The floodplains of Mma Dinare were a playground for two remarkable coalitions of cheetahs. One is a powerful group of four males, while the other features a mother and her four cubs.
The agility and coordination these predators display as they hunt impalas, baby kudus, and red lechwes were truly a sight to behold. Watching them stalk their prey through the grasses and then explode into a chase was a masterclass in survival for our guests.
At Rra Dinare, the Four Brothers — a well-known coalition of male cheetahs — continued to dominate. Their patrols often brought them close to camp, allowing guests to witness their calm yet determined movements as they marked their territory and searched for prey.
Two wild dog dens and a hyena home at the Dinares
Both camps were fortunate to have a pack denning in the area. At Mma Dinare, we’ve monitored a pack with four pregnant females. The most recent count revealed at least 16 puppies, with more likely hidden away in the den. The sight of the adults returning from a successful hunt to regurgitate food for the puppies has been a heartwarming and educational experience for all who witnessed it.
Similarly, at Rra Dinare, a pack of 7+ adults and 12+ puppies kept guides and trackers on their toes. The puppies, now about a month old, began exploring their surroundings, making every sighting exciting.
The eerie calls of hyenas were a familiar soundtrack at Rra Dinare, where a den with 5+ adults and 7 lively pups was located. These scavengers are highly social creatures, and watching the pups interact with their mothers and siblings provided valuable insight into their complex family structures.
The general game was plentiful with the floodwaters rejuvenating the landscape and drawing large herds of elephants, buffaloes, and zebras to the riverbanks. The lush greenery attracted impalas, tsessebes, giraffes, kudus, waterbucks, and rarer species, like sable and roan antelopes. Aquatic birds such as African jacanas, wattled cranes, and pelicans were spotted frequently.
The rising floodwaters allowed us to resume mokoro excursions, offering guests a tranquil and immersive way to experience the delta’s winding waterways. From the vantage point of these traditional dugout canoes, guests enjoyed seeing African Jacana nests up close, animals bathing in the water and the ever-changing landscape as it blossoms with life. Hippos wallowing in the river and reedbucks grazing along the banks completed the idyllic Okavango scenery.
The lions of the Dinare Private Reserve
Lion activity was equally impressive. At Mma Dinare, a pride of seven lions — three young males and four adult females — were a frequent presence near camp, thanks to the floodwaters hemming them in. The anticipation was palpable as two of the lionesses are heavily pregnant, promising an exciting addition to the pride.
Meanwhile, at Rra Dinare, the formidable River Boys, a coalition of four dominant males, regularly patrolled their territory. These lions, along with a powerful lioness and her three growing cubs, captured the attention of all who visited. The tension between them and neighbouring prides were often recast into dramatic encounters, thrilling guests as they witnessed territorial disputes during game drives.
Though lion activity has been intense this month, reducing the number of leopard sightings, these secretive cats made occasional appearances. In the Nxaraga area near Mma Dinare, a female leopard and her two cubs claimed territory, making for touching sightings as the cubs grow bolder and more independent.
Nighttime adventures along the Gomoti River system
The campgrounds echoed with the calls of giant eagle owls. At Rra Dinare, the elusive male leopard known as Rra Lebodu was spotted a few times, even venturing into camp at night.
During night drives, both camps reported regular encounters with honey badgers, aardwolves, black-backed jackals, small spotted genets, civets, and bat-eared foxes.
(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!)