Mid-month, an African wild cat and her kitten were seen near Tent 9. The kitten lingered for fantastic sightings while its mother moved in and out of the thickets.
Jackals, honey badgers, civets, genets, servals, more African wildcats, spring hares, and scrub hares were frequently spotted during early morning and night drives.
The Pom Pom landscape underwent a noticeable transformation as the water levels receded. Drying floodplains created expansive open areas dotted with patches of green grass, attracting grazers and making them prime hunting grounds for predators such as cheetahs and African wild dogs.
A pack of 20 African wild dogs were regularly sighted near camp. Early in the month, we located them chasing red lechwes through the rough terrain, and it was an exhilarating challenge to keep up with their incredible speed! One morning, during breakfast, a sudden commotion revealed the pack pursuing impalas at high speed near Aluminium Crossing. Later in the month, after tracking fresh footprints for over an hour, we found the pack resting near Kanana Crossing. On another unforgettable afternoon, the pack successfully brought down a red lechwe after a five-minute chase.
Two cheetahs were seen in the Letswaii area and one on Drifters Island.
Spotting hyenas and more during nature walks
During nature walks, we continued to see fresh cheetah tracks in various parts of the Pom Pom Concession and noted that many trees began sprouting new leaves. Some, like the sausage tree and camel thorn, started flowering and added splashes of colour to the dry bushveld.
Spotted hyenas were a constant presence throughout October, often seen during morning and night drives and walking safaris. They even made appearances close to camp during breakfast and dinner. A highlight was the active hyena den near Shine Bridge, where five playful cubs kept us entertained. The cubs cautiously explored their surroundings while the adults kept watch nearby, offering guests thrilling moments of interaction with this highly social predator.
Birdlife was prolific, with numerous species spotted along the river routes, lagoons, and floodplains. Among the highlights were wattled cranes, saddle-billed storks, grey herons, goliath herons, and various egrets. Raptors such as bateleurs, African fish eagles, and brown snake eagles patrolled the skies, while migratory birds like yellow-billed kites and European swallows signalled the changing season.
A mother leopard and her cub were frequently seen in the northwestern areas, often perched on termite mounds or resting in trees. On one occasion, the cub was spotted playing high in the branches, providing guests with an endearing display of its playful nature. Male leopards were also seen, with one tracked for over 30 minutes to an impala carcass hoisted in a tree — a sign of a close escape from nearby lions.
The Pom Pom pride, consisting of eight individuals, began the month resting under the shade in Rebecca Field. This pride frequently splits and regroups as they roam in and out of the area. Three lionesses with two cubs were often found near Xinega Lagoon, Paradise, and Rhino Lagoon, offering guests an intimate look at their familial dynamics.
Two big males were seen feeding on a red lechwe in the Mokoro Flood Plains, remaining in the area for three days. Later in October, seven lions were observed stalking red lechwes on Mochimbamo Island for over an hour, though their hunt was unsuccessful. The following morning, they were found drinking near Catfish Island.
Large herds of buffalo were regularly spotted along the floodplains and river routes, while elephants graced the landscape with their majestic presence. The diversity of species was remarkable, from impalas, reedbucks, waterbucks, kudus, and tsessebes to zebras, wildebeests, red lechwes, baboons, monkeys, steenboks, and hippos.
(Please note: For the safety of the animals, we do not disclose the precise location of either rhino or pangolin sightings. Accompanying pictures are from our Kwando Photo Library which consists of all your great photo submissions over the years, it may not be the most up to date, but we felt it was worthy of a feature alongside this month’s Sightings Report!)
