September brought a fresh energy to Maloba. After the late August rain, the bush began to shift almost overnight. The dry yellows started giving way to soft greens, and here and there the trees started to flower, patches of color brightening the landscape. The air carried a noticeable sweet scent, and everything seemed to hum with life again.

It is the season of new beginnings, and this month that feeling was everywhere. The first Gemsbok calves appeared on the open plains, still a little unsteady on their legs but already full of curiosity. Not far off, young Giraffes were standing close to their mothers. There is something special about seeing the land filled with new life, a reminder of how the rhythm of the seasons carries on, year after year.

We also had a special surprise this month when one of our camera traps captured footage of a wild Cheetah passing through. It was an exciting sighting, especially as Maloba is home to three captive rewilding Cheetahs donated by Ashia. Knowing about the wild Cheetah, makes it even more special seeing it seems to appear more and more, a great milestone of the thriving ecosystem we are working towards.

September closed with refreshing colors, new lives beginning, and the wild returning in powerful ways.