Once again, Kwando Safaris is providing us with great information on their wildlife sightings across all camps for the month of October. As usual, I'll be taking this Kwando update and dividing into two parts to make it easier to read. In this blog post, I'll be covering Kwando Lagoon Camp and Kwando Kwara Camp. The next blog post will cover Kwando Lebala Camp, Nxai Pan Camp, and Tau Pan Camp. Look for the second half of the Kwando October update in the next 24-48 hours. Enjoy the update!

Kwando Kwara Camp

The hot weather, dead grasses and reduced water levels have combined to create wonderful game viewing in the Kwara area this October. Vast herds of Elephant and Buffalo have been migrating into western areas and countless summer migratory birds have returned such as Paradise Flycatchers, Wahlbergs Eagles and Woodland Kingfishers.

Guests witnessed the unique sight of some cheetahs defending themselves against a female lioness on one lucky game drive. Lions are normally too formidable a foe for the speedy cheetah but the three large brothers of Kwara did not hesitate to defend themselves. One was being chased by the lioness before the two remaining brothers came from behind and started biting away at her hind legs. They were later seen unharmed and well with full bellies and looking very pleased with themselves.

Kwara’s coalition of seven male lions have been spotted at various intervals throughout the last few weeks and we have had several exciting leopard sightings. On one occasion an astonishingly bold leopard came and rested in the shade cast by safari vehicle on a game drive. Some exciting days have also been spent bush tracking the Wild Dogs that come in and out of the area. They are predating on the large amount of plains game that frequent the area, more especially the nimble Impala’s.

Kwando Lagoon Camp

Lagoons reputation as Africa’s premier Wild Dog viewing camp has been underlined once again this month. No fewer that three different packs of Wild Dog have been seen in the concession. Our existing pack of puppies are now hunting with the adults and growing stronger by the day. Clans of Hyenas flank the Dogs in hope of a free meal which is always wonderful to watch when they get a bit close.

Some early rains came as a relief to the parched land and started to fill the pans out in the Mopane woodland. Although some Buffalos and Elephants started to migrate west, the vast majority have remained by the clear waters of the Kwando River to quench their thirst.

Lions, leopards and cheetahs remain common sightings in the area. The three brother cheetahs killed an Impala on the airstrip which was a sight to behold, and our resident leopard has been seen frequently around the Lagoon Camp area.