headlines when it comes to our first Silvan sightings report. We’re excited to share a little bit of what's happening in the bush with our extended Silvan family, and make us feel a little closer to you…

The September sightings at Silvan Safari did not disappoint, Image Credit: Maruis Zeilinga

Langa

Another of our leopardesses, Langa, has enjoyed all the finer things in life (for a leopard, at least) over the past week or so. Not content with just a duiker kill, she hoisted an impala into the same tree during the week.

Unfortunately, once she left, both kills were unattended, and vultures swooped in and dislodged what remained. Hyenas, as always, were very quick to take advantage of this misfortune. After losing the last cub in her most recent litter a few weeks back, she appears to have put the past behind her and has been seen mating with probably the busiest male leopard in the northern Sabi Sand, the Tortoise Pan male.

A leopard is perched on a tree branch, appearing to watch over its kill, a small antelope, which hangs nearby. The leopard shows significant markings and is positioned against a blue sky.

Langa enjoying a light lunch high up in a tree, Image Credit: Maruis Zeilinga

Xidulu

One of our more often seen female leopards, Xidulu, has been seen on drives a few times over the last week. Guests have enjoyed sightings of her attempting hunts on several occasions, but none were lucky enough to see her succeed.

A leopard rests on a rocky outcrop surrounded by dry grass, gazing off into the distance. Its distinctive spotted coat blends with the natural surroundings.

Xiduluis often sighted by our guests and is well-loved by all, Image Credit: Maruis Zeilinga

Makhomsava

By contrast, Makhomsava was quite content with her most recent duiker kill, spending three days enjoying her feast. We suppose someone has to keep up a sophisticated and ladylike appearance for the leopardesses at Silvan after all.

A leopard is perched on a branch, feeding on its kill. The scene showcases the leopard's distinctive spots and the bare branches of the tree.

Silvan Safari truly is the land of leopards! Image Credit: Maruis Zeilinga

Kambula Males

The impressive Kambula males were seen on the move recently and appear to be making themselves more comfortable around Silvan. Made up of four impressive lions, they're an imposing presence and force to be reckoned with.

If that isn't enough, they have impressive genetics on their side, too; they are the offspring of the long-reigning Birmingham males that dominated a large portion of Londolozi to our south. Through strength in numbers and their formidable size, they're likely to play a significant role in shaping the futures of the lion prides we see at Silvan.

A group of lions is seen resting in the tall grass, with two in the foreground and one in the background. The golden hues of the sun create a warm atmosphere in this serene setting.

These majestic males are certainly a force to be reckoned with, Image Credit: Maruis Zeilinga

Nkuhuma Pride

Our most regularly encountered lions, the Nkuhuma pride, look to be in rude health. After gorging themselves on a zebra for an entire day, they did as lions do best and lazed near a waterhole. To be fair, after a few plates at Silvan's high tea, guests are quite happy to settle into a lounger next to the pool with an ice-cold drink in hand – sometimes, it just feels right to follow nature's lead.

In an interesting shift in the male lion dynamics at Silvan, one of the Plains Camp males was seen with two of the older Nkuhuma pride lionesses. It remains to be seen how this will impact the other male lions in the region.

Two lions are lying in a dry, grassy area, with one male and one female visible, both looking attentively at the surroundings.

The Nkuhuma pride relaxing after a good meal, Image Credit: Maruis Zeilinga

Tiyani

Those of you who keep a keen eye on our social media channels will know that Tiyani has recently had a young litter of cubs and was nesting with them under the main deck at Silvan Safari. While we haven't had any clear sightings of the cubs recently, they're estimated to be roughly two months old. Keep an eye on our social media accounts for future updates!

A leopard rests on a rocky surface, showcasing its distinctive spotted coat against a clear sky.

Tiyani relaxing on a termite mound, Image Credit: Maruis Zeilinga

Roy’s Dam

Our newly installed live feed at Roy's Dam has captured some interesting sightings so far. Civets have been regular visitors over the past few weeks, as have side-striped jackals – both of these species are considered to be uncommon or unusual sightings when on game drives.

Quickly becoming the star of the show is our resident African Fish Eagle, who has been seen swooping down to catch fish on a few occasions. Selected footage from this camera is being shared via the Silvan social media channels and a live link will be shared to our Silvan family soon.

A lion is seen drinking water at a small waterhole, with an open savannah in the background.

We've had some amazing sightings from the Roy Dam camera so far, with more to come, Image Credit: Maruis Zeilinga

That's a Wrap!

That’s all we have this week, but we’ll be back soon with another update. We hope it made the bush and all its excitement feel a little closer and had you reminiscing about your last visit with us. Let us know who you’d like to hear about and what exciting developments you want us to share in the comment section. As always, we can't wait for you to join us at Silvan soon.