Kiri Camp Wildlife Stories February 2025
Although the rainy season ends in March, the floodwaters from the Angolan Highlands only tend to reach Kiri Camp around June or July. Frequent showers in February filled the Boro Channel near Kiri Camp, raising our rivers to flood levels!
The abundance of life-giving water has transformed the landscape into vast fields of green.
Jackal Family Fun
When most people hear the word 'jackals,' they rarely think of how adorable they can be. Luckily, we saw firsthand how cute and silly they really are.
After an afternoon inspection of the Boro Channel, we came across a family of jackals on our way back to Kiri Camp. The pack consisted of two parents and five sub-adults. The pups were rolling around in the grass and chasing each other along the road. A heartwarming sighting!
Lion Cubs - The Next Generation of Hunters
There is nothing cuter than seeing lion cubs. During an afternoon game drive, we encountered a lioness and her seven one-year-old cubs lounging near our airstrip.
Mom calmly watched her cubs while they displayed their hunting skills in the golden sunset. We watched them for about two hours as they attacked branches and pounced on a tree trunk from all angles.
Semi-Aquatic Visitors
Thanks to the sheer amount of water brought by our summer rainfall, we saw something we rarely see near Kiri Camp…
Hippos!
The plan was to enjoy a lazy sundowner at a new location. As our guests enjoyed their cocktails, the bellows of a pod of five hippos filled the air. Upon closer inspection, we saw that one of the hippos was missing a tail and its ears.
After much discussion, we concluded that it was due to either a parasite or disease, but the specific culprit was a big topic of conversation between guests and guides.
A Leopard and a Hyena Play Tug-Of-War
We spotted a leopard lounging on a low-hanging branch with a fresh impala kill. We barely had time to enjoy the sighting before a hyena appeared. The hyena looked at the carcass and decided it looked good enough to steal.
Jumping and snapping repeatedly at the impala kill, the hyena eventually got a grip on it. A game of tug-of-war ensued. Unfortunately for the leopard, the hyena had enough strength and traction - and the unfair advantage of gravity - to steal the kill and drag it into a nearby bush.
February was filled with some of the cutest sightings and most incredible phenomena. We can't wait to see what March has in store for us!
Until next time
Stef Ellett
Kiri Camp
