The alpha female moved to the subordinate female’s den and caused a hive of activity in the African wild dog den near Lebala Camp!
The litter of puppies has grown to six, with four appearing to be of similar size and the other two slightly smaller. During captivating visits, we observed the pack’s bonding rituals with the puppies and noted that most of their hunting occurs in the early morning, and then they spend noon near the den.
Spotted hyenas hung around an elephant carcass along Mophane Road. Some females appeared pregnant, while others seemed to be lactating, suggesting young cubs’ presence. In the marsh area on the northern side, we saw brown hyenas near the burrows, potentially indicating their den site! Brown hyenas are elusive creatures and typically exhibit shyness in our presence.
Leopards and lions love Lebala
The resident male leopard (known as Fisherman) made several appearances this month. On three occasions, we observed him in the company of a female, indicating that they were likely mating, although not in our presence. The female leopard established her territory between Kubu Pan and Lebala Camp, as evidenced by numerous tracks. Her presence in the area has allowed us plenty of opportunities to admire the grace and stealth of these elusive felines.
The majestic lions of Lebala graced us with their presence throughout the month.
The Golden Boys (a coalition of three magnificent males) accompanied the pride several times. With the water levels in the river decreasing, the pride crossed over to the islands, where they spent their days searching for prey. Although attempts to witness a successful hunt were fruitless, we often found them feeding. One lioness, accompanied by her three cubs, along with two sub-adult males from the Holy pride, were spotted around Lechwe Corner and Halfway Pan. These young males are growing into impressive individuals. We also caught the roars of the Wapuka pride in the mornings and glimpses of them around the fire break area.
A pair of male cheetahs was initially sighted in Bali’s Valley before heading towards the river area. Later, they were observed crossing over to the Lagoon side. Additionally, the female cheetah and a subadult were spotted on the west side of Kubu Pan, and the following day, they successfully killed an impala near camp.
The general game was abundant and diverse. Elephants came to the river alongside numerous zebras, wildebeests, and kudus. We encountered a group of old bull buffalos in the marsh area, which took up residence there.
Happiness is a honey badger sighting!
Honey badgers frequently appeared during morning drives. These fearless and tenacious creatures have remarkable adaptability. Despite their small size, they are powerful, capable of taking on adversaries much larger than themselves. They are skilled diggers, using their strong claws to create burrows and access food sources such as insects and small mammals. Civets and springhares were often seen after dark, and on one memorable night drive, we spotted two aardwolves and a serval.
The dry season has taken its toll on the land, leaving the vegetation parched and the water levels in the river significantly reduced. Only a few waterholes on the dry land still contain a small amount of water. As we explored the riverside, impressive crocodiles basked in the warm sun. Water monitor lizards were also seen near the camp, while smaller pools were frequented by tiny dwarf geckos.
Majestic secretary birds graced the skies while bateleur eagles soared above, displaying their impressive wingspans. By Halfway Pan, we were treated to beautiful flamingos while groups of ground hornbills roamed the landscape. The coqui francolins were active around the camp, and the vibrant sunbirds added splashes of colour to the wilderness. Flocks of canaries and various water birds further enhanced the avian diversity.
(Please note: For the safety of the animals, we do not disclose the precise location of either rhino or pangolin sightings. 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!)