One of the most compelling sightings of the month unfolded along Phukwi Road, where a male leopard was found feeding on an ostrich kill while being challenged by a brown hyena. The interaction developed into a direct confrontation, with the hyena attempting to displace the leopard from the carcass. Despite the pressure, the leopard held its ground and retained the kill, offering a clear demonstration of strength and determination in a landscape where competition is constant.
Territory marked in sound and scent
Lion activity remained consistent across the Tau Pan area, with the dominant black-maned male continuing to move widely through the concession. His presence was often confirmed by vocalisations in the early mornings and evenings as he patrolled and advertised territory.
The Tau Pan pride remained in the area, with three lionesses holding cubs in concealment. Their movements suggested they were keeping to thicker cover, and their behaviour indicated that introductions to the pride may follow in the coming weeks.
Further afield, two additional black-maned males were encountered around Passarge Valley, particularly near waterholes, where they were seen resting and moving through the area. Across the concession, multiple prides were present, with lions distributed according to prey movement and water availability.
Cheetah presence was confirmed across the area, with one individual located along Mawelewele Road. The animal remained cautious, moving through trumpet thorn thickets before disappearing into cover.
Sightings in this environment continue to reflect adaptation to the terrain, with cheetahs making use of both open pans and surrounding vegetation rather than remaining exclusively in open ground. Their movements were often brief but purposeful, with behaviour focused on hunting and avoiding pressure from lions.
Brown hyenas were active throughout the month and were encountered on several occasions. In addition to the interaction with the leopard, individuals were seen moving along roads and foraging across the concession.
As the dominant scavenger in this system, their presence remained closely linked to predator activity, often arriving at carcasses and moving over large distances in search of feeding opportunities.
General game remained well distributed, with oryx, springbok and wildebeest seen regularly across the pans and surrounding areas. Black-backed jackals and bat-eared foxes were also frequently encountered, particularly in open areas where prey species were concentrated.
The availability of surface water supported continued movement and distribution of herbivores, maintaining consistent predator activity across the landscape.
Smaller mammals added depth to sightings, with ground squirrels, scrub hare, porcupine and African wild cat observed during drives. A female wild cat with kittens was also seen, providing a notable behavioural sighting.
Reptile activity remained strong, with sightings including puff adder, African rock python, Cape cobra, leopard tortoise, ground agama and skinks.
Birdlife remained active, with a mix of resident and migratory species present, including cuckoos, European roller, kites, falcons, eagles and storks. There was a notable increase in the number of black-winged kites, probably as a result of conditions favouring rodents which is their prey of choice.
Star lit skies
Evenings at Tau Pan continued to offer clear conditions for stargazing, with constellations such as Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Taurus, Gemini and the Southern Cross visible on clear nights, along with prominent stars such as Canopus.
The landscape remained in a transitional phase, with grasses still established across the dunes and trees such as Kalahari apple-leaf and silver cluster-leaf in good condition, supporting browsing species and maintaining overall productivity.
