November was a month of transition across the Dinare concession. Water levels along the Gomoti continued to drop steadily, a familiar shift as summer took hold, but early rainfall softened the landscape and kept key channels open. This allowed mokoro activity to continue and drew game more predictably back towards the remaining water. With access north into Moremi Game Reserve, guiding coverage expanded, and movement between riverine edges, backflow channels and drying floodplains became central to daily tracking.
Predator activity was consistent and widely spread. Lions were encountered regularly, with three different prides moving through the concession over the course of the month, including nomadic groups crossing between NG34 and Moremi. Tracks were often picked up early along firebreaks and river roads, with guides working spoor patiently through open patches and into thicker cover as vegetation responded to the first rains.
One particular pride, Trudy’s Pride, was featured repeatedly. This group of four lionesses with a subadult male and three cubs was located several times feeding on buffalo kills. Early in the month they were found close to the Rra Dinare firebreak, later again between the camps along the backflow channel, and towards the end of the month near the Nxaraga natural waterhole. On each occasion, the kills were approached carefully by following heavy spoor and bird activity, with the pride holding their ground as other scavengers filtered in. A resident male was also seen moving through the area, roaring and scent-marking as he followed the lionesses between feeding sites.
Leopard tracking remained strong. On one drive, a leopard was located in a tree with an impala kill while lions moved below; unable to secure the carcass, the leopard eventually lost it to the lions. Later in the month, the resident male Ralebodu was found multiple times through careful tracking near the mokoro station and along riverine thickets. On one afternoon, two leopards were located hunting in the same area, both empty-bellied and mobile, before disappearing into dense cover. Towards month-end, Ralebodu was found mating with a female close to Rra Dinare camp after vocalisations led guides onto their tracks.
Cheetah activity was a major feature throughout November. The well-known coalition of four brothers remained firmly established in the concession, with sightings building in cycles as their movements shifted. They were seen hunting repeatedly in the mornings, often focusing on impala lambs. Several successful chases were observed over short periods, with guides able to follow closely as kills were made in quick succession. At times, the coalition split briefly, only to regroup later in the day. Additional cheetahs were also recorded, including a female with a subadult male near Matotse Link Road and three subadults, two females and a male, near the old Dibatana camp, suggesting wider movement through the area.
African wild dogs were present in good numbers. The resident pack of over twenty adults with puppies was seen repeatedly, either resting in shade during the heat of the day or becoming active towards late afternoon. Hunts focused largely on impala lambs, with several successful kills observed. Mid-month, another smaller pack moved back into the area after a long absence. One particularly notable sighting involved wild dogs and the cheetah coalition encountering one another at speed, with both species reacting instantly and scattering through the woodland—a rare and dynamic interaction that unfolded in seconds.
Spotted hyenas remained widespread across the concession. Most sightings were of individuals returning to dens in the early morning or resting near water sources during the heat of the day. One hyena was found lying up at the Nxaraga waterhole with a full belly, while others were regularly encountered along drive routes. Brown hyena were not recorded during the month.
Smaller mammals continued to feature well, particularly on night drives. African wild cats, serval, bat-eared foxes, small-spotted genets and spring hares were all seen, with spring hares especially active in the afternoons as vehicles returned to camp.
Zebra, buffalo, impala, wildebeest, red lechwe, common reedbuck and roan antelope were seen daily. Elephant movement increased noticeably after rainfall, with one evening drive revealing a herd of more than one hundred elephants moving along the backflow channel between the camps – a rare concentration for this time of year and a striking sight as light faded.
Bird activity increased steadily with the onset of the green season. Carmine bee-eaters, woodland kingfishers, European rollers, Amur falcons and common buzzards were recorded alongside resident species. Insect numbers surged following flowering and early rains, drawing aerial feeders into open areas and creating excellent birding conditions throughout the concession.
Weather conditions reflected the seasonal shift, with early rains transforming the landscape and producing dramatic skies. The combination of fresh growth, active predators and concentrated game made November a strong month for tracking-led safaris, with daily drives shaped by reading signs, following movement and responding to the changing rhythms of the land.
