For the first two weeks of September, the wild dogs provided plenty of sightings for the Lebala guests, as they were still mostly around the den site. Later in the month, the puppies were old enough to become more mobile, and Lagoon benefited from a few visits from them – the first time in a few months. The pack also had a fight with a group of hyenas – everyone tussling over an impala kill, that the dogs had made, but that the hyenas wanted to grab.
Although there have been plenty of dogs around, the lions have certainly not been in short supply. A pride of ten, and two males, were seen regularly. They spent quite a bit of time following a buffalo herd, and were eventually rewarded with a lovely meal. A pride of eight lions were also found eating buffalo – not content with one, they had managed to kill four of them! A little later in the month, and appetites had changed somewhat, with the focus now being on zebra – the pride of eight bringing down two.
At the start of the month, leopards were seen almost daily, including a mother and a young cub, who were seen up in a tree feeding on an impala kill. A few days later, the same pair were again seen eating impala up a tree – this time safely anchored in a sausage tree. And another four days after that, the same mother was found having just caught another impala, and was dragging it up a tree – obviously she has found this is definitely the method to choose when keeping her meat safe from any other predators. Interestingly, another leopard was found feeding on a black backed jackal. Leopards will kill other predators – who they see as competitors in the food chain – but it is not very often that they feed on them.
One of the older female leopards also bumped into one of her daughters – they had long since separated. Female leopards have home ranges rather than territories –the difference being that ranges can overlap, where as a territory is actively defended – which tends to be more of the males forte. However, the old female was certainly not keen on having her daughter at close quarters, and there was a short spat between them. With the older leopard moving off, the game drive vehicle followed, and soon the same leopardess was venting her frustrations on a potentially equally dangerous animal – a honey badger! A risky business for both animals, as although the leopard is much larger – and with bigger teeth – badgers are known for their ferocious and “never give up” attitude. With loose skin that enables it almost to twist around inside of itself, it’s hard for any predator to catch a safe hold of it, and not have it suddenly bite the back of your neck. Both animals escaped unscathed… Definitely a grumpy day for mother leopard.
Two brother cheetahs were seen a few days this month including feeding on a baby kudu they had just killed. Close by, a clan of 15 hyenas hit the jackpot when they came across a dead elephant, and fed voraciously on it. The next day, hyenas also chased a female leopard off her kill, just after she had brought down an impala. Towards the end of the month, the hyenas either killed or came across a dead hippo, and again it was mass action as they all attempted to feed on it.
Lots of general game this month, with zebras, wildebeest, impala, giraffe and elephants seemingly everywhere! And the birds are starting to get ready for the summer season, with the swallows starting to build their mud nests, and bee-eaters flitting about. Lots of vultures in the area benefitting from the many kills made by predators – the vultures are a good indicator of a healthy environment.
More unusual sightings – a beautiful caracal, and close to the end of the month, two honey badgers were found digging for mice – a mother and young. The mother managed to catch a small rodent for the youngster. A lovely sighting!
