December was a rewarding month at Moremi Crossing, with strong predator activity and the landscape fully settled into the green season. One of the most memorable moments this month happened during a drive deeper into the concession while checking known cheetah movement routes. Fresh tracks along the river led guides to three female cheetahs, later confirmed to be sisters, drinking at the water’s edge. After quenching their thirst, they lingered nearby, allowing guests time to observe them as they rested and moved slowly along the riverbank.
Cheetahs were recorded consistently, with three individuals moving through the southern sections of the concession, particularly around the Seporota area. Locating them often involved extended tracking sessions along river edges and open ground. Once found, they were observed drinking, resting, and later lying up in the shade. Guests who chose to spend extended time with them were rewarded with long, unhurried observations.
Lions remained a constant presence around camp and across the concession. A pride consisting of two adults and seven cubs moved regularly through the area, often close to camp, providing repeated opportunities to observe relaxed behaviour and interactions between adults and cubs. Two male brothers were also active, crossing between the concession and the neighbouring game reserve before returning again, suggesting a wide-ranging patrol. One particularly memorable sighting involved the pride resting near a tree, with cubs climbing and playing around the adults while the lions remained settled. At night, lion calls around camp became a familiar backdrop, adding to the sense of being immersed in the wilderness from the moment guests arrived.
Leopard sightings were fairly consistent. Two males and one female were known to be moving within the concession. The resident female, recognisable by her scarred face, was most often encountered near Gunn’s Camp, usually keeping to cover unless found resting in a tree. On several occasions, abandoned leopard kills were noted in trees during walks and drives. Returning quietly to these sites later sometimes resulted in successful sightings, reinforcing the importance of reading signs and revisiting promising areas.
Hyena activity was strong throughout the month. A large clan was frequently encountered around lion kills, often displacing lions through sheer numbers and persistence. On one occasion, guides followed a hyena moving with purpose across the concession, only to find it rejoining others at a kill they had taken over from lions. A den with young cubs remained active, and although the cubs were still small, they were occasionally seen moving with adults during hunting forays.
Elephants and zebra were seen daily, with large herds moving through the concession and often close to camp. Two bull elephants became regular visitors, repeatedly returning to feed on palm nuts around camp, much to the delight of guests.
Reptile sightings were frequent along the river and lagoon systems. Crocodiles were regularly seen along the riverbanks and around UB Lagoon, while snakes such as striped-bellied sand snakes, puff adders, pythons, and black mambas were recorded basking during warmer periods.
Birdlife flourished as water returned to areas that had previously been dry. Fishing opportunities attracted large numbers of waterbirds, including great white pelicans, marabou storks, yellow-billed storks, saddle-billed storks, woolly-necked storks, grey herons, African darters, and spur-winged geese. The riverine habitats continued to offer excellent birding throughout the month.
December’s weather brought regular but short spells of rainfall, moderating temperatures and keeping the concession cool and green. The landscape responded quickly, with flowers and butterflies appearing across the area and surface water becoming widely available. These conditions supported both wildlife movements and water-based activities, allowing mokoro and motorboat excursions to continue.
Night skies varied with cloud cover, though on clearer evenings guests were able to observe planets and constellations including Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Leo, the Southern Cross, and the Big Dipper, adding a quiet end to full safari days.
