When lions start mating, it’s a good bet that you are going to have guaranteed lion sightings for three days, as they are totally preoccupied, and don’t hunt or move very far during this time. Sure enough on the 17th October, a mating pair were spotted, and they were seen in the same area, loving it up, until the 20th October! With all the lions in the area, it is not uncommon to see up to 16 on one drive.
We had other great cat sightings – the cheetah mother with her two cubs were seen on some days relaxing, and at other times, off on a hunt. This little family are totally relaxed with game drive vehicles watching them, and if the cubs survive to adulthood we will continue to have good sightings of them.
As with last month, we had another lucky visit of the pack of wild dogs. This time they came to the waterhole in front of camp early one morning, drank quickly, and then quickly left, off on a springbok or impala hunt no doubt.
Three of the largest vultures – Lappett faced vultures – were spotted drinking at the main park waterhole. This bird is designated as a Vulnerable species, by the IUCN, and there are thought to be around 8000 individuals left in the Africa and the Middle East. The Botswana population is not known, but they have been seen to nest in the area, with one nest being active last year very close to the camp.
The drier it gets, the more regularly elephants come and drink at the waterhole in front of camp. The bulls meander in, and stay for a while, often to socialise (or bully) with any other elephants that come to drink. The small breeding herds almost tip toe quickly in, drink, then leave as fast as they can, before some as yet unperceived threat arrives.
