Press "Enter" to skip to content

Dinare Camps, May 2024

The resident coalition of four cheetah brothers offered some of the most exciting moments of the month. Guides logged up to 14 cheetahs in the area!

Our guides’ exceptional tracking skills led to some astonishing scenes, such as the four brothers working in perfect unison to bring down an impala.

One family of cheetahs, consisting of a mother and her four subadults, was also frequently observed. Then, another family of cheetahs, consisting of a mother with four tiny cubs, was located, adding to the camp’s cheetah population.

Big cats and big sightings at the Dinare Private Reserve

Lion sightings at Dinare Camps were abundant during May. At Rra Dinare, lions were spotted six out of seven days. The resident pride of five—one adult female, three subadult males, and one subadult female—frequently moved between Mma Dinare and Rra Dinare. Early in the month, we were captivated by a lioness and her three cubs near Room 9 at Mma Dinare. We watched in awe as they feasted on a kudu, their kill barely half an hour old.

As the month progressed, we witnessed Tee’s pride at a nearby Island before they crossed into the Moremi Game Reserve. By the end of May, the powerful Gomoti boys, two male lions, were seen feeding on a hippo west of Rra Dinare Camp.

Leopard sightings were equally extraordinary, particularly involving the resident male known as Mr Ralebodu. He was seen frequently moving between the two camps.

On one occasion, guests witnessed an incredible spectacle as Mr Ralebodu took down a kudu right in front of the game drive vehicles. This thrilling encounter provided a rare opportunity to observe a leopard’s hunting prowess from start to finish.

Additionally, a female leopard was often seen feeding on her kills, providing ample viewing opportunities.

Will the wild dogs den at Dinare this year?

African wild dogs provided several thrilling encounters. The pack of 18, including two heavily pregnant females, was seen frequently preparing burrows for their soon-to-be-born pups. A particularly memorable sighting involved following the pack as they hunted and successfully took down a kudu.

Both brown and spotted hyenas were regularly observed. Trackers discovered an active hyena den near Old Dibatana Camp, allowing guests to see hyena pups playing and interacting with adult hyenas. 

What is the water level like on the Gomoti River?

The rising water levels in the Gomoti River, a natural phenomenon, were a sight to behold. The increased water availability not only revitalized the landscape but also allowed for mokoro activities, providing an immersive traditional experience for guests.

Gomoti River

The general game around Dinare Camps was impressive, especially as animals congregated near the river due to drying waterholes. Guests enjoyed sightings of large herds of elephants, buffalos, impalas, red lechwes, tsessebes, wildebeests, giraffes, and more. The riverbanks, lush with green grass, became a hotspot for wildlife viewing.

Birdwatching remained rewarding despite the dry conditions. The arrival of fresher floodwaters in the Gomoti River brought an influx of aquatic birds, such as saddle-billed storks, egrets, jacanas, and fish eagles. Raptors like bateleur eagles, brown snake eagles, and numerous vultures were frequently seen feeding on leftovers from predator kills. Marabou storks and other scavengers added to the diverse avian sightings.

(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!)