We witnessed a thrilling encounter — a leopard hunting a bat-eared fox right in front of our vehicle. The fox didn’t stand a chance, and the leopard proudly carried its meal into the bushes, offering guests a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity.
Later in the month, a female leopard was spotted atop a tree, scanning the landscape with her piercing eyes — a majestic predator surveying her kingdom. We also followed the trail of a leopard from camp to the northern firebreak. The tracks led us along the airstrip before vanishing, only to be rediscovered on Aardvark Road. We finally spotted the elusive cat stalking a steenbok, moving silently through the bush.
In June, the golden sands of the dunes shimmered in the Tau Pan sunlight and the plains were dotted with hardy grasses like Kalahari sand quick and Bushman love grass. These plants sustain the hidden ecosystems of ants, termites, and mole rats beneath the surface. The resilient Vachellia and Senegalia trees stood tall and green against the dry backdrop, while the middle route to Deception Valley, still touched by the last rains, offered lush green patches that hinted at the rejuvenation to come. Despite the challenges of limited rainfall, general game sightings were excellent in this area. We encountered herds of gemsbok, red hartebeest, warthogs, giraffes, black-backed jackals, and kudus, all drawn to the remaining greenery.
One day, a familiar male lion known for his fierce dominance over younger males in the Tau Pan Pride was seen sprinting toward the camp. The chase was on! This big male relentlessly pursued a subadult male, eventually driving him westward across Tau Pan. Victorious, the male returned to his lionesses, asserting his dominance once again as they made their way to the waterhole.
Following the tracks of 24 lions that had crossed the northern firebreak, guests scored a front-row seat to the art of tracking in the semi-arid desert and persistence paid off. Excitement filled the air as we pieced together the movements of the pride, their trail revealing their location.
Later in the month, camp buzzed with anticipation when a subadult male lion and his father, a dominant male, were spotted feasting on a giraffe carcass. This dramatic scene unfolded for several days, with scavengers circling and adding to the tension. We tracked another subadult lion along the cutline road and discovered a lioness feeding on a gemsbok carcass.
A lone cheetah was seen resting by the bushes at Tau Pan, only to be chased off by a group of gemsbok. The elegant cat disappeared into the bush, leaving us on the edge of our seats. But our patience was rewarded later when we saw more subadult cheetahs moving through the area. A mother cheetah with three playful cubs was spotted heading north from the camp, a delightful scene as the young cubs honed their hunting skills under their mother’s watchful eye.
Brown hyena visits the Tau Pan waterhole
We were treated to a rare sighting of a brown hyena drinking at the waterhole — an unusual visual of these typically nocturnal scavengers. While hyena tracks are often found, the creatures themselves are elusive, adding a layer of mystery to their role in the Tau Pan ecosystem.
A regular highlight of the month was the nature walks led by San trackers. Guests were captivated as they shared the rich cultural heritage of the bushman people, demonstrating traditional survival skills like sourcing food and making fire with natural materials.
Pale chanting goshawks were particularly active, and one was seen swooping down to catch a Burchell’s sandgrouse in mid-flight. The precision of the hunt was breathtaking, and other goshawks soon joined the fray, almost causing the hunter to drop its prey. Around the waterhole, tawny eagles, bateleur eagles, and gabar goshawks showcased their hunting prowess, making the skies above Tau Pan a constant spectacle. African monarch butterflies flitted through the air while ground beetles, water scorpions, and dragonflies buzzed around the reservoir. Yellow and slender mongooses also dashed about, energetically searching for prey. A lone leopard tortoise was a slow but determined traveller across the sandy terrain, embodying the tenacity of life in the Kalahari.
June’s clear skies provided perfect stargazing conditions, with constellations like the Southern Cross, Scorpio, and Canis Major shining brightly. Stars like Canopus and Sirius dotted the heavens, while the Milky Way stretched across the night sky, casting a magical glow over Tau Pan. Shooting stars punctuated the nights, offering a fitting close to each day’s adventures.
(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!)