African wild dogs produced some of the month’s most interesting sightings. The resident pack of eight was tracked for extended periods and located actively hunting in areas such as Willy’s Valley and Moloki Plains. On one morning, the pack killed several impala lambs in quick succession before feeding rapidly and lying up to rest. On another occasion, after more than an hour of tracking, the pack chased a kudu into a lagoon occupied by hippos and crocodiles. The dogs eventually dragged the carcass back onto dry ground and fed, despite the activity around the water’s edge.
Leopards were encountered consistently across both Kwara and Splash. The resident male ranged widely and was seen feeding on a young tsessebe along the Old Mokoro Road, remaining on the carcass when the area was revisited later the same day. Female leopards were also recorded, including a shy individual near Kwara Island and another female tracked with a six-month-old male cub, located after careful spoor work and followed for some time as the cub played around the mother.
Alarm calls continued to assist with leopard tracking. On an evening drive following a boat activity, side-striped jackal alarm calls led guides to a male leopard moving through long grass. He was observed tracking a newborn reedbuck before making a successful kill. On another morning, fresh tracks were followed for close to an hour before a leopard was located feeding in a tree on an impala kill near Lion Pan.
Cheetah activity increased as the month progressed. A female with a cub was frequently encountered on the western side of the concession between Dinaka tsa Thole, Bat-eared Fox Den and Last Mabala. Several hunts were observed, including an unsuccessful stalk on kudu and a successful chase and kill of a young impala, with the cub allowed to complete the kill under the female’s supervision. The pair remained in the area for several days before shifting north.
Solitary males were also present and were often found resting in shade with full bellies. Two unfamiliar cheetahs briefly moved through the Paradise area and were tracked during a successful hunt on a female impala near Lion Pan. Other sightings included a male scanning from a termite mound before stalking tsessebe calves, and a separate kill on a newborn zebra identified after raptors began circling.
Lions were active throughout the concession and regularly encountered on the western floodplains and through the mopane woodland. Several lionesses were raising cubs of different ages, and one female with three small cubs was found resting in thick cover during an afternoon drive. She was settled and in good condition, and a concealed zebra carcass nearby explained her behaviour. When the area was checked the following morning, the wider pride had arrived and taken over the kill. The cubs were not immediately visible, but later that afternoon the full pride of fourteen was found resting together, with the cubs emerging to play openly.
Movement amongst the male lions remained noticeable through the month. Intruding males were first located resting in shade and later encountered again on a night drive after crossing Double Crossing. They came onto a zebra carcass and began feeding, but by morning the resident males had returned. After a brief confrontation, the intruders were pushed off and the residents took control of the kill. Hyenas gathered quickly, and a prolonged interaction followed, with lions repeatedly charging to defend the carcass. One hyena escaped with a zebra leg while being chased, while the rest were eventually displaced.
A smaller resident pride of five was regularly encountered between Marapuakubu and the Splash channels. After following their tracks through mopane woodland, the pride was observed attempting to hunt impala without success. On another occasion, a subadult killed a newborn baboon after it lost its grip while the troop crossed between trees. The lioness held the infant for some time, vocalising, but the troop did not approach. The incident highlighted the opportunistic nature of lion behaviour during this time of year.
Further west, a large pride of approximately twenty-five lions was tracked for some distance before being located together near Bat-eared Fox Den. The pride included multiple adult females and cubs of varying ages and had brought down a stallion zebra. Dominant males were also seen ranging widely, patrolling as far as Sethabana Sabasarwa and Last Mabala. Several hunts were observed through the month, including attempts on impala and giraffe that were abandoned once the prey detected the lions early.
Hyena activity remained widespread. Several clans were present, and with cubs becoming more mobile, den use was less predictable. Hyenas were frequently encountered near camp islands in the evenings and regularly arrived at lion kills. A clan of around twelve was found feeding on a giraffe carcass along Tom’s Road, while elsewhere a group of approximately fifteen was located consuming a waterbuck after lions had moved off. Mating behaviour was also recorded on the open floodplains, and solitary individuals were occasionally seen moving along roads after dark.
General game remained abundant throughout the concession. Zebra, buffalo, elephant, impala, tsessebe, waterbuck, reedbuck, steenbok and giraffe were recorded daily. With the early rains, elephants and buffalo split into smaller groups and moved deeper into woodland, while many antelope species were seen with newborn young.
Smaller mammals featured regularly, particularly on night drives. Civet, serval, genets, African wild cat, porcupine, honey badger, bushbaby and jackal were recorded, including a black-backed jackal feeding two young pups. Reptile sightings included an African rock python crossing Mopane Road, large crocodiles along the river near Last Mabala, and water monitor lizards feeding along the banks.
Birdlife reflected the onset of summer, with southern ground hornbills, secretary birds, cranes and black-bellied korhaans present, alongside the arrival of cuckoos, rollers and bee-eaters. Raptors were well represented, and aquatic birds were frequently seen during mokoro and boat activities.
The landscape continued to change through the month. Grass and trees flushed green, flowers emerged, and although floodwaters began to recede, channels remained navigable. Walks produced clear spoor interpretation, fresh elephant tracks and close encounters with plains game, reinforcing how quickly the concession responds to the first rains.
