Temperatures have started to rise here in the Chyulu Hills but this has come along with crystal clear views of Kilimanjaro. This has provided the perfect conditions for our guests to enjoy the awe-inspiring vista from the coolness of their plunge pools, or take a flight for a closer look with Richard Bonham in his plane.

    As a result of the heat, more and more animals have started to return to quench their thirst at our waterhole but all are kept at bay by the elephants, who have also resumed their position at the top of the drinking hierarchy. There are rarely fewer than five individual elephants there at any one time and usually there are ten or more animals jostling for a drink. There seems to have been an influx of young males recently but, since they are only half the size of the adults, they are kept firmly in their place and made to wait on the outskirts until the big boys have finished. Unfortunately, for other species like the warthogs and antelope, this means an even longer wait than usual before they can have their turn.

    After the amazing rainy season we had over the past few months, our skies are filled with butterflies of all colours and sizes, brightening up the landscape. Due to the increased insect population, some of the birdlife has gone into overdrive and taken advantage of the bountiful food source by producing more than one clutch of eggs. As a result, we have seen lots of young birds fledging and taking their first flights from the nests around the lodge. Our museum now has several examples of different styles of nests, which have been used, discarded and blown down in the evening breezes.

    We have has several cheetah sightings, as usual, with regular sightings of lone males and also of a mother with her two mature cubs.  We haven’t seen any lions for quite a long period, although tracks and spoor have being found in and around the lodge since the middle of the month. It was only in the last few days that the guides came across two big males crossing the territory.

    The highlight of the month was the sighting of a leopard by two guests on their way back from their morning drive. A leopard sighting is always a fantastic experience wherever you are but they are so rarely seen in the Chyulus that to spot one here is a something very special indeed.

Two nights ago, we heard some lapping at the main swimming pool during dinner and tracks that could have belonged to a leopard were spotted on the path the next day. A male and female have been spotted around the stables recently, so it’s possible we have a breeding pair of leopards in the area – fingers crossed.