A highlight of the month was when a caracal was observed on Carlos Road during a morning drive. It was actively hunting a northern black korhaan, and guides kept their distance to avoid disrupting the attempt. Ultimately the korhaan spotted the stalk and flew away, but the encounter provided a rare glimpse of this elusive predator in action.
Early in the month, a lioness was observed at the Tau Pan waterhole feeding on birds that drowned while drinking. Raptors circling overhead injured several birds, providing easy opportunities for the lioness. For several days afterwards lions were absent, until mid-month when the dominant male was located on the eastern side of the pan with the same female. This male, known locally as “Mr Tau Pan,” made his presence felt throughout the month—his roars echoing near camp most nights and his tracks regularly found around the lodge each morning.
Towards the end of the month guides followed a strong scent to the carcass of an old male lion, long seen around the Tau Pan waterhole. His absence in recent days confirmed that he had finally died. Towards the end of the month, Mr Tau Pan was seen feeding on an oryx carcass at the southern pan. The oryx showed no signs of predation, and it was likely that the lion had found it dead from natural causes. Interestingly, no cubs were sighted during the month, suggesting the females had relocated them to undisclosed dens.
Several leopard sightings brightened the month. A leopard was found resting in the shade of an acacia on Leopard Loop. Mid-month, a relaxed young male was seen on the north-east side of the pan, moving steadily towards the water. Not long afterwards, a female leopard was located near the airstrip. Calm and photogenic, she allowed extended viewing. Guests enjoyed an exceptional sighting of a female walking along the road before climbing into a roadside tree, providing excellent photographic opportunities.
Elusive Cheetahs and Opportunistic Scavengers
Cheetah encounters were a little scarce and the animals remained characteristically shy. Mid month, a male cheetah was briefly observed south of the airstrip before vanishing into the bush. Later in the month, the same cheetah was seen north of the pan during a sundowner drive. Though wary, he allowed guests to view and photograph him in the golden evening light before fading back into cover. Unlike cheetahs in more open habitats, those around Tau Pan tended to prefer thicker bush, making sightings more fleeting.
Hyenas were less active this month, during the month a relaxed individual was found south of Tau Pan feeding on an oryx carcass previously abandoned by lions. It spent the afternoon enjoying the leftovers, unbothered by the vehicles.
The bushman walk continued to be a favourite activity for guests as they learned how to make fire by friction. Did you know that the two sticks used need to come from very different plants, such as the trumpet thorn and the corkwood.
The clear winter skies provided exceptional star gazing, especially for those who chose to sleep out on our raised platform with nothing above them except for the milky way. Why settle for a five star experience when you can have a million star experience. True luxury is being wild!
