Gomoti Plains Camp Wildlife Sightings January 2025
The start of the new year brought welcome rainfall to the Okavango Delta. Turning the vegetation a lush green, we started to notice beautiful flowers blooming and we experienced a plethora of incredible wildlife sightings.
Average 30-degree temperatures resulted in finding a great variety of animals near the waterholes and along the channels of the meandering delta. We enjoyed many night safaris this month, as the iconic predators began their nocturnal activities.
From migratory birds visiting camp to big cats roaming the landscape, this month was a spectacular start to the year.
Pick Your Battles
The true mark of an experienced hunter is knowing if its prey is worth chasing. We saw this in action on an afternoon game drive when we spotted three lionesses from the famous Survivor pride. They were resting on top of an anthill when they noticed a herd of impalas approaching.
One of the lionesses made a move to assess the situation. The open landscape was a clear reminder that she might be spotted too early and the impalas would have a good chance at escape.
Conserving energy is almost as important as securing food in the wild. Knowing the difference between using one's fuel to secure food or preserving it for a better chance can mean life or death.
Sleepover
After returning to camp after an evening game drive, we were surprised to see a pride of lions in camp. They had even brought their seven little cubs!
The pride had shown themselves - so to speak - and taken up camp in the welcome area of Gomoti. We recognised them as a pride that had been spotted in the northern part of our concession for quite some time.
This was an incredible sight for our guests, especially the little boys and girls who counted the lions each time they passed by. Staying overnight, it was a treat to say our good mornings to them as we left for our morning game drives.
Photography 101
The great African plains have been the muse of many famous photographers. So when one of our most recent guests told us she was learning photography, we could only anticipate the amazing shots she would take.
Our favourites were the photos of a female cheetah and her four cubs taken on an afternoon game drive. The golden rays of the afternoon light, the playful cubs running around their mother, and the almost stoic adult all made for an astounding set of photos.
Explorers Delight
The Gomoti concession rewards those who are constantly exploring its landscape. Large herds of elephants grazing, a pack of lions hunting for their next meal, and, on this particular occasion, a leopard resting in a tree.
We came across this spotted beauty on a morning game drive with two guests who wanted to explore the terrain and routes so they could savour as much as possible during their stay.
Big Cats At The Airstrip
The day started with a couple of our guests spotting a pride of lions at the airstrip. The adults were keeping an eye out for potential prey while the cubs played joyfully without a care in the world.
Later that day, we returned to the airstrip and spotted three cheetahs before a plane was due to land. We don’t know what attracted the big cats to that location, but we want more!
This month was filled with wonderful and exciting wildlife sightings. Let’s see if February can compete!
Until next time,
Derick
Gomoti Plains Camp
