The Lagoon lion pride consists of two males, 3 lionesses (one sub-adult) with five cubs. With this many hungry lions in a pride, its tough on the buffalo herds that frequent the area, as their calves are taken almost daily to sustain the pride. Calves are a much easier target than facing off with a fully grown adult buffalo – male or female – so lions will take this opportunity whilst there are plenty of youngsters about to ‘stock up’. There are also two ‘Intruder” males in the area that are not shy about killing adult buffalo. Soon after killing one, they came face to face with the whole Lagoon Pride, and there was some fighting between the males, before the Intruders headed off quickly.
On the last day of the month, we could hear lots of lions calling during the night, and the morning drive located tracks of the four males – and signs of a scuffle. A carcass of a kudu was found near by that we think had been abandoned by one of the pride lionesses, as she and her cubs moved out of the males, seeking safety. Later that day, the two intruder males were located near WaterCart.
Later in the month, the big buffalo herds split into smaller herds – a short storm led them to believe that the rains have started, and some of them moved off in search of, literally, greener pastures.
Interestingly, although we are seeing plenty of leopard sightings, the males continue to appear much shyer than the females. Several of both sexes have been seen with successful hunts completed, and their meals stored up in the tree for safety. After having spent the last few months denning on the Lebala side of the concession, the big pack of wild dogs – 8 adults and 13 puppies – made a return to the Lagoon area in the middle of the month, now that the puppies are fully mobile. The adults are showing the youngsters the rest of their territory, and reacquainting themselves with the area after their long absence. They made plenty of impala kills in the area around Lagoon – the impalas themselves had had a relatively happy few months with their absence!
The carmine bee-eaters have arrived, and have begun nesting in the earthen banks at the sides of Kwena Lagoon – a wonderful sight to see over the next months as they fly in and out of their little mud caves. A highly unusual sighting of a pack of hyenas, which managed to separate a young elephant calf from its mother and kill it, only a few minutes from camp.
Other fantastic sightings this month – roan and sable which are now more and more relaxed with the cars, eland – which being Africa’s largest antelope, still have to retain some quirks, and continually run away as fast as they can , civet, porcupines and african wild cats.
