Month: February 2022

Moremi Crossing Camp, February 2022

Moremi Crossing Camp, February 2022

Published February 28, 2022 by Kwando Safaris

After the significant heat of summer, over 80 hippos and several crocodiles have congregated in the last remaining pools of the drying Boro River to await the coming floodwaters.

The water level was very low, and guides worried that the hippos could succumb to diseases, which can concentrate as water shallows. Thankfully, the small amount of rain we had this month greatly contributed to these life-giving lagoons around Moremi Crossing, which remain safe havens to considerable hippo numbers. They have also made for a memorable (if noisy) sundowner stop.

Rivers and roaming predators

The shrunken state of the Boro River has brought outstanding experiences to guests and guides alike. We saw lions on almost every afternoon game drive, and they have also been around the camp. The lions’ home range has expanded with the river low, and they seem to favour the plentiful warthogs in our area.

Two handsome male lions were repeatedly spotted without any females, but we are yet to establish whether they are nomads taking advantage of the lowered water or if they have a pride nearby. One evening, we recognised one male had a new limp and sported a fresh wound on his rear, a sure sign of battle with another male. The other lion appeared fresh and untouched but remained highly vocal, making his presence well known.

Despite catching their tracks frequently, leopards have been scarce. Perhaps due to the rise of lion activity? One day, we found a Red lechwe carcass and suspected a leopard had slain it because only the foetus was removed from the stomach and eaten while the rest of the kill was dragged into the tall grass and abandoned.

Sightings of Spotted hyenas have definitely increased. One afternoon we watched a young hyena as it tried to land an impala without success. Both the Side-striped jackal and the Black-backed jackals have been regularly encountered, along with our resident Banded mongooses that parade the campgrounds.

Wildebeests, giraffes, Warthogs, Impalas, Common Reedbucks, lechwes, zebra, Vervet monkeys, and baboon troops were all logged in the sightings register. Considerable summer bird visitors remained, too, and we could easily identify their distinctive calls. The Moremi Camp soundtrack comprised the Woodlands kingfisher trill reverberating through the riverine trees and the Broad-billed roller’s grating sounds. Though silent, Pel’s fishing owls were observed around the camp, and we noticed lots of juvenile Bateleurs, pairs of Saddle-billed storks, Tawny eagle and Black-chested snake eagle.

Harvester termites were on the run to collect as much grass as possible to prepare for the winter, when their activities drop to a minimum. Dung beetles have also been frenzied, flying around and crafting brood balls to attract mates and breed. Astonishingly astute navigators, dung beetles can detect fresh droppings within seconds.

(Note: Accompanying pictures were taken from our Kwando Photo Library which consists of all your great photo submissions over the years, it may not be the most up to date, but we felt it was worthy of a feature alongside this month’s Sightings Report!)

Comments closed

Tau Pan Camp, February 2022

Tau Pan Camp, February 2022

Published February 28, 2022 by Kwando Safaris

In its summer wash of luxuriant grass, the sprawling Central Kalahari Game Reserve vegetation remained green during February. Rain forever feels like a miracle in this desert, even though we have already enjoyed our fair share this season! We recorded 35mm of rainfall in just one day, and the animals continued to gorge on the abundance.

In an unusual hunt, we watched a Southern pale chanting goshawk feeding on a lizard, and there was a high number of Oryx, springbok, wildebeest and Red hartbeest around. They were often stuck to the pan in the early mornings and late afternoons, where they gathered for safety to better scrutinise the surroundings for predators. Wisely so.

A shy male cheetah was seen at the southern part of the popular pan trying his luck at hunting the Springboks, but one eagle-eyed antelope gave up his location and the herd scattered, leaving him hungry.

Korhaans, Kori bustards, falcons (Amur, Red-footed, Red-necked), Burchell’s sandgrouse, and Turtle doves all visited the camp water hole regularly in the mornings for a drink. The Tau Pan Camp waterhole remains a hive of activity even in the wet season. If only everyone stayed awake to witness the action.

Waterhole excitement

One day, around mid-morning, a male leopard strolled down for a drink and took his time, lapping gingerly from the water for over 15 minutes. Unfortunately, our guests didn’t see him because it was during the siesta.

Another morning, we were due to conduct the nature walk with our San tracker, Scoupa, but during breakfast, he spotted some Oryx and one giraffe acting unusually down near the water. On picking up the binoculars, Scoupa spotted lions in the area, and we boarded the vehicles instead to get a closer look at the Tau Pan pride, which comprises two lionesses with their six cubs.

Although scarce at the beginning of the month, our days soon filled with lion sightings. On a day trip to Deception Valley, we came across the Letiahau Pride resting at the base of a tall Umbrella thorn tree close to the road. The group of two lionesses with their three cubs were accompanied by three males, which all looked well-fed and healthy. We also encountered two lionesses from the Airstrip Pride slaking their thirst at the camp water hole, and we tracked two other different lionesses on yet another occasion. We followed lion roars towards the pan and located two females with two skinny cubs on the northern side. The cubs were trying to get close to the two lionesses, but they kept growling and pushing them away. Later that day, we located the cubs as a trio with a third young member, but the older females were nowhere to be seen. We suspect that these cubs somehow became separated from their mother.

Reptiles were still active on warm days, and we stopped the car during one game drive for a handsome Snouted cobra crossing the road. This intriguing snake actively hunts its prey during the day. It feeds on rodents, birds, eggs, and toads but is fond of eating snakes, too, including the Puff Adder. It measured nearly two metres in length. We also found a Ground agama with a young one, which is uncommon!

Comments closed

Nxai Pan Camp, February 2022

Nxai Pan Camp, February 2022

Published February 28, 2022 by Kwando Safaris

Lion sightings were fantastic in Nxai Pan National Park. We saw the Nxai Pan Pride of eleven (five sub-adult males and two sub-adult females, two adult females and two adult males) several times, and they appeared to dominate the territory at first. One day vultures perched conspicuously on a tree led us to the pride on the kill of a fully-grown zebra, while other days, the lions came to us. The Nxai Pan pride visited the waterhole in front of the camp and made themselves very comfortable.

Early one morning, we saw the five sub-adults passing through Nxai Pan Camp at a run. They were being chased away by two other dominant males that were not part of the pride. We had heard lions roaring all around camp the evening before. One of the younger males in the Nxai Pan pride came off second-best and was severely injured, struggling to walk, but the other sub-adult escorted him closely to ensure safety.

These two dominant males were then seen across the salt flats of Kudiakam Pan, heading south of the reserve after the battle. There were other sightings of four sub-adult females with two males around this area where Baines’ baobabs stand sentry over the waterlogged salt pan. On one day trip to the trees, we surprised a Mozambique spitting cobra sunbathing on the road.

Hyenas, honey badgers and breeding herds

We enjoyed seeing a clan of six Spotted hyenas at the camp waterhole during breakfast, which was hardly surprising given all the recent action! We had big breeding herds of elephants and the usual lone bull elephants drinking there regularly. The grass across the park was green but kept short by the myriad mammals mowing the lawns. Sitting on the deck, we surveyed many of these herbivores at work. Dazzles of zebras, big herds of Springboks, Impalas, Kudus, Steenboks, wildebeest, Oryx, hartebeest, warthogs and some buffaloes too.

Early morning drives proved productive for Scrub hares, Side-striped jackals, plus Small spotted genet, African wild cat, Banded mongoose and Honey badger sightings.

There were still plenty of puddles and pans holding rainwater. These have become home to the Water scorpion and other aquatic bugs. At the same time, the Giant jewel beetle, Brown-veined white butterflies and Guinea fowl butterflies made hay of the ample nectar offerings provided by all the blooms. The Poison apple, Fireball lily and Wandering jew were all in flower, as were the Common cork wood and the Trumpet thorn.

Birdlife has likewise blossomed with the bevvy of migratory birds still swopping about the skies. The Common buzzard, Montagu’s harrier, Greater kestrel and Lanner falcon were noteworthy additions to the raptor list. At the same time, waters swelled with species, too, thanks to the presence of Black-headed herons, Yellow-billed storks, African spoonbills and the African snipe.

(Note: Accompanying pictures are from our Kwando Photo Library which consists of all your great photo submissions over the years, it may not be the most up to date, but we felt it was worthy of a feature alongside this month’s Sightings Report!)

Comments closed

Pom Pom Camp, February 2022

Pom Pom Camp, February 2022

Published February 28, 2022 by Kwando Safaris

Lucky guests saw three different leopards in a day this month! We first came across a handsome male resting on the termite mound, and then, just as it started getting dark, our spotlights shone on a female with her sub-adult cub by Kessy’s Field. The mother was clearly expecting her next litter, and we felt she was trying (without much success) to persuade her cub to move out. Two different female leopards were also seen in the Pom Pom Camp surroundings. One day, we discovered one of them being harassed by three Spotted hyenas, but she managed to keep her kill safely out of their scavenging paws.

The Pom Pom pack in camp

There were regular sightings of the pack of two African wild dogs and an additional pack of 10 that frequented the area. We witnessed a kill right in front of the camp when the ten-strong group managed to nab an impala opposite tent one. They first gave the puppies a chance to feed for a few minutes before the adults moved in to eat. The puppies certainly are the most privileged individuals in the pack! We enjoyed watching the pack dynamics until suddenly, six Spotted hyenas arrived on the scene to steal the meal. It was not easy for them because the dogs outnumbered hyenas, and the united pack managed to keep the clan off their dinner.

Plenty of hippos enjoyed the water in front of the central area, and they graced us with their presence and guffaws throughout February. We also saw plenty of other huge herbivores on our early morning and late afternoon game drives. We noticed particularly large breeding herds of elephants, and the usual zebras, giraffes, Red lechwes, buffalos, Impalas, Kudus and Tsessebes. Then there was the enchanting acrobatics of the baboons and monkeys, which provided terrific entertainment during the hotter hours of the day.

Night drives were just as good, with the highlight being several encounters with the little insect-eating Aardwolf. Not only is this nocturnal creature an insectivore, but it feeds on a particular type of termite, which is likewise active at night. Isn’t our natural world astonishing? Night drives also yielded fantastic sightings of the Small spotted genet, African wild cat, Side-striped Jackal, African civet, and porcupines.

The birdlife in camp was also excellent. Many species found shelter in our tall forest trees that beautifully shade the tents. The Blue waxbill and Common waxbill were frequently identified, along with White-bellied sunbirds, Southern masked weavers, Golden weavers, Verreaux’s eagle owl and the ever-present Fish eagles plus the Yellow-billed stork. Elsewhere we logged Malachite kingfishers, Black heron, African jacana and Pel’s fishing owl.

We often saw a coalition of three cheetahs along Manontlhotlho area. We also noticed some tracks around Letswai area and Kessy’s Field. A young male lion was frequently seen and easily identified due to an injured hind leg. He scored the wound during a territorial tussle with bigger males over a giraffe kill. Another pride of five males and four lions have occupied the northwest areas of Pom Pom, and we often located them on the move, hunting at night. We’ve kept a close eye on the lionesses because three are heavily pregnant. We can’t wait to see their cubs!

Comments closed

Lebala Camp, February 2022

Lebala Camp, February 2022

Published February 28, 2022 by Kwando Safaris

A pack of three wild dogs crossed our path at Nare Pan as we concluded a fascinating nature walk this month. We admired the trio from a distance as they sniffed all the animal scents (including ours) around the waterhole. We also noticed that water monitor lizards were very active around the waterhole areas.

The general game has been excellent, with elephants often swimming in the river and mud-bathing on sunny days. We found giraffes everywhere and witnessed large numbers of zebra, wildebeest and kudu. We’ve also enjoyed big herds of Eland antelopes in the area and several sets of Southern ground hornbills hunting or moving around in search of food. The African cuckoo was still around, and the Amur falcons were seen in large flocks. A small, kestrel-like falcon, this summer visitor migrates all the way from northern and eastern Asia.

Two Brown hyenas have been active at their den site throughout the month, and we often caught them in the afternoon, moving about or digging and neatening their burrow.

Three male lions slept through the afternoon heat at Skimmer Pan, and we later found a lactating lioness hunting along the river. She started walking more inland, and we followed her, hoping to see the cubs, but the thick Mopane forest blocked the route. Fortunately, as we were finishing up the night drive, we found this lioness with her three cubs (roughly three months old) and watched them frolic for a long time before our tummies started to growl for dinner.

Unforgettable evening encounters

Night drives have been totally enthralling this month. We came across a lioness hunting and followed her through the bush. With the engine off, we heard other lions roaring, and they showed up to chase off the lioness. She had to scamper for a good kilometre. On another evening, we saw a lioness chasing the jackals through thickets.

We saw both a serval and an African wildcat hunting and found three aardwolves together. It appeared to be a single parent looking after two little ones, and their den was very close to the camp. We have also noticed another den site near Halfway Pan but haven’t set eyes on the occupants yet.

The fireflies were still around and entertained our guests on walks back to the tents after dinner before the soft beeping sounds of the reed frogs later lulled them to sleep.

(Note: Accompanying picture is from our Kwando Photo Library which consists of all your great photo submissions over the years, it may not be the most up to date, but we felt it was worthy of a feature alongside this month’s Sightings Report!)

Comments closed

Lagoon Camp, February 2022

Lagoon Camp, February 2022

Published February 28, 2022 by Kwando Safaris

Jackal berry and towering Fig trees have been bursting with berries. There are two motivations for how the Jackal berry earned its name. Number one is that the seeds from the tasty fruit have been seen in jackal droppings, but we prefer the second. They say that the berries are often not very visible. They are wily and elusive, like the fabled animal that often features in African folklore. Fruits from both trees provide nutrition for an array of species. This month, they attracted the parrot-coloured Green pigeons and noisy Grey go-away birds and squirrels. We have yet to see the jackal eat them, though.

Speaking of trees, our sharp-eyed team spotted a Green spotted bush snake near the central area going up a tree, and we saw a Boomslang between the kitchen and the dining area.

Most of the termite mounds have bred big fungus umbrellas and these mushrooms sure gained the attention of baboons and monkeys. These impressive mushrooms can also be eaten by humans and can form a remarkable diameter up to 50 centimetres long. Other insects logged this month include the shapely Rhino beetle, several dung beetles, the harvester termites and the gorgeous African monarch butterfly.

General game along the flood plains included lots of waterbucks, dazzles of zebras, Red lechwes, and we often encountered elephants along the river drinking water as well as mating pairs of Wattled cranes. We also appreciated the sighting of a big herd of Eland.

Two lionesses with six cubs were spotted at Giraffe Pan feeding on an Eland carcass. We later found a different group of four lions had landed another Eland and were enjoying the spoils of a rather enormous feast. A pride of 14 lions was seen frequently, once at hunting at Grass Pan and then on the Main Road hunting close to the river.

Two cheetah brothers were located at Water Cut Road with full bellies and the resident pack of ten wild dogs (four adults and six subadults) lay near Lebengula Road with full bellies of their own. We later found this pack minus a member, and we sadly discovered the animal dead, with what looked like a savage bite mark on the head.

Leopard activity included a male feeding on warthog on the ground while a female leopard lay upon a tree nearby. We also located a female leopard with a cub along James Road and later on Rakgolo road. This female also enjoyed an impala kill, which it stashed safely into a tree for stress-free feeding.

Lots of springhares and the small bushbabies jumped across our spotlight on night drives, and we had an opportunity to watch the Black-backed jackals from close quarters. The night sky was outstanding, too, and we could see the most prominent constellations such as Taurus, Canis Minor, Canis Major, and Orion. Autumn is undoubtedly on its way because Scorpio was just visible on the eastern side very early in the morning.

Comments closed

Splash and Kwara Camp, February 2022

Splash and Kwara Camp, February 2022

Published February 28, 2022 by Kwando Safaris

Just before Valentine’s Day, we witnessed a young female leopard between the curio shop and the public bathrooms at Splash Camp. The animal was skittish to start but soon relaxed. It locked eyes on a genet and started hunting and chasing the genet. It was incredible to see this action safely from the dining area on foot.

Trackers located 13 wild dogs at Impala Pan, where they were actively hunting, but they aborted the mission when they came across a dead baby elephant, and the pack started feeding on the carcass instead. The Kwara Pack of wild dogs was seen hunting along Jackal Den road but was also unsuccessful. A group of 14 dogs was then seen at Goms crossing, finally feeding in a frenzy upon a Red lechwe kill.

However, more action indeed transpired with the felines this February. A female leopard was seen hunting near Motswere Pan, and we watched her land an impala meal before she dragged into the long grass and disappeared from our sight. Another female leopard was seen at the Marapo a Kubu Pan with wet nipples, so we suspect she has cubs hidden nearby. We also encountered a male leopard on the way to the mokoro station. It sat in the middle of an island, scanning the area.

Mr Special still dominates

Mr Special, the resident male cheetah, was seen loitering around the Kwara Camp area, sniffing around a termite mound north of staff village. He then marked his territory and sat on the termite mount, looking for animals. Three other cheetahs were located in the Bat-eared fox area (one female and her subadult cub, plus a nomadic male). The male was visibly disturbed by the cub’s presence kept growling at her, but the mother was very protective, holding her body between the male and the cub. This nomadic male was found dead with bite marks on his neck the following day, and we uncovered Mr Special roughly a hundred yards away. We suspect that he caught up with the nomadic male and killed him.

The Mmaleitho Pride was resident in Kwara Camp for at least a week and a half. We mostly saw three females with two cubs around rooms 4, 5 and 12. The pride occasionally moved to the staff village and rested near the firebreak. One morning, two of these females were seen hunting right in front of Kwara Camp, aiming for the wildebeest. However, there was not enough cover and all the prey scattered.

The Kwara Pride, consisting of two females and three cubs, was seen on a zebra carcass along Tom’s Road. The kill was relatively new, and the three cubs were neatly hidden under a small shrub not very far from the kill. The Kwara Pride also attempted an ostrich hunt, but the quest didn’t succeed. The wide-eyed bird spotted the lionesses and speedily fled the scene.

Later in the month, a further pride of lions of four lionesses, two cubs, and five males were seen resting along Tom’s road and hunting around Lechwe Plains later that afternoon.

Four of the five resident males were located close to Splash Camp with two Splash Pride females. The animals were well fed and headed north in the mopane woodland. Two male lions (the Zulu Boys) were located at Green Pan.

The Spotted hyena den was active, with one cub and a couple of adults resting by the den site. One hyena came trotting along during dinner after our exciting leopard sighting at Splash Camp and actively investigated the feline scents left behind. Spotted hyenas have also been seen frequently around Kwara Camp, Splash Hippos and Lechwe Plains. One day we found a dead giraffe at the aptly named Giraffe Pan. We assume the animal died of old age because it was still intact. The hyenas were out in their numbers to enjoy the feast.

Brilliant bird sightings

We encountered plenty of elephants in almost all the game drive routes, Red lechwes, Tsessebes, giraffes, Hippos, Impalas, Waterbucks and noticed many raptor species, including Tawny, Wahlberg and Brown snake-eagles. A juvenile Southern ground hornbill was seen around the Splash Hippos area, with two adults following closely behind. These hornbills are long-lived birds and only reach maturity at six years old. Like all smaller hornbills, they also nest in tree hollows, which can be hard to find for a bird this size!

A pair of nesting secretary birds at the Bat-eared Fox area also provided excellent birdwatching. Saddle-billed storks, Wattled cranes, European bee-eaters, Carmine bee-eaters, Egyptian geese, Hamerkops and lots of teals were present this month too.

Days spent out on the water were fruitful. We saw a Double-banded courser and Grey-headed kingfishers on mokoro activities and two male sitatungas along the Kwara Channel during a boat cruise in the morning. We also found a crocodile feeding on a baby warthog at Motswere Mogobe. The warthog family was trying to cross the water body, and sadly the baby was caught.

(Note: Accompanying pictures from our Kwando Photo Library which consists of all your great photo submissions over the years, it may not be the most up to date, but we felt it was worthy of a feature alongside this month’s Sightings Report!)

Comments closed