Kiri Camp Wildlife Stories April 2025
Kiri Camp had beautiful blue skies and hot days in April. Winter is fast approaching and the days are becoming shorter, giving all the nocturnal hunters more time to hunt in the cool cover of darkness. There is still a trickle of water in the Boro Channel, but soon the floodwaters will return and replenish the floodplains around camp.
Lions On Honeymoon
Love was in the air this April. For five days, a mating pair of lions was spotted near camp. We affectionately named them the ‘honeymoon couple’ and checked in on the happy lovers every morning and night at their airstrip honeymoon destination.
Throughout their five-day ‘stay’, the couple was inseparable and mated multiple times per day. Lions will mate often for a short period. We hope that they were successful in conceiving the next generation of Kings.
Lions VS Hyenas
While eating dinner at Kiri, our meal was interrupted by the sounds of laughing hyenas. After a quick investigation, we saw three lionesses on a fresh kill only 100 meters from one of our luxury tents.
We drove to the site where we found the hyenas and lions clashing over the carcass. We could hear the sounds of fighting throughout the night and up until the morning. When we went to see the aftermath the next morning, all that remained were bones scattered around the tent.
Unexpected Python
Big snakes won’t be the first thing on your mind when you think African safari, but we have those too! The Southern African python is the largest snake found in Botswana and a common species in many areas, including the Okavango Delta.
During an afternoon game drive, we saw one on the side of the road. It was in some bushes, coiling itself around something. As we approached, we were shocked to see the massive snake swallowing a baby impala whole.
No Meal For The Cheetah
Cheetahs are one of the most successful hunters in the big cat category. Although smaller and less muscular than lions and leopards, cheetahs have a chase-to-kill ratio of up to 50%, while other African big cats like lions and leopards have up to 34% and 38%, respectively.
Despite the genus’s success story, we came across two cheetahs having a bad night. We found them at the airstrip and followed the pair from early evening into the night as they attempted and failed to catch any prey.
Maybe next time.
Don’t Bother The Badger
There is nothing worse than being on the receiving end of a stink bomb from a honey badger. A relative of the infamous skunk, when a honey badger feels threatened, it releases a horrid-smelling liquid that drives off predators. The perfect defence.
We were following our resident lionesses as they prowled from termite mound to termite mound until a honey badger darted out from a burrow. Thinking the badger was an easy snack, the lionesses attacked. Famously known for its fighting spirit, the badger fought back against its assailants until it eventually released its foul-smelling liquid.
The lionesses couldn’t handle the smell and started gagging and cringing. That's when the badger had its opportunity to escape into a nearby hole.
April was a spectacular month for unique wildlife sightings. We have a feeling May will be just as good, so stay tuned for next month’s Kiri Camp Wildlife Story.
Until next time,
Keya Kandu & Stef Ellett
Kiri Camp
