Ngoma Safari Lodge Wildlife Stories May 2026
Weather Report
Winter has arrived, and we can feel it at Ngoma Safari Lodge. Early mornings and nights are cold, reaching an average temperature of 16ºC, while midday and afternoon temperatures are still hot, hovering around 30ºC to 35ºC.
Rainfall has also significantly decreased, shifting the Chobe Forest Reserve’s plants from a vibrant green to a yellowish-amber hue. Vegetation has also begun to thin, which will give us greater visibility for wildlife spotting in the future.
New Kids On The Plains
In April, we encountered a new coalition of lions in the Chobe West territory, and as of May, they have fully assumed control of the region and taken over the local pride. We monitored them closely as the weeks went on. Their early attempts at mating were met with rejection and ferocious growling, but as of early May, the brothers have been successful in their mating endevours.
The Perfect Gift
Ngoma hosted a very special birthday for one of our recent guests. We were serving lunch to our guests on a boat cruise down the Chobe River when we encountered a herd of elephants splashing around, playing, and mud bathing, not too far from us. This sighting made her birthday extra special, as this was her first lunch cruise with the magnificent Chobe landscape and playful pachyderms in the background.
Start Right
We had the perfect start to our day when we witnessed a pack of African wild dogs early into our morning game drive. The pack sprinted past our safari vehicle, chasing an impala, and swiftly caught it. They immediately started feeding on it right in front of us, which some of our guests didn’t like. It was a harsh reflection of the world in which these animals live. It's either kill or be killed, one of nature's harshest yet simplest rules.
Family Feud
During another morning game drive, we spotted the incredibly rare sight of five hyenas attacking another hyena. Hyenas are known to be very social creatures, especially within their own clan. Here, they treated their own member as an intruder and attacked it fiercely until the poor animal had to escape and hide somewhere out of sight.
A Rare Find
We were lucky to encounter the elusive African rock python on an early morning game drive near the Simwanza dam in the Chobe Forest Reserve. The two-and-a-half-metre snake paid us no mind as it slithered in front of us.
African Rock Pythons are non-venomous snakes. Instead, they rely on their exceptional camouflage and lie completely motionless until their prey is close enough to grab and constrict. These formidable skills are also why spotting them on safari is so incredibly rare.
Ngoma Safri Lodge showcased some of the most breathtaking sights of 2026 this May. We can’t wait to tell you what June has in store!
Until next time,
MK
Ngoma Safari Lodge
