Ngoma Safari Lodge Wildlife Sightings December 2024
Summer rainfall in the heart of Chobe brings beautiful things to the floodplains that Ngoma Safari Lodge overlooks.
Towards the end of the year, dramatic afternoon thunderstorms rip through the skies and as quickly as they appear, the clouds dissipate and the sky is clear again. Lifting the flood line, the flowing river attracts a plethora of wildlife to the river’s banks and we adore watching the wildlife from the lodge’s deck.
Shifting Perspectives
Game drives had proven unsuccessful in finding elephants so we switched transportation mode and took our guests on a boat cruise.
Meandering downstream, a breeding herd of elephants came to the shoreline to drink the river water. From the boat, we watched as the herd played together, bathed and drank in turns, a very special sight.
Barely There
We had been keeping a close eye on a pregnant lioness and during a game drive were honoured to see that she had successfully brought two cubs into the world.
The little cubs were only a few weeks old so we were surprised to see them. A lioness will usually hide her cubs until they are strong enough to join the pride. We will watch them closely in the coming weeks as they prepare to return.
Manyando Returns
It has been a year since we’ve seen the beautiful Manyando, a female leopard near Ngoma Safari Lodge. Her presence was a pleasant surprise.
She had been scent marking - rubbing her neck on trees and bushes, leaving hidden messages for potential mates and impending threats. We hope she’ll stay in the area for a while, and find what she is looking for.
Nursing Giraffe
Returning to camp after an eventful game drive, we noticed a journey of giraffes and decided to follow them.
After some time, we met a herd and were delighted to see some giraffes with their offspring. It’s an interesting sight watching a calf nurse from its mother. The calf must bring its head down low and twist its neck slightly to reach under the mother’s belly.
Summer at Ngoma always brings heartwarming sightings of young in the wild. We look forward to watching them grow and one day be able to fend for themselves.
Until next time,
MK
Ngoma Safari Lodge
