We enjoyed such a spectacle of African wattled cranes.
The month brought with it exceptional wildlife activity across the Dinare Reserve. Heavy rains — some of the most significant in over five years — transformed the landscape, saturating the plains and swelling the Gomoti to levels that extended into the floodplains.
One of the most remarkable avian sightings came from a single pan, where 46 wattled cranes were recorded in one gathering — a rare and sensitive species whose presence indicates high-quality wetland habitat. This exceptional occurrence deserves continued monitoring and protection. Birding throughout the month was superb, with more than 350 species recorded. Numerous summer migrants were present, including southern carmine bee-eaters, European rollers, broad-billed rollers, and woodland kingfishers. Along the Gomoti River, woolly-necked storks were often spotted.
Tracking Lions, Leopards and Cheetahs in Dinare
Cheetah sightings were nothing short of spectacular, mainly due to the expertise of the guides and trackers. Despite the tall grasses that made visibility challenging, the coalition of four cheetah brothers — roaming between Moremi and the Dinare concession — was regularly encountered and remained the highlight of the month.
One particularly notable sighting began with a radio call from a field worker repairing game drive trails who had spotted the coalition. The guiding team responded swiftly, locating the males just in time before they vanished into the grass in pursuit of an impala herd. After losing visual contact, the team heard one of the cheetahs calling repeatedly in distress. They tracked and found the cheetah climbing a dead tree to gain a better view of the area. After descending, he led the vehicle directly to his brothers, who were feeding on a freshly captured impala lamb.
Lions were a consistent presence across both Rra Dinare and Mma Dinare, and the rains appeared to make them more visible as they avoided the wet tall grasses. At least three prides were active in the area during the month. Tee’s Pride, comprising 17 individuals, was tracked for over an hour on of the game drives before being found at Kate’s Pan, feeding on two baboons—a rewarding sighting. Another pride, consisting of five lionesses and six cubs around seven to eight months old, was seen near the Santawani Airstrip early in the month. A third pride included two adult females and their four cubs—remarkably, all males estimated to be six to seven months old. These lions were frequently seen and are believed to be the latest litter from the same female who previously raised another sub-adult, known as “Trudi.”
The dominant coalition of two males, known as the Gomoti Boys, was observed patrolling and re-establishing their territorial boundaries with scent markings and vocalisations. Previously, a trio, only two males have been seen in recent months, raising concerns about the third.
Leopard sightings in the Dinare Private Reserve were consistently rewarding, especially in the shared territory between the two camps. The large, dominant male known as Rralebodu has held this area since 2018 and was frequently seen, often mating with various females to further assert his dominance.
A female leopard and her nearly independent cub were also sighted several times. The cub was seen alone on multiple occasions, suggesting the mother had begun the separation process. The guides reported that all leopards appeared in superb condition, likely due to the abundance of prey such as impala.
Painted Dogs and Puppies
African wild dog sightings provided insightful glimpses into their behaviour and social dynamics. The packs moved toward the drier southeast region of the concession. A pack of 27 was sighted feeding on two impalas at Dibatana Pan. Further south, near Mma Dinare Camp, a smaller group of four was observed multiple times. The alpha female, heavily pregnant in late March, was absent for most of April, presumably denned on a nearby island. During her absence, the remaining three dogs struggled to hunt successfully. Her return in the final week of April coincided with improved hunting outcomes, including a kudu calf taken near the staff village and several impalas.
While the den’s exact location remained unknown, the guiding team made a deliberate and commendable decision to avoid tracking it, as it was still new and the puppies were still very young and vulnerable. Tracks and scents from the game drive vehicles could easily lead other big predators to the den, which would be deadly for the pack, especially the puppies.
Spotted hyenas were seen on several occasions, but individuals remained skittish. Black-backed jackals were regularly observed and seemed relaxed in the presence of vehicles. Additionally, there were a few sightings of bat-eared foxes.
Aardwolves were sighted twice—once during a night drive and once in daylight—with both individuals appearing calm and unbothered. Other small carnivores included serval, African civet, spotted genet, honey badger, and several mongoose species: banded, yellow, slender, and dwarf. Porcupines were seen during both night and early morning drives.
General game viewing was excellent throughout the month. Guests enjoyed sightings of large herds of buffalo, giraffe, and impala. Red lechwe were particularly prominent, with many moving closer to the roads as the Gomoti flooded into the plains. Their characteristic bounding through shallow waters created stunning visuals, particularly during mokoro excursions.
