Three male elephants frequently visited the camp waterhole, providing guests with memorable moments as they drank and enjoyed mud baths.
Their presence often kept smaller animals at bay, as the waterhole is too small to accommodate all the wildlife at once. This led to interesting interactions as other animals patiently waited for the elephants to finish before taking their turn.
Leopard driven up a tree by lions at the camp waterhole
Leopard sightings were plentiful particularly around the airstrip, waterhole, and near Room 1.
One of the most thrilling encounters unfolded at the waterhole, where a female leopard found herself in a life-or-death situation. In a sudden attack, a lioness forced the leopard to escape by scaling a nearby tree. For 20 tense minutes, she clung to the branches while the lioness prowled below. The eventual loss of interest by the lioness allowed the leopard to make a swift escape toward the safety of Room 9 — an unforgettable moment of predator versus predator.
A shy male was spotted along the main road before the junction leading to Passarge waterhole, while another female was seen south of Sunday waterhole, hunting a steenbok but missing her target. A resident female, seen regularly between the camp and airstrip, was notably full-bellied, hinting at a hidden recent kill.
The blossoming acacia trees transformed Tau Pan this month, attracting a variety of herbivores, including springbok, kudu, steenbok, and oryx. The yellow blossoms stood out against the golden grasses, while the sunsets and sunrises over the dunes created moments of pure magic. The nutritious pods from these acacias were a magnet for these species, especially around the Letiahau area, where game was abundant.
The sand dunes provide stunning vantage points, with the horizon coated in shades of blue and gold. However, a curious absence of giraffes was noted. Despite their usual prevalence at strongholds like Letiahau, Deception Valley, and Sunday waterhole, giraffe sightings were scarce. We suspect they may have migrated to areas with better food sources, as many acacia trees have started to lose their leaves.
Sand grouse flocked to the camp waterhole, closely followed by raptors such as pale-chanting and Gabar goshawks, hoping to catch an unwary bird for a meal. Spotted eagle owls, giant eagle owls, and tawny eagles also graced the skies, along with the powerful secretary bird and great kestrel. Ostriches, drawn to the acacia blossoms, added an extra layer of wonder to the Central Kalahari birding experience.
A caracal kill and lion activity at Tau Pan
It was a great month for spotting smaller mammals. Honey badgers, bat-eared foxes, and black-backed jackals were frequently seen around Tau Pan, while a rare and thrilling sighting of a caracal with a steenbok kill at Makgoa Pan left guests in awe. Ground squirrels and an African wild cat near the airstrip added to the charm of Tau Pan’s hidden treasures.
Though cheetah sightings were sparse, two subadult cheetahs — a male and female — were spotted on the western side of camp, later moving toward Makgoa Pan. Both appeared well-fed, though the source of their meal remained elusive.
Spotted hyena activity picked up this month, especially in the mornings. Two hyenas were seen drinking at the waterhole on different days, one was spotted near the airstrip heading north, and another was seen resting in Deception Valley.
The Tau Pan pride, known for its proximity to the lodge, was seen almost daily, except for four days when they were out patrolling elsewhere. One of the standout moments was at Letiahau waterhole, where six lions — two subadult males, a subadult female, an adult female, and two cubs estimated to be around three months old — were spotted feeding on a subadult oryx. Later in the month, a lioness attempted to bring down a kudu and an oryx at Sunday waterhole, although she ultimately missed and gave up the chase.
A particularly intriguing development within the Tau Pan Pride was the introduction of a new dominant male, now in his third month with the pride. His presence has led to speculation about the fate of the previous five dominant males, of which only one remains visible, often seen patrolling the western side of Tau Pan toward San Pan. Interestingly, the new dominant male, accompanied by a subadult male from the San Pan Pride, was seen chasing one of the ex-dominant males away from Tau Pan, indicating potential power shifts within the pride. The drama continued when the same subadult male rejoined the ex-dominant male, and both were seen with the Airstrip pride. The power dynamics within the Tau Pan pride remain unresolved.
The Airstrip pride was sighted four times, mostly around the waterhole and the airstrip area.
(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!)