October was obviously a month for unusual sightings, and Nxai Pan was not going to be left out of these statistics. Buffalos are not normally seen in Nxai Pan, but sure enough, four of them arrived at the water hole in front of the camp on the 19th of October, desperate for a drink of water. With no rain as yet, there is very little grazing anywhere in Northern Botswana, so these buffalo have obviously travelled far and wide in search of anything to last them till the rains. They were seen for a few days near the camp, but the presence of lions forced them to move off.
Lions were seen regularly this month, one of the animals that can survive without too much hardship when there is minimal water. All herbivores have been affected by the dry conditions, with very little food available. Animals that normally only graze, change tactics and try to browse a little. The browsers have a little relief in October as some of the acacias come into bloom, and a few trees start to unfurl new leaves, in anticipation of the rains. Lions, on the other hand, can relax near a waterhole, quenching their thirst when they need, and catching a weakened antelope that approaches.
Amongst the lions that were seen this month, were a pride of six adults – two of whom were seen mating on several occasions, and a female with two cubs that frequented the area around the camp. The pride also killed a young kudu close to the camp, and were seen feeding on this. Three days later, two males killed a buffalo – perhaps one of the four that had previously been seen – on the main road to the waterhole.
Elephants are obviously still coming in to the camp to drink from the waterhole, and they are needing the water in large quantities to make up for the lack of moisture in the vegetation that they are currently eating. The odd cloudy day helps all the animals relax a little, but the promise of rain is so tantalizing. Impala, giraffe, springbok, kudu, and a few zebra all scrabble for what they can get.
And to finish of an unusual month for sightings, who else should make an appearance this month but four wild dogs, at Baobab Loop!
