Botswana Chobe National Park Ngoma Safari Lodge

Lions On The Hunt

In the Kaswavenga Valley, there's always an exciting scene unfolding, especially when lions are hunting a large herd of buffalo. On one occasion, as about a hundred buffalo descended into the valley, three lionesses trailed behind them, advancing cautiously.

It was a first-time for our guests. As the lionesses closed in, they spotted a calf on its own as its mother was momentarily distracted. However, the moment the calf sounded the alarm, the entire herd turned back. The warning calls echoed, yet the lionesses persisted, eventually overcoming the buffalo and successfully killing the calf, then they began to feast.

Baboon Crossing

One morning near a spot called Number 10, just next to the Namibian border, a large troop of baboons decided to cross to the other side of the river. The other half of their troop seemed to be calling them from the other side. This was a very fascinating sighting as we don't often see baboons swimming or in water. They are quite aware of the dangers that the water holds.

Tracking Lions

One morning we went out in search of lions, so we decided to venture further eastward into the park towards the area known as Kabulabula. We all agreed to start our journey early, aiming for around 5:45 am. Along the road, we spotted fresh tracks, prompting us to take a route downstream.

As we drove, we encountered a male lion on one side and two others on the opposite side, all appearing very relaxed. We approached closer, capturing numerous photos and videos. Moments later, a group of impalas arrived to drink water, diverting the lions' attention.

The scene unfolded as the lions stealthily stalked their prey, providing an exhilarating experience for the guests, especially since it was their first encounter. Eventually, the impalas scattered, bringing the captivating encounter to an end.

Finally, Hyenas

We had guests join us for a few days who had yet to see hyenas. It was on the top of the must-see list so we did everything we could to make it happen. On one-afternoon safari drive, we were heading back after some great encounters when we heard the iconic yelp of a hyena. We followed the sound and eventually spotted two hyenas walking through the thicket. Our guests were thrilled and we stayed and watched them until the sun went down.

This month has been an epic one for wildlife sightings. The drought means that the animals are beginning to congregate around water sources and all that can only mean more exciting game drives.

Until next time,
Nelson
Ngoma Safari Lodge