May was an incredible month for predator action on the Kwara concession. Leopard, wild dogs and hyenas were all denning during the month and we witnessed some incredible interaction between the species.
The pack of eight wilddogs were still denning about half a kilometre from Little Kwara for the month of May. At the start of the month the alpha female was inside the den and was even growling at the alpha male if he came too close. On the same afternoon, once the dogs had killed an impala, a spotted hyena came to scavenge and it was also badly bitten by the wild dogs. The clan of hyena continued to follow the dogs every day on their hunting missions and we witnessed further dramatic interactions between these two predator species as the month went on. Despite the raiding hyenas, the dogs were able to kill very regularly and all looked in good condition.
The spotted hyenas had their own young to look after and we were able to visit the den regularly. The cubs could be seen playing and occasionally yelling at their mother for her to lie down and nurse them.
Our female resident leopard also had cubs in a den; she was seen feeding well on various kills and looked in excellent condition, despite having some carcasses stolen by hyenas. We watched her on her hunting excursions making full use of the camp’s bridges to traverse the area and we had wonderful sightings of her climbing trees. Her initial den was not accessible to our vehicles, but after a week or so she moved her cubs and then we were able to enjoy watching the family interacting together. A male leopard was also located to the east of the Kwara airstrip.
Lion were doing well in the Kwara Reserve including a pride of three lionesses and five sub-adult cubs. A different pride of two females and two males were located at Four Rivers, on the western side of the concession. One afternoon we located a female lioness, daughter of resident Mma Leitlho, travelling towards camp and after following her for a while we were lucky enough to witness her stalking and then bringing down a fully-grown warthog boar. We also found lions feeding on kudu and zebra.
A female cheetah with two sub-adult cubs made a successful kill of a male impala at bat-eared fox den. They were agitated by lionesses who were roaring not far away from where they made a kill. The male cheetah, known to the guides as ‘Special’ was seen often and one day walked all the way from the airstrip and into camp, passing in between Kwara and Little Kwara. As he was stalking a herd of impala the wild dogs came and ambushed him, but he managed to escape. We found a different male cheetah feeding on an impala close to Splash, surrounded by vultures awaiting their turn at the carcass. This cheetah was also seen scent marking on a sausage tree whilst also using the vantage point to scan the area for prey and danger.
The general game in Kwara Reserve was excellent, with plenty of breeding herds of elephant coming back into the area. We watched them as they were feeding, drinking and bathing in the waterholes. There were plentiful herds of wildebeest, zebra and giraffe. Two giraffe bulls were seen fighting over females; it is always a dramatic sight watching such huge animals swing blows at each other with their head and necks. The rest of the giraffe family seemed unperturbed though and carried on browsing whilst the fight went on.
Smaller mammals which we were able to view included a very relaxed serval and honey badgers. Bird life was excellent with endangered Wattled Cranes a notable favourite with our guests. A Verreux’s (giant) eagle owl was seen feeding on a small spotted genet.
(Note: Accompanying picture is from our Kwando Photo Library which consists of all your great photo submissions over the years, it may not be the most up to date, but we felt it was worthy of a feature alongside this month’s Sightings Report!)
