More than 35 hyenas gather at an elephant carcass – August produced some serious competition among the predators at 4 Rivers, but one of the month’s biggest gatherings belonged to the spotted hyenas.
More than 35 hyenas converged on the carcass of a young elephant. Their vocalisations helped draw other clan members to the food, resulting in an impressive concentration around the carcass.
A different contest unfolded west of camp, where around 15 spotted hyenas gathered around the Sedudu Pride’s two-day-old Cape buffalo kill. The hyenas repeatedly tried to find an opportunity to move in, but the lions held their ground. Eventually, the hyenas had to wait until the pride moved away before taking over what remained.
The Sedudu Pride takes on everything from impala to Cape buffalo
The ten lions of the Sedudu Pride were particularly active during August, and their hunting showed just how varied a lion’s menu could be.
The pride was seen feeding on Cape buffalo, tsessebe, roan, zebra and impala during the month. On one occasion, they brought down a female impala while guests were returning to camp. On another, the pride was found north of Makhutsomo Road with full bellies after feeding on a zebra.
Further east, the Bonga Pride moved in and out of the area in groups of ten to 12, often searching for Cape buffalo.
The Zebra Pride and Mbukushu males shifted further west and north, following the movements of Cape buffalo and zebra into those areas.
Ranko shares a reedbuck kill with his son
The resident female leopard and her two cubs, now between seven and ten months old, were regularly found around 4 Rivers throughout August.
Ranko, the large dominant male and father of the two cubs, was also active east of camp. On one morning he appeared to be searching for another male moving through his territory, although the two did not meet.
Several days later, Ranko was found south of the mokoro station with his older son, now around two and a half years old, and the two were together at a common reedbuck kill.
Another large male occupied the area west of Upper Mike Road, while a female was encountered north-east of Kenny’s Lagoon.
African wild dogs hunt around camp
Several different groups of African wild dogs moved through 4 Rivers during August.
Three males spent time around camp and its immediate surroundings, hunting red lechwe, impala and common reedbuck. Another pack of five was seen in the area, while a group of six, comprising three males and three females, made several kills close to camp.
With the African wild dogs hunting close to camp, some of the action could unfold within sight of the main area.
Otters fish in front of camp
Two of August’s most interesting smaller mammal sightings happened in the water.
Cape clawless otters and spotted-necked otters were watched fishing in front of camp, giving guests excellent views as they worked through the shallows.
Reptile sightings included the resident Nile crocodile, an African rock python and a spotted bush snake, while African monarch butterflies and dragonflies were also active as daytime temperatures began to rise.
Night drives brought out a different cast. The resident female leopard and her two cubs were followed while hunting, while honey badgers, serval, African civet, African wild cats, bushbabies, springhares, scrub hares and spotted hyenas were also encountered after dark.
Elephants, Cape buffalo and the changing floodplains
Large breeding herds of elephants and Cape buffalo moved through the area alongside giraffe, sable, roan, red lechwe, tsessebe, wildebeest, common reedbuck, zebra, hippo, Chacma baboons, vervet monkeys, steenbok and impala.
August showed the transition towards the next season clearly. Much of the grass had dried and many trees had lost their leaves, while strips of green vegetation persisted along parts of the floodplains.
This contrast made the waterways particularly appealing to explore by mokoro. Moving quietly through the channels offered a completely different view of the Delta, with smaller details along the water’s edge becoming much easier to notice.
Nature walks did the same on land. Tracks, plants and animal signs became the focus, with guides interpreting details that could easily be passed at vehicle level.
After dark, clear skies opened another part of the 4 Rivers experience. Scorpius and the Southern Cross were prominent in the August sky, while Venus was among the brightest objects visible around dawn or dusk.
