There were active spotted hyena dens in two separate locations (along Middle Road and Mosheshe Road), each hosting over 12 charming newborns and always bustling with activity.
The hyena cubs still bore their black coats, and it is thought that the dark colouration helps them blend into the shadows and vegetation in their den or the surrounding environment, providing them with some degree of camouflage and protection from predators.
Lots of little ones at Lagoon Camp
Denning sites for jackals, bat-eared foxes, and Aardwolves were also discovered, and each was alive with family action.
Mma Mazabuka and her two cubs claimed their domain, all patrolling and making awe-inspiring kills and, more opportunistically, raiding kills from other leopards. Another young female leopard displayed her skill in hunting, especially targeting young impalas and the vulnerable offspring of plains game as the baby boom of summer continued. Many of the kills had also been young warthog, tsessebe and gnu.
We witnessed approximately 15 different leopard sightings; notably, all sightings occurred during the day, either in the morning or just before dusk.
The dynamic cheetah duo, Boiki and Boiboi, formed a coalition that traversed the entire length of the Kwando Private Concession, making several appearances throughout the month. We also tracked a serene female cheetah lounging along the dried floodplains in the marshes. Yet another young male cheetah sought refuge near Mokhutsum Road.
What have the lions of Lagoon been up to?
The Holi lion pride, Mma Mosetha, and Mma D, along with the ATI (Raithwane) coalition north of the camp and the Bora Bogale coalition of the Holi pride, have been the protagonists of the lion saga in the Lagoon area.
In the first week of November, the Mma Mosetha pride, with its two lionesses and three seven-month-old cubs, mesmerized observers near upper Kwando as they fed on a tsessebe. Simultaneously, the Borabogale coalition (comprising three males, five lionesses, and eight cubs) took centre stage with three sightings. Mma D, a splinter pride from Holi, was spotted quenching their thirst near the lagoon, while another encounter saw them feasting on a wildebeest at Marapo a Kubu.
The ATI coalition, located on a tsessebe kill, shared the limelight with the Holi pride, devouring an elephant carcass at the fallen baobab. The third week delivered five lion sightings, with Mma D making three appearances near the airstrip, focused on hunting warthogs. The Holi pride appeared twice at the fallen baobab.
The fourth week unfolded with many lion sightings, including the three male lions from the southern part of the concession, marking their presence at Lechwe Corner after a red lechwe feast on the plains.
The resident pack of around 10 African wild dogs showcased their effectiveness by engaging in several successful hunting expeditions. Some outstanding impala kills occurred near the camp and in the Rakgolo area.
Honey badgers, porcupines, wild cats, and civets appeared during night drives. Civets, characterized by their primarily nocturnal behaviour, thrive in the cover of darkness. This nocturnal lifestyle serves a dual purpose, allowing them to avoid predators and reduce competition with diurnal species that are active during the day. Omnivorous in nature, civets have a diverse diet that includes fruits, insects, small mammals, eggs, and occasionally carrion.
The tapestry of the general game showcased the vitality of the area. Zebras, elephants, breeding herds of buffalos and bachelor groups, plus towers of giraffes, dotted the floodplains. Newborn impalas, tsessebe, and wildebeests accompanied the adults. Small herds of roan and sable antelope were located around midday and in early afternoons coming to drink along the floodplains too.
We saw a significant decline in the number of plains game in this area after we received the first rains, and we had a heavy storm in the third week of November, which saw the animals seek the safety of the woodlands.
Majestic birds of prey, such as Wahlberg’s, tawny, and African hawk eagles, gracefully soared overhead. The drying pools emerged as a bustling theatre for fish-eating birds with fish and frogs trapped in the water and feasted upon by marabou storks, yellow-billed storks and pelicans. We also located the carmine bee-eaters’ nesting site along the steep banks of the Kwando River. European bee-eaters and blue-checked bee-eaters were also logged.
(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!)
