Congregating cats:

Its been several months now since rain has fallen in northen kwa zulu natal and the pans have dried up significantly. Its in hard time like these that animals congregate around water holes like they do in Namibia. Pipeline pan is now a buzz of activity both day and night. The north pride lioness and her 3 cubs have made it their own. Driven by thirts the animals keep coming. The lioness has been killing over and over with nyala and wilderbeest been her main targets. For an animal of just under 3 years taking down male wilderbeest is quiet a feat. This particular afternoon we wathced the cubs feeding, pretending to re kill the nyala when to our delight a female leopard who has been recored dening her cubs in the vacinity came down to drink. Parked on a raise bank we watch the leopard drink on our one side and the lioness and cubs play on the other both completely unaware of eachothers presence.

Posted: Phinda by Philip Mortlock, Date: 4 March 2008