A lone lioness was observed at the pan confronting a leopard. The leopard escaped unscathed after being stalked to within five metres, at which point it ran off, leaving the lioness behind.
Lion sightings were frequent and behaviourally interesting this month. Early in the period, a male and a female were seen at Tau Pan attempting to hunt oryx. They stalked the herd for some time but were unsuccessful and eventually rested in the nearby thickets.
In the middle of the month, two lionesses were tracked moving west of Tau Pan. They were spotted near Ma Welewele Road as they stalked a group of gemsbok. Unfortunately, the lions’ elevated position and the unfavourable wind direction alerted the prey, causing them to escape before the lions could attack. Later, the same pair attempted to stalk springbok in an open area but were once again detected early.
In another sighting, a male lion was observed with two lionesses in the western section of the pan, attempting to chase a kudu. They initiated a brief pursuit but were unsuccessful. Later in the month, six lion cubs, approximately one month old, were discovered hidden in dense bush, left there by the pride while the adults went hunting. The full litter consists of eight cubs; however, visibility has remained limited due to their young age and the need for protection.
Towards the end of the month, a confrontation took place between two adult males—one was dominant while the other was an intruder. The dominant male suffered a visible tear to his inner lip but remained mobile and is expected to recover. Additionally, a subadult male and a female were present in the area but fled towards the pan when the fight began.
Lions chasing Leopards
Leopard sightings were frequent and included a range of behaviours. A resident female was seen moving along the road from camp towards the firebreak. She was relaxed and allowed for close observation and photography.
A remarkable sighting occurred when a male leopard descended from a tree just as a pair of lions entered the area. The leopard was nearly caught, only realising the danger when the lions were just five meters away. He managed to escape into the thick bush, and the lions eventually abandoned the chase.
The following day, another male leopard was spotted at Leopard Loop. He seemed interested in a nearby herd of oryx but was noticed before he could get closer, prompting him to retreat into cover.
A male cheetah was seen early in the month at Tau Pan with a visibly full belly, moving towards the treeline for cover.
A small group of African wild dogs was seen feeding on a springbok carcass. After feeding, the pack moved into nearby bush to rest or continue their movements.
A brown hyaena was observed at the airstrip playing with a scrub hare before vanishing into tall grass.
Hooves and Beetles, Big and Small
Game densities were good throughout the northern section of the Central Kalahari, particularly around Tau Pan, Passage, and Letiahau Valley. Common sightings included springbok, wildebeest, ostrich, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, red hartebeest, gemsbok, kudu, steenbok, and common duiker. These species were frequently seen grazing and moving through the open grasslands and along pan edges.
Yellow and slender mongoose were observed on the move, foraging for small prey. Ground squirrels were active across the open terrain, frequently pausing to scan the sky—likely due to avian predators. Their vigilance highlighted the constant threat posed by eagles, hawks, and small carnivores.
Reptile sightings were limited due to cooler temperatures but included observations of Nile monitor lizards near waterholes. Notable insect sightings included giant jewel beetles, grasshoppers, dung beetles, African monarch butterflies, whirligig beetles, and dynastine scarabs , otherwise known as rhinoceros beetles, part of the Little 5. Pods of caterpillars were seen moving across wet surfaces. Stink bugs were also encountered in scattered areas.
A Flamingo in the trumpet thorn
One unusual sighting occurred when a juvenile lesser flamingo was spotted near the airstrip, moving amongst trumpet thorn shrubs—an uncommon species for this region.
Birdlife remained diverse and active. At the waterhole, large flocks of queleas, sandgrouse, whydahs, and occasional vultures were recorded. A lanner falcon was seen catching sandgrouse multiple times during one morning and inadvertently dropping its prey, which attracted the attention of a nearby tawny eagle.
Guided walks with San trackers provided guests with insights into local bushcraft and cultural heritage. Topics included the use of medicinal plants, traditional trap-making, and fire-starting techniques. Guests were also shown wildlife tracks and spoor interpretation along well-travelled animal paths.
Tau Pan remained an excellent location for stargazing, with clear skies allowing for nightly observation of the Southern Cross, Scorpio, Canis Major, Leo, Arcturus (Boötes), Sagittarius (the Black Hole), Venus, Aquila, and Andromeda.
