A lioness with her two cubs were found on West road at the start of the month, feeding on a wildebeest. They had been seen at the main waterhole for several days prior to that, and had had better luck in their hunts once they had moved away. The cheetah and her sub-adult cubs were seen several times during the month, looking healthy and well fed. This is an easy time of year for them, with plenty of food around.
We were also lucky enough to see the pack of wild dogs that have become more regular visitors to the area. Most of the sightings were of five, but the total pack seems to be seven, as they were seen all together twice. We also saw them hunt and kill two springboks along Middle Road. Just after they had killed the two, the lioness with the two cubs appeared from nowhere and took one of the kills from the dogs, then carried it off to the woodland where she had hidden her cubs.
The first week of the month the wildebeest began delivering their young, after the first rain that we had. The springbok had not started at that stage, but on the 16th we were lucky enough to see one of them give birth. The whole process took only one hour – from finding the springbok about to give birth, to the little baby up and standing on its new legs! A wonderful sighting!
Once the young antelope start being born, then it is easy prey for the cheetahs and lions of the area. With so many youngsters, it is hard for the herds to keep all of them together, and a charging predator will scatter the young, creating endless opportunities for a quick hunt.
