6 November 2009
Sightings
OCTOBER
2009 SIGHTING REPORT
Other
sightings
Kwara
& Little Kwara
The hot weather, dead grasses and reduced water levels have combined to create wonderful game viewing in the Kwara area this October. Vast herds of Elephant and Buffalo have been migrating into western areas and countless summer migratory birds have returned such as Paradise Flycatchers, Wahlbergs Eagles and Woodland Kingfishers.
Guests witnessed the unique sight of some Cheetahs defending themselves against a female Lioness on one lucky game drive. Lions are normally too formidable a foe for the speedy Cheetah but the three large brothers of Kwara did not hesitate to defend themselves. One was being chased by the Lioness before the two remaining brothers came from behind and started biting away at her hind legs. They were later seen unharmed and well with full bellies and looking very pleased with themselves.
Kwara’s coalition of seven male Lions have been spotted at various intervals throughout the last few weeks and we have had several exciting Leopard sightings. On one occasion an astonishingly bold Leopard came and rested in the shade cast by safari vehicle on a game drive. Some exciting days have also been spent bush tracking the Wild Dogs that come in and out of the area. They are predating on the large amount of plains game that frequent the area, more especially the nimble Impala’s.
Lagoon
Lagoons reputation as Africa’s premier Wild Dog viewing camp has been underlined once again this month. No fewer that three different packs of Wild Dog have been seen in the concession. Our existing pack of puppies are now hunting with the adults and growing stronger by the day. Clans of Hyenas flank the Dogs in hope of a free meal which is always wonderful to watch when they get a bit close.
Some early rains came as a relief to the parched land and started to fill the pans out in the Mopane woodland. Although some Buffalos and Elephants started to migrate west, the vast majority have remained by the clear waters of the Kwando River to quench their thirst.
Lions, Leopards and Cheetahs remain common sightings in the area. The three brother Cheetahs killed an Impala on the airstrip which was a sight to behold, and our resident Leopard has been seen frequently around the Lagoon Camp area
Lebala
October has brought stifling heat and extraordinary game viewing to Lebala this month. Lebala itself means ‘open space’ where huge herds of Elephants and Buffalos are now crowding by the permanent river source of the Linyanti Swamps.
Elsewhere, a Leopard was seen killing a young Lechwe and dragging it to safety up an acacia tree where it sat with its meal for two days. Cheetahs are a common site around the area especially if the Lions move somewhere else temporarily.
Lion sightings have been numerous and very entertaining - they are often tracked and found stalking the large Buffalo herds of Lebala. A Black Mamba was also observed raiding a Carmine Bee Eater nest and coming out with a bird which it consumed whole – a very rare and special sighting.
Around the camp, more wonderful sightings have been seen and especially great was when a Martials Eagle pounced onto an unfortunate Water Monitor Lizard and proceeded to have very substantial meal of it over the next days.
Tau Pan
Visitors flying into Tau Pan airstrip last month would have been greeted by the sight of a Leopards leftovers hanging from an acacia tree near the parking lot! A male Leopard killed the Springbok before dragging it up a tree to protect it from nearby scavengers such as Lions.
Our two male Lions are a common sight and have almost adopted Tau Camp in their daily circuit of water, rest and hunt. Lucky visitors enjoying a morning cup of tea will see them casually stroll down to the water hole - drinking their fill and finding a shady spot to sleep under for the day.
The legendary status of the Honey Badger has been maintained in the Kalahari once again in recent weeks. The central Kalahari where Tau Pan is positioned is one of the few places where Honey Badgers are regularly diurnal and can be seen in daylight. One such sighting took place close to a resting Cheetah. As soon as the cat saw the Badgers it sped off swiftly in the opposite direction!
Lots of desert game has remained on the pan during this very hot month of October. Springbok, Oryx, Hartebeest and Giraffes can often be seen from the main deck and rooms of camp.
Nxai Pan
In this driest of months the Nxai Pan waterhole has been teeming with the local wildlife. The unrelenting heat and dust has given the skin of resident bachelor Elephants an orange brown tinge in contrast to the dark greys and blacks of the Okavango and Kwando Elephants.
All eagerly await the impending rains and incoming migration of Zebra and Wildebeest. Some early rains have encouraged fresh grasses but for now the resident predator species have to rely on the last remaining brave antelope species to hunt. Oryx, Springbok, Impala, Ostrich and Eland remain to be harassed by the Lions and Cheetahs. The two brother Cheetahs in particular are a familiar site for guests and have become less shy as the season has gone on. Wild Dog tracks have also been identified on the pan and a resident Leopard has been seen on occasion in and around the camp itself.
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