October at 4 Rivers was busy, with the heat pushing predators into the shade during the day and most of the action taking place in the cooler hours. Seasonal floodplains continued to dry, while the first rains began to green up the plains and woodlands. This tightening of water availability concentrated game movement along the Lediba, the Paradise area and the western grasslands, resulting in consistently productive drives.
Lions were a feature throughout the month. The Kwara Pride, now often referred to as the Paradise Pride, remained firmly established in the Paradise area and delivered some exceptional sightings. Early in the month, the pride was found feeding on a freshly killed male buffalo. From the condition of the carcass, it appeared the buffalo had been taken down shortly before the vehicle arrived. Twenty-two lions were feeding, with adults and cubs in good condition and plenty of meat still available. Later that morning, a male lion was found further east in Paradise. On returning past the buffalo kill, the guides were surprised to find that the same male had already travelled back and rejoined the pride, which was now feeding while others rested nearby, clearly satiated.
Other prides were active across the concession. The Zebra Pride was encountered several times west of camp in their usual hunting grounds. They were often found after feeding, with cubs growing rapidly, an indication of regular hunting success. Two male lions were also located along the 4 Rivers lediba feeding on a male kudu. These males dominated the Wester pride, while several hyenas waited nearby for scraps. To the east, the marsh hunting grounds used by the Marsh Pride had dried following earlier flooding, giving the pride greater access to the edges of remaining water. Red lechwe and other prey species were forced into smaller pockets, which the lions exploited effectively, hunting along the waterline where they were most comfortable. The pride was seen on many drives and remained in strong physical condition.
One of the standout sightings of the month occurred later, when two male lions were tracked and found confronting a large herd of buffalo. For nearly an hour, the situation shifted back and forth as the lions tried to split the herd and push individuals into the thickets, while the buffalo repeatedly turned and chased them off. Eventually, one bull separated from the group. Within moments, the two males were on him and brought him down. The herd attempted to intervene but was unable to dislodge the lions and eventually withdrew. By the time the guides returned later in the day, the rest of the pride had joined the feeding and the carcass was nearly finished.
Leopard sightings were quieter than in previous months, with many individuals remaining skittish and retreating into cover before extended viewing was possible. The resident female around camp, Mosadi Nkwe, was largely absent during the month, and even her tracks were scarce, suggesting she had shifted her movements away from her usual routes. Later in the month, a male leopard was tracked west of camp across the floodplains and eventually located resting in a dead tree. From a distance, it was clear he was not alone. On closer inspection, a young male cub, approximately one year old, climbed down and then returned to the tree to feed alongside the male on a reedbuck kill. The cub remained shy but settled once the vehicle maintained a respectful distance. Towards the end of the month, a female leopard was located along Jackal Road in the morning, actively hunting. This individual was believed to be the same resident female who had been absent earlier in the month.
Cheetah sightings were particularly productive. A mother with her year-and-a-half-old subadult cub was seen regularly in the Paradise area. On several occasions, they were found feeding on kills, including a red lechwe and an impala. A male cheetah was also tracked south-east of the 4 Rivers Lediba and located feeding on a reedbuck after an extended tracking effort. Later in the month, the mother and subadult pair were tracked east of Double Crossing in Paradise. When their tracks disappeared into mopane thickets, the guides shifted focus to scanning for birds of prey. Hooded vultures and yellow-billed kites circling overhead, along with a bateleur perched low in a mopane tree, led directly to the cheetahs feeding on another kill.
Another memorable cheetah sighting involved a lone male tracked east of Paradise. After nearly two hours of following tracks, he was found standing atop a termite mound, watching impala at a distance. Before he could commit to the chase, a family of warthogs emerged from behind him. He immediately switched focus, sprinted and caught a piglet within seconds. It took close to twenty minutes for him to subdue the prey before beginning to feed.
African wild dog activity was noticeably more cautious during the month, with the packs moving more carefully through the area. The high density of lions across the same hunting grounds appeared to limit their movement and impacted pack numbers. One pack that previously numbered fourteen was reduced to eight adults, with all pups lost. Another pack declined from twelve to seven individuals and was seen twice during the month. On one occasion, they were found resting in the shade near the airstrip after an unsuccessful hunt earlier in the day. Later that afternoon, guides encountered impalas running at full speed, followed closely by the pack. The dogs successfully brought down an impala and consumed it quickly. Towards the end of the month, the same pack was located west of camp along the walking range. Cloud cover kept temperatures moderate, and shortly after being found, they rose and hunted, eventually killing a reedbuck near the beacon area.
Spotted hyena sightings were frequent, particularly around lion kills. The main den showed limited activity, but a second den south-east of the 4 Rivers lediba remained active, with small cubs of around three months occasionally visible along the boundary road. Away from the dens, individuals and small groups moved regularly between feeding sites, scavenging from predator kills.
Large concentrations of African buffalo were seen in and around camp and across the drying floodplains. Elephant herds moved through daily, crossing from south to north as mopane woodland flushed with new leaves following the first rains. To the west, zebra numbers increased significantly, with large groups forming across open areas. Young tsessebe and wildebeest calves were recorded frequently. Other species observed included roan, sable, giraffe, impala, reedbuck, red lechwe and waterbuck. Smaller mammals were well represented, with sightings of banded and dwarf mongooses, civets, spring hares, scrub hares, bushbabies and aardwolves along the spillway. A brown hyena was spotted near Marula Pan during a night drive, and an unusual sighting of three caracals together along Matswere Road stood out. A bushpig was also seen near the beacon area.
Birding improved markedly with the arrival of summer migrants. Woodland kingfishers returned, their calls frequently heard around camp. Southern carmine bee-eaters were nesting east of the 4 Rivers Lediba and west along JD Road. Other migrants included Jacobin cuckoos, broad-billed rollers and European bee-eaters. The drying floodplains attracted yellow-billed, open-billed and saddle-billed storks, along with egrets, herons, bitterns and wattled cranes, many seen with a single chick. African and Greater Painted Snipe were recorded around remaining wet patches. Pel’s fishing owl was seen regularly in camp, alongside giant eagle owls and several smaller owl species, including white-faced and scops owls. Nightjars, larks and rosy-throated longclaws were present on the open plains. Flowering trees attracted increased insect activity, drawing sunbirds, shrikes, bee-eaters, kingfishers, rollers and swallows.
Reptiles were active as temperatures rose. Large Nile crocodiles were frequently seen sunning themselves on termite mounds near water in the Paradise lagoons. Water and rock monitor lizards were recorded regularly, and although snakes were seldom seen, tracks indicated widespread movement. An African rock python was found along the camp firebreak. Leopard tortoises and terrapins were seen consistently across the concession.
The landscape continued to shift through the month. Seasonal floodplains dried and quickly produced fresh green grass after the first rains, attracting grazers and creating open feeding areas with excellent visibility. Woodlands turned progressively greener as new leaves flushed, supporting both browsers and an increase in insect life.
Night skies were clear for much of the month, offering excellent stargazing. As October progressed, cloud cover increased slightly, but constellations such as the Southern Cross, Scorpius and, later in the night, Orion remained visible.
Mokoro excursions continued to be a highlight, with sufficient floodwater remaining to support extended outings. From the low perspective of the mokoro, guests observed frogs, grasshoppers, African and lesser jacanas, pied and malachite kingfishers, and occasional animals crossing channels. Water lilies and other aquatic plants added colour and texture to the experience on the water.
