The rain that has not fallen anywhere else, has fallen on Lebala. Muddy pools start edging over the side of the road, and grass has grown to extreme heights. Everyone seems to be suffering from the new grass seed and pollen, as it is just the right height to blow back into the vehicle, and into the eyes of all the passengers. Even lions seem susceptible, with one of the big males having a runny nose!
Early in the month, elephants were around, but after a week or so, the breeding herds begin to arrive. The rustle of a bush next to the vehicle, and one elephant suddenly turns into 100, as the herds quietly move through the vegetation, feeding as they go. They are heading for the river and green vegetation.
The Lagoon pack of wild dogs made several forays into the Lebala area – hunting warthog, and trying to catch impala. We also saw them take down a baby wildebeest, which does not go very far when divided by 19 hungry mouths.
Eight lions killed a zebra close to John’s Pan, and spent two days by the kill. Over the following days, they moved slowly south, taking four days to travel to Boundary road, where they spent some time relaxing. Once the lions moved away from John’s Pan, the pack of dogs arrived!
Although we had a few good leopard sightings during the month, we also saw a baby leopard, that had probably been told to hide by the mother as she went off to hunt. It was curious, but a little shy and hid back in the bushes.
