One of the stronger leopard sightings of the month unfolded while guests were watching hippos at a waterhole. Alarm calls from several bird species suddenly drew attention towards the woodland edge, where the resident male eventually stepped out from cover and walked slowly towards the water.
A hippo quickly pushed him back into the trees, after which he continued moving between marking posts, scent-marking regularly and roaring at intervals before climbing several trees to survey the area.
The resident female and her young male cub were also seen consistently. While the female remained cautious around vehicles, the cub became increasingly relaxed and playful, often approaching close to the vehicles and spending long periods moving openly around the sighting.
Lions through the thickets and along the waterholes
Lion sightings remained strong throughout April, with much of the activity centred around the woodland edges and permanent waterholes where zebra and eland congregated in large numbers.
A pride of six was regularly encountered moving through the thicker areas, often using the same game paths as the herds they were following. Several hunts on zebra were observed, with some unsuccessful attempts ending deep in the thickets before the lions regrouped and continued moving.
One particularly rewarding morning began with a long track through zig-zagging spoor, eventually leading guides to two males feeding on the remains of a wildebeest. Evidence around the scene suggested the females had made the kill during the night and fed before the males arrived and displaced them from the carcass. Hyena tracks and resting spots surrounded the area, showing how much activity had unfolded before sunrise.
Another pride consisting of six females, two males and six cubs, estimated at around four months old, remained one of the highlights of the month. Time spent with the pride often turned into long relaxed sightings as the cubs climbed over fallen logs, chased one another through the grass and interacted closely with the adults.
African wild dog activity increased steadily through the month. Although thick vegetation occasionally made hunts difficult to follow, several successful pursuits were recorded, including one afternoon hunt where the pack brought down an impala.
The alpha female appeared heavily pregnant and the pack repeatedly revisited old denning areas, cleaning burrows and spending extended periods around the site. On several occasions the alpha female remained behind while the rest of the pack moved out hunting.
One memorable interaction involved a hyena tracking the scent of a recent wild dog kill. Guides followed the hyena as it moved with purpose through the woodland before it eventually led directly to the dogs, resulting in a noisy confrontation as the pack drove the hyena away from the carcass.
Cheetahs on patrol and giant eland herds
Cheetah sightings continued throughout the month, with several different individuals using the area.
A male was first seen resting uneasily on a termite mound with lions operating nearby, before both coalition partners were relocated later that afternoon in the same area. The tension from nearby lions appeared to have separated the pair temporarily during the morning.
A female moving with a subadult male also remained active across the concession and was regularly found feeding on impala. Several sightings developed after vultures gathering in trees alerted guides to fresh kills nearby.
One of the more striking features of April was the sheer size of the eland herds moving through the concession. One herd alone was estimated at between 150 and 200 animals, including calves, often mixed with zebra, wildebeest and other antelope around the open areas near the waterholes.
Kudu numbers remained strong, while elephants continued feeding slowly along the riverine edges and woodland corridors.
Life after dark and around the river
Night drives produced sightings of springhare, African civet, African wild cat and both black-backed and side-striped jackal. Bat-eared foxes were also seen regularly, including one particularly large family group of six individuals.
Water monitor lizards remained active around the waterholes, while crocodiles were frequently encountered along the river system. One especially unusual sighting involved crocodile tracks leading from deep woodland areas towards the river, several kilometres from permanent water.
Birdlife remained productive across the concession. Secretarybirds were regularly encountered hunting in the woodland areas, while a family of seven ground hornbills continued to operate near the camp. Carmine bee-eaters, white-fronted bee-eaters and a variety of eagle species remained widespread.
The landscape stayed lush and green following the rains, with flowering plants, fresh grasses and full waterholes supporting high levels of wildlife activity across the concession.
Evenings around camp alternated between overcast skies and clearer nights where stars occasionally broke through above the river system, while the rising water continued to reshape parts of the floodplain.
