A thrilling hunt took place this month near the water hole, where the Tau Pan pride attempted to stalk a small herd of springboks stealthily but were then given away by an alert shadow of kudus.
The pride re-coordinated and successfully took down two springboks, leaving the guests spellbound as they watched the lions sate their hunger.
During another morning drive, a surprising spectacle took place in the western expanse of Tau Pan. The air filled with urgency as several black-backed jackals raised alarm calls, their focus directed towards a specific location. The guides paused, observing for further signs of distress, and discovered a solitary female leopard perched regally atop a termite mound. The leopard had recently caught a jackal, which lay beneath her.
The guides, respecting the rules of nature, ensured a safe distance and time to allow the magnificent leopard to savour its catch without disruption.
A shy brown hyena darted across Tau Pan during the day, captivating attention as it vanished into the northwest terrain. These elusive hyenas are primarily nocturnal and generally more secretive than their spotted relatives. Brown hyenas have a broad diet, consuming anything from small mammals and insects to fruits and carrion.
The cheetahs of Tau Pan
One morning, a dedicated tracker and guide team located a magnificent male cheetah. The great cat, moving with purpose, was on a quest for sustenance, its lean form indicating a hunger for a successful hunt. The trackers observed with bated breath as the cheetah stalked its prey. The atmosphere was tense as the cheetah tried several times to catch its prey. With lightning-fast agility and grace, it attempted to pounce on potential targets, but luck seemed to be against it, and it could not secure a meal. However, the feline was not discouraged. Later in the month, it was seen marking its territory and healthily asserting its presence in the westerly region of Tau Pan.
Elephants, kudus, oryx, and springboks were sighted, especially around the Tau Pan Camp water hole. Daily scenes in the golden Central Kalahari Game Reserve grasslands included the playful antics of black-backed jackals, bat-eared foxes, yellow and slender mongooses, ground squirrels, and the solitary scrub hare. Ground agamas were common, too, and there were occasional sightings of the striking (fortunately, not literally) black mamba.
The avian ensemble for August featured impressive raptors, from the mighty martial eagles and tawny eagles to the charming African harrier hawks and enthusiastic passerines, such as the desert cisticola, fawn-coloured lark, and buffy pipit.
Splendid stargazing at Tau Pan Camp
Come nightfall, and the Tau Pan Camp deck provided an enchanting spectacle for stargazers. Under the vast expanse of the open Kalahari sky, guests had an unparalleled 360-degree celestial panorama. The Southern Cross, Scorpius, Sagittarius, and Corvus the Crow graced the heavens and were the most prominent constellations. As guests made their way to the fire in the early mornings, they witnessed the planetary parade with Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter, each adding its unique gleam to the tapestry of the sky before dawn broke.
(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!)