There were some unique African wild dog and leopard combination sightings this October. During one thrilling afternoon game drive, the resident leopardess stalked reedbucks while a pack of African wild dogs simultaneously chased another reedbuck antelope just a short distance away. We didn’t know where to look!
The dogs, oblivious to the leopardess’ presence, allowed her to continue her hunt uninterrupted.
This month, many leopard sightings occurred in the western part of the concession, particularly around Marula Pan and JD Spillway.One resident female leopard frequented the northern section of the old airstrip camping grounds. In one dramatic sighting, this leopardess and her cub were ambushed by a pack of seven African wild dogs, forcing them to seek refuge in a towering sausage tree. Guests watched in suspense as the dogs lingered in the shade of the tree for the entire afternoon, creating a standoff that will be remembered for years to come.
Two different packs frequented the 4 Rivers area with their playful energy and thrilling hunts. This resident pack of seven adults with five pups dominated the west side of the camp, while the larger pack of 18 dogs, including 10 playful puppies, was often seen chasing red lechwes across the floodplains. One particularly intense sighting saw this pack disembowelling a red lechwe near Lechwe Corner, showcasing the pack’s speed and ferocity.
Lions with cubs and kills at 4 Rivers
The area also teemed with lion activity, including a lioness with four newborn cubs nestled in Mokoro Island and two heavily pregnant females roaming near Double Crossing. The drama continued with three male lions boldly walking through the camp, stumbling upon a leopard on a kill and brazenly stealing its hard-earned meal. The power struggles between predators were nothing short of riveting.
During the dawn chill one morning, we witnessed six lionesses take down a wildebeest near the floodplains. The battle was fierce, with one lioness suffering a dramatic chest wound from the wildebeest’s horn. Initially, we feared for her survival, but to everyone’s amazement, she recovered. Another unique sighting unfolded by the 4 Rivers Lagoon, where a lioness ambushed and took down a baboon trying to quench its thirst at a small pond.
The abundance of big predators in the area meant hyenas were never far from scavenging opportunities. Several active spotted hyena dens were located, offering opportunities to observe their social dynamics and playful cubs. Guests frequently witnessed hyenas congregating around the lion, and African wild dog kills, vying for any scraps left behind. Their cunning and persistence provided endless entertainment.
Night drives and stellar sights
The landscape transformed dramatically as the flooded plains dried and the grass turned golden brown. These conditions attracted rodents such as porcupines, plus rats and mice, which in turn drew predators like wild cats. The woodland areas thickened with vegetation, creating ideal hiding spots for smaller mammals. During night drives, the trackers spotted African wild cats, servals, genets, white-tailed mongooses, and even a steenbok sheltering in the bush. One memorable surprise was lighting up a water mongoose prowling through the floodplains.
Cheetahs made special appearances, particularly in the eastern reaches of the concession, where the drying floodplains drew a massive volume and variety of general game in breathtaking scenes. Large herds of buffaloes, dazzles of zebras, wildebeests, eland, waterbucks, tsessebes, and many others congregated in these grazing areas. Elephants were frequently seen in family groups, crossing the plains and seeking out water, while giraffes elegantly moved between the trees. Monitor lizards were also commonly spotted in these grass-covered floodplains, while snakes such as green-spotted grass snakes, black mambas, twig snakes, and pythons added an element of thrill to our safaris. Crocodiles basked along the riverbanks, and their stealthy movements reminded us of their dominance in the waterways.
With minimal light pollution, the Milky Way stretched across the sky in dazzling clarity. Guests were treated to incredible views of constellations, including Scorpio and the Southern Cross, a tranquil end to thrilling days in the bush.
(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!)
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