Thrillingly, we spotted a pangolin leisurely feeding near Leopard Road during an evening drive!
When threatened, a pangolin will curl into a tight ball, with its overlapping scales acting as a suit of armour, providing exceptional protection from predators. These scales are made of keratin, the same substance found in human hair and nails. In addition to their impressive armour, pangolins have a long, sticky tongue extending up to 40 centimetres, perfect for extracting ants and termites from their nests.
Another evening while exploring the wilderness after dark, we encountered an aardwolf. Despite its name, the aardwolf is not a wolf at all but rather a member of the hyena family. Like the pangolin, this small, nocturnal mammal also has unique feeding habits. Unlike its carnivorous relatives, the aardwolf feeds primarily on termites. Its long, sticky tongue and specialized teeth help it consume up to 300,000 termites in a single night!
The many lions of Lagoon
This month, two prides roamed the Lagoon area, each consisting of approximately 10 lionesses and cubs. One thrilling morning hunt resulted in the swift consumption of a fully grown impala by four lionesses and their seven cubs.
The Mma Mosethla pride, led by a dominant male, ventured eastward from the camp, while the Holi pride explored the southern and eastern regions. Excitement filled the air when we encountered the Holi pride near the Baobab islands, where they had successfully taken down a hippo! The sight of two males, five lionesses (including one heavily pregnant), and seven cubs devouring a freshly killed giraffe left us in awe. On another island, a lioness was spotted nursing her three cubs, just a month old.
Along our game drive routes, we often met spotted hyenas on their patrols, but an active hyena den near Grass Pan gave us remarkable insights into these fascinating creatures. Over three months, we have observed the activities of the adult hyenas, who frequently returned to the den during mornings and evenings. We then spied newly born young exploring near the entrance.
Cheetah that hunt at moonlight
The two resident male cheetahs delighted with regular appearances, and we noticed a shift in their hunting behaviour, as they chose to hunt under the moonlight, leaving them well-fed and content by morning. Their favourite locations included 2nd Lagoon, Maheke, Mosheshe, Mabala-a-Matlotse, and the cutline. These charismatic cheetahs frequently traversed the area, shuttling between Water Cut and Mosheshe Maheke, occasionally venturing further towards Lebala.
As trees shed their leaves and the grass grew shorter, the arrival of elephants and buffalos in large numbers signalled their migration toward the river and floodplains for water. The arrival of several herds of buffalo was a highlight. Kwena Lagoon, 1st and 2nd Lagoon, Muddy Waters, and Water Cut became their chosen destinations. Two groups even ventured close to the camp to quench their thirst. At the same time, recent movements near Firewood Pan indicated buffalo activity in the area, including numerous lurking bulls.
Majestic parades of elephants moved through the woodlands to the floodplains. These giants gracefully made their way in the morning towards hotspots such as the camp front, Water Affairs Island, Segweda’s Crossing, Fallen Baobab, and Halfway Pan. Bachelor groups also frequented the floodplains and riverine areas.
Lagoon Camp guests easily photographed two female leopards, each accompanied by their respective cubs. One female had two youngsters, approximately three months old, while the other cared for a single cub, estimated to be a year old. Additionally, two male leopards captured our attention during separate sightings. The younger male, known as Mazabuka, frequently appeared, confidently patrolling his territory. The older male, seen on three occasions, patrolled the eastern part of the pan, well-fed and imposing. We also caught glimpses of another younger female leopard, who often stalked the western region near the airstrip, displaying her hunting prowess. Mma Mazabuka, the older female leopard with two young cubs, continued her nocturnal expeditions around the camp, occasionally making impressive kills, notably targeting reedbucks
Where are the Lagoon African wild dogs this denning season?
The resident pack of Lagoon African wild dogs ventured south for denning purposes, making encountering them during our drives more challenging. However, we received reports from the army patrols (who witnessed the pack) that the group comprised around 30 individuals.
Various species of animals gather at waterholes and floodplains, displaying clear social dynamics between breeding herds, bachelor and territorial males. Common species included wildebeest, zebras, tsessebe, kudus, impalas, waterbucks, reedbucks, steenboks, and warthogs. Elands, sable and roan bulls were also seen (especially during mid-morning hours near floodplains) while hippos basked in the sun along the riverbanks.
(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!)
