The month opened with guides tracking a lone male before, later that same day, finding a pride of five preparing for an evening hunt. The following morning another pride was located, made up of a dominant male, two lionesses and three lively subadults, all resting together after a night of activity.
Only a few days later the same pride was found again, this time with a tiny cub estimated to be no more than six weeks old. The youngster remained close to the lionesses while the dominant male rested nearby, giving guests a wonderful opportunity to watch one of the newest additions to the pride.
As the month unfolded, lion sightings remained consistent across the concession. A pride of seven, made up of two dominant males and five lionesses, was encountered moving steadily through the area, while towards the latter part of the month two lionesses with cubs became regular visitors along West Road. On another afternoon, a pride of six was found resting nearby before, a few days later, a single male was seen keeping watch over the Wildlife Waterhole.
One of the month’s largest lion sightings came towards the end of May when 12 lions from different prides were encountered in the same area. The final days of the month continued much the same, with two cubs, three lionesses and a dominant male being seen across different parts of the concession.
Life around the waterholes
The camp waterhole remained busy throughout May. One of the month’s highlights came when a large breeding herd of elephants arrived to drink, filling the waterhole with activity. A few days later guests watched another herd enjoying a lengthy mud bath before disappearing back into the woodland.
Giraffes with young calves continued to move through the concession, while zebra, blue wildebeest, greater kudu and gemsbok were all seen regularly across the open grasslands. One particularly memorable morning, hundreds of springbok were watched pronking across the plains, a spectacular sight against the still-green landscape.
Bat-eared foxes and black-backed jackals featured on almost every drive, while an African wild cat provided an excellent afternoon sighting as it rested quietly beside the road.
Scrub hares, steenbok and porcupines continued to add interest during evening drives, while fresh spotted hyena tracks around the waterholes reminded us that plenty of activity takes place long after the vehicles have returned to camp.
Birding remained excellent throughout the month. Martial eagles, tawny eagles and black-shouldered kites were all seen regularly, while one pale chanting goshawk was watched bringing down a mongoose. Kori bustards continued to patrol the grasslands and several species of vultures, including lappet-faced, white-backed vultures, were seen soaring above the pans. Barn owls and spotted eagle-owls became regular companions after dark.
Among the reptiles recorded during the month were striped skinks, barking geckos and a Cape cobra crossing the road during one afternoon drive. African monarch butterflies and dragonflies continued to bring colour to the camp surroundings.
Green days, golden evenings
Although May marked the start of winter, Nxai Pan still carried much of the colour left behind by the summer rains. The woodland remained green, wild stock roses continued flowering and the bush was still thick in many areas, giving the concession a very different feel from the dry months that lie ahead.
As the month drew to a close, cooler mornings gave way to warm, clear afternoons, and the cloud of early May gradually disappeared. Evenings ended beneath brilliant desert skies, with uninterrupted views of the stars becoming one of the quiet pleasures of a stay at Nxai Pan.
