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Dinare Camps, August 2024

Our standout moment this month was the sighting of an aardvark, a notoriously difficult animal to spot.

Genets, civets, and the rare aardvark — seen foraging methodically in the early hours — scrub hares, porcupines, and even the mysterious African wild cat were logged during the evening adventures. The night drives, a unique feature of our safari, were also especially productive for hyena sightings, particularly around their den, where we observed the pups growing rapidly. Their eerie whoops echoed through the darkness, and their silhouettes moved stealthily through the floodplains in search of scavenging opportunities.

Spectacular Hunts Across Gomoti Floodplains

A coalition of four cheetah brothers roamed the Gomoti River floodplains. Their proficiency as hunters was on full display as we followed them through several chases (a dance of speed and precision), often ending in successful kills of impala and young red lechwe.

A female cheetah with five cubs was also spotted intermittently, moving between the camps and Moremi Game Reserve. Although not as frequent, sightings of this family were exhilarating, with the cubs learning the art of the hunt from their skilled mother. More recently, another female with four cubs, around six months old, was seen regularly.

Lion Rra Dinare Okavango

The lions were highly active around the river, their roars echoing across the floodplains at night. Tracking them on early morning game drives led to thrilling discoveries of fresh kills and feasting sessions. The mighty Gomoti Pride commanded the August landscape with fierce hunting prowess. A heart-stopping scene unfolded as the pride, led by the indomitable River Boy, took down a buffalo in full view of the safari vehicle. The sheer strength and precision of the hunt left everyone awestruck as the pride worked together to bring down the massive animal.

Adding a touch of tenderness to the excitement, two lionesses from Tee’s Pride were spotted introducing their new cubs to the pride’s territory.

Abundant Wildlife on the Lush Floodplains

The floodwaters transformed the floodplains into lush grazing grounds, attracting an abundance of general game. Elephants, in particular, were a constant presence, with large herds seen bathing, drinking, and socializing along the riverbanks. Buffalos, giraffes, impalas, kudus, and red lechwe were frequently sighted, while the return of roan and sable antelopes thrilled guests eager to spot these rarer species. The open floodplains also drew in herds of warthogs, zebras, and tsessebes.

Our walking safaris allowed guests to immerse themselves in the expertise of Kwando guides as they tracked animals, identified plants, and interpreted the bush’s subtle signs. The high water levels also provided a serene and peaceful opportunity for mokoro excursions, where guests floated through the channels, getting up close to aquatic birds and animals.

Rra Dinare campfire

The resident male leopard, Rra Lebodu, took down a warthog in front of guests. His dominance in the area remains strong as he patrolled his territory near the camps.

A female leopard with two cubs was another regular sighting. The playful antics of the cubs, under the watchful eye of their mother, provided theatrical moments as they practised their stalking skills and engaged in mock hunts. Their mischievous antics provided a charming contrast to their mother’s vigilant demeanour!

Dinare African wild dog den update 

The African wild dog den at Mma Dinare remained a hub of energy and action this month, with 18 adults and 16 playful puppies creating some of the season’s most dynamic and heartwarming sightings. We were treated to intimate observations of the pack’s incredible social structure, particularly the adults’ dedication to their young. One of the most fascinating scenes was following the adults on a hunt and watching them return to the den to regurgitate food for the hungry pups. 

(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!)