Machaba Camp Wildlife Stories May 2026
Weather Report
May marks the quiet advance towards the Okavango Delta dry season, the golden window between the vibrant green season and the high-octane safari months. The rains had almost completely stopped, and the green flora around Machaba Camp started to turn a golden-yellowish hue. Creatures of every species had slowly started to gather around permanent water sources like the flood channels of the delta, which flooded and overflowed thanks to the Angolan floodwaters.
Throughout May, mornings had been cool and crisp, while afternoons reached an average high of 28 °C and evenings a low near 9 °C.
Signs Of The Wild
At the beginning of May, we drove through a reed-lined channel along Onks Pan in the late afternoon. There, we found and followed a set of African wild dog tracks until, in the distance, a flash of tan-coloured fur dotted with black and white patches appeared from the floodplain’s tall grass.
It was a pack of four wild dogs, moving with purpose and no wasted energy. They were on a mission, and before we could look for their prey, they burst into an all-out sprint, fanning out to trap an impala they spotted on the river's edge. Within seconds, dust was kicked into the air as the dogs weaved in and out, nipping at the poor impala’s heels.
Golden Slumber
During a late afternoon game drive, we saw a pride of 14 lions resting in the shade of a dead acacia tree. As the light filtered through the leaves and dead branches, the three lionesses sprawled on their sides, the cubs playing with their mothers, and the patriarch of the pride was all painted in patches of gold and hazy shadow. The rumble of a snore, the soft huff as a lion rolled over, and the faint chirrup of a dreaming cub gave us one of the most surreal and heart-warming experiences we’ve had in 2026.
Den Of Scavengers
On one dusty evening, we decided to pass by the nearby hyena den. Before we even saw them, we could already smell their musky scent. When we arrived, the matriarch was lounging in front of one of the den’s entrances, half asleep, but still wary of anything that might approach.
The other clan members, around four to five adults, were moving around the den making a mix of giggles, whines, and growls. A pair of pups no older than six months was tumbling out of the entrance and immediately started bumping into each other and yipping. Another heart-melting sight near Machaba.
Maybe Next Time
On another late afternoon, we witnessed a male leopard moving through the grass. Its belly hung low while its tail flickered as it patiently watched an impala graze only 30m away. Every step the leopard took was calculated, a practiced precision that comes with years of experience. As the impala flicked its ear and raised its head, the leopard stopped and held that position for 10 minutes. Then suddenly, it broke into a sprint after its prey. We followed it into the bushes only to find out the impala had escaped.
Predators were all over Machaba Camp in May. Come back soon to see what June has in store in the Okavango Delta.
Until next time,
MJ
Machaba Camp/Little Machaba
