January at Nxai Pan, the landscape was transformed by the arrival of the green season. An unusual sighting occurred at the main waterhole near the wildlife offices where a hippopotamus was observed resting, a rare occurrence in Nxai Pan.
Fresh grass covered the open pans and surrounding savannah, drawing large numbers of herbivores into the area and creating productive conditions for predator activity. Guides spent much of the month working fresh tracks along the sandy roads and pan edges where wildlife moved between grazing areas and waterholes.
Lion sightings remained consistent throughout the month. Early in January a group of five lionesses with three cubs was located after fresh tracks were picked up along the pan edge, and the pride was observed stalking wildebeest across the open grassland. The following day lions were again located feeding on a giraffe calf. Additional encounters followed as lions were found resting near the main waterhole along the western road network and a solitary lioness was located feeding on a leopard tortoise along the Tselagadithobogwe Road. Towards the end of the month three lionesses with three cubs and two adult males were located moving across the plains, and the following day two lionesses were again seen moving through the same area.
Spotted hyenas were located during a morning drive along Pipeline Road where a shy individual was observed moving away from the vehicle. Brown hyena tracks were also seen in several areas, particularly along the pan edges where they had been moving during the night.
General game viewing remained excellent throughout the month. Large herds of zebra and wildebeest were widely distributed across the pans and surrounding grasslands, with giraffe regularly browsing along the woodland edges. Elephants moved through the area in smaller groups, while oryx were seen along the southern routes near the campsite. Springbok were present in large numbers across the open plains.
Smaller mammals were active across the concession. Bat-eared foxes and black-backed jackals were frequently encountered during drives, many accompanied by young. Scrub hares, slender mongooses and yellow mongooses were also seen moving between the grassland and shrub areas.
Reptiles and insects were well represented during the month. Leopard tortoises were encountered crossing the roads, while monitor lizards, snakes, dung beetles, butterflies and cicadas were observed during drives.
Birdlife remained diverse with a mixture of resident and migratory species. European bee-eaters and carmine bee-eaters were commonly seen around the pans and open areas, alongside yellow-billed kites, swallow-tailed bee-eaters, woolly-necked storks, Egyptian geese, vultures and cattle egrets.
The Nxai Pan landscape appeared particularly striking during the green season, with open grasslands stretching across the pans and the surrounding mopane woodland turning bright green. Sand dunes covered with shrubs were visible along the route towards Baines’ Baobabs, and flowering plants such as flame lilies, wild stock roses and trumpet thorn added colour across the plains.
San bushman walks remained a highlight for many guests, where traditional bush skills such as fire-making by friction were demonstrated by the guiding team.
