Wildlife Stories Kiri Camp July 2026
Weather Report
July was yet another month of cool, dry weather in Botswana and the Okavango Delta. We had mild daytime temperatures, averaging between 22ºC and 26ºC, and cold nighttime temperatures of between 5ºC and 10ºC. Skies were generally clear with dry air and low humidity, making for spectacular visibility for safari activities.
Floodplains around the Kiri Concession continued to rise as seasonal floodwaters flowed into the Okavango Delta, attracting thousands of animals to this pristine wildlife destination.
Family Affair
On the very first day of the month, we enjoyed a sighting of the famous Western Pride of lions. At the scene, two lionesses, four subadults, and four little cubs were playfully climbing a termite mound. This contrasts sharply with when we saw the little ones a few months earlier. Lion cubs are born blind, with their eyes closed and no teeth. Only after about three weeks do their eyes open, letting them see their family for the first time.
Wild Dog Take Out
As the sun started to dry the morning dew, a pack of 14 African wild dogs returned to their den from a successful hunt. When they got home, their hungry pups came out of the den, tails wagging. We watched them closely, and after a few minutes, some of the adults started regurgitating food to feed their puppies. The pups started squeaking with excitement, almost as excited as we were to see them.
Predators On The Plains
You never know what you might see in the wild plains of the Okavango Delta. On one of our most recent game drives, we spotted an injured cheetah with a broken hind leg. It seemed to be in critical condition and looked as if it hadn't eaten in days. Later on the same game drive, we saw two lionesses from the Western Pride at White Sands hunting for impala. Our last sighting of the day was of a playful hyena having some fun in the Dikgokong Pan pond.
Two Chase Scenes
Towards the end of the month, we saw two chase scenes with wildly different outcomes. The first one came during a morning game drive at the Bouser Road Pan. There, we encountered two male cheetahs hunting down an impala. Unfortunately for them, they didn’t manage to secure the kill.
The second chase happened during an evening game drive where we saw a beautiful male leopard stalk, hunt, and successfully kill an impala right in front of our eyes. After the kill, it dragged the carcass up a tree, where it fed on it.
Cat Fight
Later in the month, we spotted the Western Pride of lions again. This time, they were relaxing to the west of Hyena Pan. By the looks of their full bellies, they had just finished a meal. Later in the evening, the same lion pride was seen clashing with two male cheetahs. The cheetahs didn’t last long before three of the lions chased them away.
July was a fantastic month for predator encounters in the Okavango Delta. Join us soon for more Kiri Camp Wildlife Stories.
Until next time,
Pako & Eric
Kiri Camp
