Lion activity set the pace for much of the month and was driven largely by consistent tracking along the river systems, firebreaks and marsh edges. Early in the month, fresh spoor picked up near the airstrip led guides along the river road to two adult male lions from the Kwara Pride feeding on a buffalo calf. A large clan of spotted hyenas gathered quickly and made repeated attempts to pressure the lions off the kill, but the males held their ground aggressively and fed undisturbed for several hours.
Roaring heard during early morning drives west of the Bat-eared Fox area guided vehicles onto a large Kwara Pride grouping, numbering close to twenty lions made up of adult females and subadults of varying ages. The pride remained vocal and mobile through the area. Shortly afterwards, very fresh tracks again near Bat-eared Fox were followed into the marsh, where five lionesses were found stalking a large herd of buffalo. Two of the females appeared to be lactating. The hunt unfolded slowly and deliberately, with the lionesses attempting to split the herd, but the size and cohesion of the buffalo group eventually forced them to abandon the attempt. As the lions moved off, their route led directly to a well-hidden nursing site, where five cubs emerged from cover to feed.
As the month progressed, lion movements remained widespread across the concession. Tracking from Machaba East Road led guides onto the Mmaleitho Pride at Pelican Pan, where they were finishing the remains of a waterbuck killed the previous night. Elsewhere, spoor crossing near the airstrip bridge led to a smaller pride of four lions following buffalo through open ground near Green Pan, though without success. Towards the latter part of the month, a mating pair was located resting in open ground near Sekgapha sa Khudu, holding in the same general area for some time.
Leopard sightings were frequent and varied, with tracking and alarm calls playing a key role. Early night drives produced a relaxed female leopard resting in a tree, allowing extended viewing before she was left undisturbed. A shy cub was later located near Double Crossing after careful observation of fresh spoor, disappearing quickly into cover, suggesting the mother was hunting nearby. That same afternoon, a relaxed adult male was found feeding on an impala kill near Impala Pan, which he had dragged into cover.
Further into the month, an older territorial male was encountered patrolling confidently along roads near Wild Dog Pan. Later still, drag marks crossing a road near Giraffe Pan led to a female leopard feeding on a kill hoisted into a sausage tree. Additional sightings included territorial patrols by males near the riverine and brief glimpses of leopards responding to pressure from competing males.
African wild dog activity was strong and involved multiple packs. Early in the month, a pack of twelve, part of the well-known Golden Pack that had recently split, was found feeding on an impala near Double Crossing, with hyenas waiting nearby for an opportunity. The same dogs were later seen hunting red lechwe near Kwara Camp, pushing them into the lagoon where the hunt was abandoned.
Mid-month, a pack of six was located east of Bat-eared Fox feeding on a kudu and spending much of the day near a natural waterhole. Later, extensive tracking west of camp followed very fresh spoor for several hours before locating a tired pack resting on an island. Although exhausted, the alpha pair attempted to rally the group into another hunt before heat forced them to lie up again. Towards the end of the month, dogs were again found close to camp feeding along the southern firebreak.
Cheetah sightings were consistent and often rewarding. Early tracking west of Bat-eared Fox led to a male feeding on an impala beneath fever berry trees, with vultures marking the site from above. Shortly after, a female cheetah with three subadult males was found resting near Pelican Pan with full bellies and relocated again the following morning near Spring Hare City, still blood-stained from a recent kill.
Mid-month, prolonged tracking northwest of Bat-eared Fox resulted in a male cheetah located feeding on an impala before resting atop a small mound. Late in the month, an exceptional sighting unfolded in open grassland when a male cheetah was observed stalking and successfully catching a warthog within minutes. The full suffocation sequence was observed before the cheetah fed.
Spotted hyenas were encountered regularly, particularly on night drives and around predator kills. Their presence was marked by whooping calls around camp, scavenging behaviour at lion and wild dog kills, and a temporary den established along the southeastern firebreak where two small cubs were kept. As floodwaters receded, the den was relocated.
Large herds of elephant moved from woodland into open floodplains during the afternoons to drink, while buffalo herds shifted grazing areas regularly. Zebra, impala, tsessebe and red lechwe were seen daily, with giraffe widespread across the concession.
Night drives produced excellent sightings of smaller mammals, including small-spotted genets, civets, spring hares, bush babies, African wild cats, porcupines and serval. Verreaux’s eagle-owls were frequently seen hunting rodents at night.
Reptile and insect activity increased with the early rains. Pythons and puff adders were recorded, crocodiles were seen feeding in shrinking pools, and water monitor lizards were frequently encountered along river edges.
Birdlife remained a highlight. The Godikwe and Xhobega heronries were highly active, hosting breeding reed cormorants, egrets, marabou storks and sacred ibis. Raptors such as bateleur, martial and brown snake eagles were recorded regularly, along with ground hornbills. Carmine bee-eaters arrived early in the month, followed by other summer migrants including broad-billed rollers, yellow-billed kites and Wahlberg’s eagles.
The landscape shifted steadily as light rains triggered new grass growth across floodplains, with snowflake flowers carpeting open areas. Mopane and other tree species began producing fresh leaf, creating new shade and feeding opportunities.
Walking activities were productive, with good spoor visibility and several calm encounters with larger mammals due to short grass. Boat cruises and mokoro excursions delivered consistent sightings of crocodiles, hippos, water birds and active frog populations, particularly around the Godikwe and Xhobega systems.
