The most unusual sighting for the month, in fact, probably for the year, happened on the evening of the 1st of June. The guests had a fantastic sighting of two leopard cubs. Leopard cubs are fairly rare to see at the best of times, but leopard cubs spending an hour playing around the dining table, ducking under the chairs and batting at lanterns round the edge of the fireplace, is not something that you see every day! The mother must have been off hunting, and had left the cubs to their own devices, not realizing that they would see the camp as a suitable play pen…
The next morning, venturing a little away from the main area, the cubs were spotted near the workshop, this time a bit shyer, which is probably just as well, as having two leopards continuing to feel at home around human habitation is not the most ideal situation.
More leopards were to follow the next day – this time whilst out on game drive – two different females were found – one with an impala kill, and one heading to the boundary road. The same day, we came across an aardwolf, African wild cat, the lions, and the pack of 13 dogs. Not a bad day all in all!
The pack of 13 dogs has denned near Twin Pools, not too far from the camp. They are all looking healthy, and the pack have been active in their hunts, attempting to take down wildebeest, but often settling for an impala or two. With many hyenas in the area as well, they have lost several of their kills to the hyena clan.
We spent a morning with the big pride of lions (four females, two males, two subadults and nine cubs). It was wonderful to watch them all interact, and then co-ordinate for a hunt. Returning to visit them again in the afternoon, we found they had killed a large adult eland – a good meal for a pride tht is 17 strong!)
The two males split away at some point from the pride, and were found feasting on an elephant carcass. Also trying to eat from the carcass, but very wary of the lions, were four hyenas and two jackals. Vultures were waiting patiently in a nearby tree…
A new pride of lions – 10 – came into the area near Eland road. There are six females and four subadult males. None of them are lions that we recognize, but we think they have come in from the south eastern edge of the concession.
Lots of elephants in the area as well, with over 120 individuals counted one morning browsing and drinking at Twin Pools. Other general game in the area is great, with zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, and even eland.
And on the 29th of June, a successful litter of wild dog pups appeared outside the den for the first time! 14 little puppies, just over three weeks old, clambered out of the ground to stumble around their new surroundings, and suckle from mum whilst she rested outside in the warm sunshine.
