Lagoon’s northern lion pride, Mma Mosetlha, was exceptionally reliable for sightings, with the lactating mother and her cubs frequently spotted along Badisa Road.
The mother moved between several dens; at times, her sister and two subadult males would visit her and the cubs. These cubs, around two to three months old, added a delightful element to the frequent lion sightings. The two males fathering the cubs were seen along the 1st and 2nd Lagoons, often with the rest of the pride. The Northern Pride primarily roamed the north side of the airstrip, avoiding the eastern side, where three dominant males patrolled and marked their territory. These three males were regularly observed performing territorial displays to assert their dominance.
On the eastern side, the Holi Pride hunted around the lagoon and occasionally crossed the water to the islands, where they spent most of their time. Two lionesses from this pride were seen near Giraffe Pan and Grass Pan. On one occasion, we watched them attempting — but ultimately failing — to stalk a group of tsessebe along Ipelegeng Road.
During one game drive, we located a male leopard along Grass Road. We watched him for a few minutes before he vanished into the dense bushes. We also had a fantastic sighting of a female leopard along Diolo Road; she was calm and relaxed, making for a great viewing experience. Additionally, we observed two subadult leopards resting atop a termite mound at Pan Road Pan.
This month, the two resident male cheetahs remained prominent in the area. They were seen mainly on the northern side, especially around Kwena Lagoon and 2nd Lagoon. These successful male hunters, frequently preyed on impalas and newborn tsessebe calves. We regularly tracked their movements as they travelled south before returning north after several days. We also observed these males mating with a female cheetah. Towards the end of the month, we followed their tracks from Pangolin Road and eventually caught up with them on the western side of 2nd Lagoon.
Two dens at Lagoon Camp and exciting spotted hyena sightings
At Lagoon Camp, we’ve had exciting encounters with spotted hyenas with two lively dens nearby!
One den, along Grass Road, was home to about six cute pups from different generations. The other, near the mopane woodland on Maheke Road, boasted nine playful little pups!
During our night drives, we watched spotted hyenas expertly hunting for food and even witnessed a large clan feasting on an elephant carcass at Cheetah Valley. It was amazing to see over ten spotted hyenas sharing a meal.
We also discovered an aardwolf den on the western side of the lagoon, where an industrious aardwolf foraged with her sweet little cubs by her side.
Three packs of African wild dogs roamed the area. The largest pack, numbering 15, was frequently seen hunting impalas and kudus around the 1st Lagoon. This pack often came close to camp, taking refuge in the shade of Kalahari apple-leaf trees. Another pack of 12 wild dogs was regularly spotted on the eastern side of the reserve, and we tracked them on a hunt where they successfully captured a steenbok in under three minutes. The third pack of six wild dogs occasionally moved between the areas, avoiding the larger packs.
Large antelope herds and new life
Large herds of elands and zebras were spotted along Rex Road and Giraffe Pan. We estimated that some of these herds comprised over 200 animals. Elephants, including mothers with calves and large bulls, frequently crossed the water and fed in the marshes. Giraffes and wildebeests were also abundant, with one dramatic sighting of two male giraffes fighting for dominance.
Along the river, we observed semi-aquatic antelopes such as common reedbucks, waterbucks, and red lechwes and aquatic species like hippos and crocodiles at the hippo pool. Black-backed jackals and side-striped jackals were regularly seen. Additionally, the seasonal breeders — impalas, tsessebes, and wildebeests — were observed with their newborn lambs and calves.
We regularly observed an enormous Nile crocodile basking on the far corner of the riverbank in front of camp. We also spotted water monitor lizards, rock monitor lizards, and leopard tortoises. Southern African pythons were seen three times in different locations, including Pangolin Road, Mosima wa Diphiri Road, and between the 1st and 2nd Lagoons.
The clearer nights provided excellent opportunities to view constellations such as Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Taurus, and the visible planets Jupiter and Venus. The rain also brought a welcome relief, filling many of the bigger natural waterholes with water and rejuvenating the landscape.
After the rains, the floodplains were lush, with various grass species, such as couch grass and buffalo grass, that nourished grazers like zebras and wildebeests. Insects also became abundant after the rain, with many flying alates emerging from termite mounds to start new colonies, attracted to the lights around camp.
Sun spiders and scorpions were spotted at night, feeding on fungus-growing termites. We also observed harvester termites, dry wood termites, and the fascinating behaviour of matebele ants feeding on the termites. Various moth species, including hawk moths, were attracted to the lights, and during the day, we saw butterflies such as the painted lady, African monarch, and brown-veined white butterflies.
Walking with nature in the Kwando Private Concession
Our nature walks were a favourite activity for guests, as they allowed for a more intimate engagement with the environment. During these walks, Kwando guides taught guests about animal tracks, insects, and signs of wildlife, such as the mud marks left by elephants and other animals that wallow in mud. We also discussed the medicinal and traditional uses of various plants, including the fireball lily and the giant sensitive plant. These walks gave guests a deeper understanding of the bush in this special corner of Botswana.
(Please note: For the safety of the animals, we do not disclose the precise location of either rhino or pangolin sightings. Accompanying pictures are 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!)
