Following the summer rains the vegetation in the Kwando area was still lush and green, meaning that general game was plentiful. The large herd of eland was still in the region and on sometimes we were lucky enough to witness these massive animals playing around and jumping. Rare sable and roan antelopes were also seen. Giraffe were plentiful and buffalo also in the area. Other general game included impala, zebra and tsessebe. A large family of thirteen ostrich including two males and young were located, as well as a group of six Ground Hornbill. A large number of vultures were seen feeding on a zebra foal carcass. A night drive sighting of two Spotted Eagle Owls was also a highlight.
The resident pack of 17 wild dogs were seen frequently during April, sometimes hunting. On one memorable day, the pack was located in the morning, lying down and sunbathing. We decided to go back and check on them in the afternoon and were able to witness them waking up and performing their greeting ritual before setting off hunting. This interesting behaviour includes sniffing, licking, wagging tails and twittering aloud. We followed them for a little while and then decided to look for other species. Not far from where we left the dogs we located a female leopard in a tree with a tiny cub, just a few days old. As we watched the leopard the dogs approached following an impala which they brought down and started tearing apart. A wild dog kill and a newborn leopard cub in one sighting does not happen every day! The same female leopard has been seen a few times hunting fairly close to camp.
The Wapoka pride of 6 adults and 8 cubs were located many times during April. At one point, we found the 8 larger cubs on their own whilst their mothers were away hunting. One afternoon during sundowner drinks heard we heard lions roaring, so quickly packed up and drove in the direction of the calls where we found a single female calling to locate the rest of her pride. We followed her for 5 minutes until she met her cub and then they started calling together. Eventually more and more cubs appeared until they joined up together with the rest of the pride feeding on large male kudu.
A single lioness with two cubs has been seen on a couple of occasions and has been very relaxed, playing with her offspring. One day she was seen hunting with the cubs following behind when she climbed up a tree to obtain an elevated view. The cubs followed her up and they stayed together on the tree for several minutes until one of the cubs, who was playing with the mother’s tail, lost his balance and fell down off the tree. The two resident male lions commonly seen in the area were looking well fed and one of them was seen mating with a lioness. On one occasion the two males were seen swimming across a channel when one of the lions decided to spend some time lying down in the water with just ears, eyes and nose showing, giving a rather amusing hippo impression.
The regularly seen coalition of two cheetah brothers were still in the Kwando area and we were successful tracking as they went on hunting missions.
The boat cruise from Lagoon continued to provide great hippo sightings as well as a large variety of birds such as Goliath Heron, Hadeda Ibis and African Jacana.
Breeding elephant herds were often seen near Zebra Pan and are always interesting to watch. A recent sighting included typical teenage behaviour from a young bull, mock-charging the vehicle and trying to destroy a termite mound in a display of power. A female elephant was seen trying to give birth, although sadly it appeared that the calf might be still born.
The change of seasons is definitely on the way and the night time temperatures are dropping. A special sighting at the end of the month was a lovely family of bat-eared foxes cuddling up to each other in the cool morning air.
