A tug-of-war between leopard and hyenas – A female leopard and her two cubs were regular characters around 4 Rivers during July, but one encounter at Nkwe Lagoon turned into a proper battle over dinner.
The female had killed a male impala and hoisted it into a tree. Unfortunately for her, the carcass was hanging low enough for two spotted hyenas to reach the legs from below. The hyenas pulled from the ground while the leopard held onto her meal from above.
The impala’s horns had caught in the fork of the branch, initially helping the leopard keep the carcass out of reach. Eventually, the hyenas managed to tear off the dangling legs, leaving the leopard with the remainder, which she hauled higher into the tree. Her two cubs later joined her and fed safely above the hyenas.
The same female and her cubs were seen regularly elsewhere, including with a red lechwe kill near Impala East. On another occasion she was found hunting near the Beacon area and successfully caught an impala.
Her older male offspring from a previous litter was also active, stalking red lechwe along the Spillway until baboons spotted him and sounded the alarm. Another large male leopard was located after monkeys began alarm-calling, and he was later seen crossing floodwater near the airstrip.
African wild dogs defend their red lechwe kill
A pack of six African wild dogs was frequently seen around camp and across the eastern, northern and western sections of the area.
Red lechwe appeared regularly on their menu. After guides followed the pack west from camp, the dogs chased lechwe around Marula Pan and eventually brought down a male in the water.
The commotion attracted spotted hyenas, which quickly arrived to contest the carcass. The African wild dogs worked together to defend their meal, repeatedly keeping the hyenas away as the two species battled around the kill.
The hyenas demonstrated their own hunting ability during another encounter. A group attacked a subadult Cape buffalo despite members of the herd attempting to defend it, eventually bringing the animal down. Throughout July, spotted hyenas regularly appeared wherever lions, leopards or African wild dogs had made kills, looking for an opportunity to claim a share.
Lions adjust their movements with the flood
The flood changed the movements of 4 Rivers’ lions considerably during July, with some of their usual hunting areas becoming islands or inaccessible by vehicle.
The Zebra Pride shifted further north and was found at Tsessebe Valley feeding on a Cape buffalo. They were later seen east of the walking area, resting with full bellies after another successful hunt.
Meanwhile, the Sedudu Pride expanded into areas previously used by the Zebra Pride and increasingly moved around camp. They were found on Maboa Island with a waterbuck kill and were also tracked to Matswiri.
Three large males associated with the Kwara Pride were seen east of camp and around the airstrip. They also brought down a Cape buffalo north of camp near Mapulanka Road. A new male, estimated to be around four years old, was encountered along Upper Mike’s Road, adding another lion to the shifting territorial picture.
Jackalberry season draws a crowd
As winter progressed, thinning grasses and deciduous trees dropping their leaves opened the landscape considerably.
Jackalberry trees began producing ripe fruit, drawing elephants into the area in large numbers. Impala, baboons and warthogs gathered beneath the same trees, taking advantage of fallen fruit and creating busy pockets of activity.
Cape buffalo herds were particularly impressive, with some estimated at around 300 animals. Zebra also arrived in increasing numbers from the north, alongside roan, sable, wildebeest and giraffe.
Smaller mammals included spotted-necked otters, African wild cats, civets, genets, aardwolves, honey badgers, bushbabies and mongooses.
An African rock python from a mokoro
July’s flood made exploring 4 Rivers by mokoro particularly rewarding.
With plenty of water through the channels, excursions could extend for around two hours and include stops on some of the islands. Red lechwe and waterbuck were seen from the water, together with a variety of aquatic birds and plants.
One mokoro excursion produced a rather different sighting when an African rock python was found in the water along the Spillway. Crocodiles were also seen basking on sandbanks as daytime temperatures warmed, while rock and water monitor lizards became increasingly active.
Birdlife concentrated around the shallower sections of the seasonal floodplains, where feeding conditions attracted herons, egrets and pelicans. Night drives added nightjars, thick-knees, owls and night herons.
Green floodplains meet the colours of winter
July produced an interesting divide across the landscape. Flooded areas remained green, while grasses on the drier ground turned brown and deciduous trees began shedding their leaves. Sausage trees started flowering, attracting browsers including giraffes.
Nature walks also benefited from the shorter winter vegetation. Guides and trackers could read spoor, droppings and marks on trees while exploring areas that had been hidden beneath taller grass earlier in the season.
After dark, clear winter skies brought Scorpius and the Southern Cross into view, with the Milky Way stretching overhead.
