One of the most exciting events this month was the birth of two cubs by a leopardess at the nearby Gunns Camp, a sighting initially reported by our support staff.
The presence of the cubs has kept the mother close to the area while hunting, leading to more frequent leopard sightings and allowing our guests to observe this beautiful and elusive cat in action.
Guests at the camp have been thrilled by the frequent sightings of Scar Face, a charming solitary male leopard who offers incredible close-up views and fantastic photo opportunities. Meanwhile, the enigmatic Rraboi remains a bit more elusive, choosing to grace us with his presence from the safety of dense vegetation.
We have had some fantastic lion sightings, including a pride of four lions known for their impressive warthog hunting skills. We named this pride Motsibi after the trees under which they commonly drag their kills. They have been seen multiple times throughout the day, as they are not shy about hunting in daylight. Additionally, we regularly observed a female lion with two cubs near the camp. This particular lioness often targets warthogs hiding amongst the Camp buildings. The lion calls at night created a thrilling soundscape, capturing the essence of the quintessential African bush experience.
Cheetah sightings are always a special treat. They require a bit more effort to find due to their preference for open grasslands. We had a few sightings of solitary cheetahs and a coalition of four brothers. Their presence in the area is always a highlight, and the excitement of spotting them in the wild makes for a memorable safari.
Spotted hyena calls are a familiar sound during the night, enhancing the sense of wilderness around camp. Tracks were frequently seen in the morning, and we spotted solitary hyenas on several occasions on our drives. We also observed a larger clan feeding on an animal carcass, underscoring the richness of the food resources in the area.
African wild dog tracks were spotted frequently, keeping everyone on their toes. On one occasion, we stumbled upon a kill where a pack of 12 adults had taken down an impala. While we didn’t see the chase, the sight of the pack feeding was an exciting experience for our guests.
Pula! Rainfall and the changing Okavango landscape
The landscape around Moremi Crossing underwent a beautiful transformation with the arrival of the rains, turning the once dry and dusty plains into a green haven. The trees, including the silver cluster-leaf and mopane, have once again become green and full of life, creating a stunning contrast against the clear blue skies.
The lush vegetation created ideal conditions for herbivores and attracted large herds of wildebeest, zebras, buffalo, and impalas, each occupying their own specific grazing and browsing areas. Common reedbucks were also frequently spotted.
Steenboks and springhares were often spotted darting across the open plains. Side-striped jackals and smaller cats like servals and civets were also seen hunting or foraging in the area. Although these creatures are often overlooked, they play crucial roles in the ecosystem by helping to control populations of smaller prey species and maintaining the natural balance in the region.
We had an exciting sighting of a python near the camp that had just made a kill.
Crocodiles frequently gathered at the waterholes, especially in the dried-up river areas, where a large, dominant one often basked in the sun or waited underwater for prey.
Birdwatching at Moremi Crossing was exceptional, offering our guests numerous opportunities for observation and photography. The iconic African fish eagle, known for its distinctive call, was commonly seen, along with brown snake eagles, hamerkops, and saddle-billed storks, hunting overhead. Colourful little bee-eaters zipped around, while vultures circled above, watching for carcasses.
(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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