Having rained out early on this morning’s drive, we decided to head out half an hour earlier to look for the Ximungwe females with the cubs. We found them at Hlabankunzi dam, with the pride consisting of two adult males, three adult females and three young cubs.

The main attraction was obviously the three cubs, especially the antics between the older 5-month old cub, and the two two-month old cubs! They were right out in the open with some perfect early afternoon light on them. One adult hippo was also in the dam at Hlabankunzi dam.

• One rhino bull got a big fright from the vehicle as we surprised it in its mud wallow on Simbi road. It took off east into the thickets before we could get a good look at it!

• After leaving the lions, we rushed north of the river to try to find the pack of six wild dogs that had been seen up there recently. After just a short while looking for them, we found them on the clearings at Steven’s Loop, heading north through the clearings. At one point we lost them as they seemed to rush west into the thickets chasing after something, but we were able to relocate them again before leaving them for other vehicles to enjoy.

• We had sundowners at Tegwaan along the Sand River, before heading south to join Paddy with the other two male lions from the Mapogo coalition at Mukwa/Shidzidzi junction. We were hoping for a repeat of a few nights ago and to hear them roar, but they were much lazier today, and did not get up at all!

• A small herd of elephant were on Marula Grove after dark as we were heading home, so we did not stop to view them. Hopefully we will find them in the morning.....