One afternoon delivered one of the most remarkable sightings of the month. After tracking the resident coalition of two male cheetahs, Boiki and Boy Boy, guides found the brothers resting on a termite mound in the southern section of the concession.
While guests watched, a young male leopard appeared and challenged the cheetahs before retreating. Moments later, his brother arrived and the two leopards turned their attention to each other before the cheetahs became involved once again. The commotion was far from over. Two African wild dogs arrived shortly afterwards, followed minutes later by two male lions, creating an extraordinary scene involving four of Africa’s top predators in one place.
The two cheetah brothers continued to favour the southern areas throughout May and were regularly found after following fresh tracks through the floodplains. A lone female was also encountered near Water Cut during the month.
Cubs, kills and the Holi Pride
Lion sightings remained the highlight of many game drives throughout May.
The Holi Pride was seen consistently across the concession. The pride, made up of three males, three lionesses, five subadults and three cubs, spent much of the month hunting across the drier areas where zebra and eland had become more concentrated. At least two successful kills were recorded, including an eland and a zebra.
Further north, the Mma Mosetlha Pride continued to keep guides busy. The pride consisted of two males, two lionesses and two cubs, now around five months old, and was encountered regularly as they moved through their territory.
Many of the month’s lion sightings began with fresh tracks crossing the roads, vultures circling overhead or alarm calls from impala and other antelope, once again demonstrating the importance of patient tracking and reading the bush.
Leopard families on the move and changing pack dynamics
Leopard sightings remained a real strength around Lagoon.
The resident female north of the airstrip was regularly seen with her two cubs, now around three months old. The cubs appeared unusually relaxed for their age, often remaining in the open while their mother rested nearby.
Two other resident females were also encountered during the month, while the two young males that had recently become independent after leaving their mother’s territory were seen on several occasions as they explored new areas of the concession.
The resident African wild dog pack continued to adjust following the loss of its alpha female.
Earlier in the season the pack had split, but during May three males rejoined the remaining two females after driving away the recently established alpha male and another subordinate. The pack now numbers five dogs and is once again moving together through the concession. With mating taking place later than usual, denning is expected later in the season.
Spotted hyenas were seen regularly throughout the month, and one morning more than 15 hyenas were watched confronting a pride of lions around a carcass. An active den east of camp continued producing regular sightings during both morning and evening drives.
Winter returns to the Kwando
As winter settled across the Kwando, wildlife gradually concentrated around the river.
Large herds of eland became one of the month’s standout features, particularly in the southern parts of the concession where herds of well over 100 animals were sometimes encountered mixed among zebra.
Elephants also became more numerous along the river as seasonal waterholes dried, emerging from the woodland during the late afternoon before making their way down to drink. Hippos gathered in the deeper lagoons, while giraffe, red lechwe, tsessebe and kudu continued to feature on daily game drives. Sable antelope were also recorded several times during the month.
Bat-eared foxes remained a regular sight, particularly after sunset, while aardwolves, slender mongooses, banded mongooses, selous mongooses, black-backed jackals and side-striped jackals all featured during night drives.
Secretary birds were particularly noticeable throughout May, with two breeding pairs regularly encountered. A single carcass attracted four species of vulture – lappet-faced, white-backed, white-headed and hooded vultures, while little bee-eaters and white-fronted bee-eaters continued to line the riverbanks.
Along the Kwando River, crocodiles and water monitors spent much of the day basking in the winter sunshine. A large African rock python and a black mamba also made appearances during the month.
Across the concession, the grasses gradually turned from green to gold as winter took hold. Woodland, floodplains and open grasslands each offered a different character to the landscape, while some of the larger baobabs had already begun shedding their leaves.
Clear evening skies once again brought excellent stargazing, with Venus, Jupiter, Orion, Canis Major, Leo, Scorpius and the Southern Cross all visible above camp.
