A guided walk yielded an exceptional sighting of an aardwolf basking in the sun near its burrow. A pup was also seen at the entrance. When the same site was revisited the following day, the aardwolf was discovered hoisted in a tree, the apparent victim of a leopard kill.
A pack of eleven African wild dogs denned in the area, providing unforgettable sightings throughout the month. Both the alpha and subdominant females were pregnant early in the period. Shortly after denning began, a pride of lions passed through the area, and one pack member went missing. The pack remained at ten individuals thereafter.
The alpha female gave birth, and 11 pups were later confirmed. She spent most of her time at the den, with one or two adults staying behind while the rest of the pack went out hunting. Several hunts were followed, though the dense mopane woodland often made it difficult to maintain visual contact.
On a few occasions, the pack was seen feeding at kills. One notable sighting involved a confrontation with hyenas at a waterhole—though outnumbered, the dogs succeeded in driving the hyenas away. Regurgitation of food by the pack to both the alpha female and the pups was observed regularly.
Territory, Tension, and a Tree with Two Kills
Male lion activity increased significantly during the month, with multiple individuals moving through the area. It was difficult to establish which coalition held dominance, and several subadult males were seen carrying fresh wounds, likely from clashes with these roaming males.
In response to the presence of unfamiliar males, females from the local pride were observed spending more time deep within the woodlands rather than their usual habitat in the marsh or islands. This appeared to be a protective strategy to shield their cubs. One female from a pride of seven in the southern part of the concession was suspected to have recently given birth. While the cubs were not seen, their vocalisations were heard when the mother returned to nurse them. However, after one evening’s commotion—where guides heard loud roaring from a male lion—the female was not seen returning to the site and was later observed rejoining the rest of the pride.
Several morning drives involved tracking lions during active hunting periods. Although no hunts were witnessed to completion, multiple chases were observed, and fresh kills were often found in the early morning, indicating successful nocturnal or dawn activity. In the northern sector, near the Halfway area, three females with four cubs were doing well. Three adult males were often seen in attendance with this group.
Both male and female leopards were sighted regularly. The resident male was seen patrolling and scent-marking in the woodlands. He was occasionally observed with a distended belly, suggesting recent feeding.
One female leopard showed signs of lactation, though her cubs had not been seen and no den site had yet been identified. She was often located while actively hunting but was typically left undisturbed when she moved into dense vegetation.
A subadult female provided an especially noteworthy sighting when she was observed dragging both an aardwolf and an impala up the same tree. The aardwolf appeared to have been killed first. She remained in the area for several days. She was frequently seen moving between the carcasses and a nearby waterhole, where she was watched drinking—her reflection in the water made for a particularly memorable scene.
Spotted hyenas were seen regularly, especially around the waterholes. Sightings were most common during morning and early afternoon drives. The local den remained active, hosting three adults and a single cub. A confrontation with the resident wild dog pack occurred at the waterhole, but the hyenas were ultimately driven off.
A coalition of two male cheetahs was found between Lagoon and Lebala, near the Halfway area. They were observed throughout an afternoon drive as they hunted through mixed terrain of red lechwe and impala. The hunt culminated in the successful capture of a female red lechwe late in the day. The cheetahs began feeding as the sun set.
From Caracals to Carmine Bee-Eaters
Game density was excellent throughout the month. Large herds of zebra were frequently seen along waterholes, often interspersed with wildebeest. Elephant sightings were consistent, although they were observed drinking more often from the river than waterholes as the season progressed. Hippos congregated around remaining waterholes and were often seen basking in the sun during cooler daylight hours.
Giraffe numbers remained high throughout the area, and impalas were actively engaged in rutting behaviour. Sable, roan antelope, and eland were also recorded, contributing to diverse and rewarding game drives.
Aardwolves, civets, caracals, and servals were recorded on multiple night drives. A brief caracal sighting occurred near the waterhole, while a relaxed civet was viewed before disappearing into thickets. Servals were sighted on three occasions near the marsh area.
Birdlife remained strong across the concession. Ground hornbills were regularly observed, and swallow-tailed bee-eaters were also present. Secretary birds were spotted nesting, with both the male and female seen near the nest. A small flock of carmine bee-eaters arrived unusually early, and pelicans began gathering in greater numbers as the month progressed.
Water levels in the main channel remained low. The woodland areas continued to dry, though most waterholes retained sufficient levels from the last rains. Sand in the area became increasingly loose underfoot, but many trees retained their leaves, particularly along watercourses.
Skies remained clear for much of the month, offering excellent stargazing opportunities. Winter constellations such as the Southern Cross, Scorpius, Canis Major, the Big Dipper, Orion’s Belt, and Venus were visible on moonless nights.
