Mid-month, a male leopard was located during an afternoon drive along Mawelewele Road. His presence was first suggested by a group of oryx standing rigid and staring intently into one area, a clear behavioural cue. After careful scanning, the leopard was found lying low in sparse cover. The same individual, known to the team as the resident male, was later seen resting in an acacia tree near Jacob Link. Another leopard was briefly encountered on the way to Passage Valley, but this individual was shy and disappeared quickly into thicker bush.
Lion activity remained consistent through the month. Early on, the dominant male was found resting with a lioness along the western firebreak, lying quietly beneath river thorn acacia. Their behaviour suggested mating, and the pair remained in the vicinity of camp for several days before being rejoined by the rest of the pride around Tau Pan. Around the same period, two younger intruder males, estimated at four to five years old, were seen along the graded road before slipping away into trumpet thorn.
As the month progressed, lionesses were observed hunting independently. On one morning drive, two lionesses were seen attempting to stalk a steenbok near the airstrip, but the open terrain offered little cover and the attempt was abandoned. One of the most memorable sightings came unexpectedly during breakfast, when the Tau Pan pride arrived at the waterhole to drink after being absent for several days. Watching them approach and settle at the water from camp was a highlight, particularly for guests departing that morning. Lions were also encountered during longer day drives into Deception Valley and while moving between pans and waterholes such as Passage and Sunday Pan. Overall, lion sightings remained good despite the abundance of surface water following the rains.
African wild dogs produced a single but notable sighting. Early in the month, a pack of seven was seen near the staff village and later at the Tau Pan waterhole during the morning. They appeared to be moving with purpose, likely searching for water, and after drinking they were followed across the pan towards the eastern side before disappearing into thicker vegetation. No further sightings were recorded.
General game remained a constant feature of drives. Oryx, springbok, blue wildebeest, steenbok, giraffe, kudu and warthog were seen regularly. Common duiker and red hartebeest were also recorded, while elephant sightings included bachelor groups and solitary bulls, particularly west of camp towards Makgoa and Phukwi Pans.
The landscape itself became one of the month’s defining features. The change from dry to green was dramatic, with flowering plants appearing across the pans and dune systems. Spider lily, Kalahari crinum lily, wild coffee bean, trumpet thorn, flame lily, vlei lily and string of stars all came into bloom, replacing the earlier golden tones with a mosaic of green and colour.
With the arrival of rain, reptile and insect activity increased noticeably. Leopard tortoises were seen moving across open ground, while insects such as ground beetles, dung beetles, millipedes, centipedes, rose chafers, giant jewel beetles, scorpions and grasshoppers became more common. Butterflies were especially prominent, including orange tip, African migrant, common diadem and zebra white, adding movement and colour around pans and waterholes.
Smaller mammals were active as conditions improved. Southern ground squirrels were frequently seen foraging around the pans, while yellow and slender mongooses were occasionally spotted darting through grass and low cover during drives.
Birding improved significantly with the rains. Raptors were well represented, and species such as eagles, secretary birds and falcons were recorded. Water in natural pans attracted aquatic and semi-aquatic birds, including marabou storks, Abdim’s storks, ducks and cormorants. Other species such as night herons, larks, cisticolas, warblers and vultures were also recorded, with some birds already engaged in nesting activity.
Guided walks remained a valued activity for guests. Led by experienced San trackers, these walks focused on traditional knowledge, cultural history, fire-making by friction and reading the landscape. They offered a slower, more reflective way to understand the Central Kalahari and its people.
Night skies continued to impress whenever clouds cleared. Tau Pan’s remote location and lack of light pollution allowed for excellent stargazing, with constellations such as Orion, Taurus, Corvus, Musca and Leo visible, along with planets including Jupiter, Mars and Venus.
