Monachira Camp Wildlife Stories May 2025
Welcome to the first wildlife stories blog from Monachira Camp!
Monachira Camp is located in one of the most beautiful and diverse safari destinations in the world, the Okavango Delta, and we have been delightfully surprised by the variety of wildlife we see there.
Lions, leopards, hyenas and African wild dogs were spotted almost daily during the cooler morning and evening hours, while incredible birdlife filled in the day's sightings on the edges of the floodplain and in the lush vegetation surrounding them.
Amazing Antelope
We were lucky enough to see a variety of antelope species along the Okavango’s channels. There’s something magical about red lechwe running through the water, with impalas and tsessebes adding to the quiet beauty of the scene.
Antelopes are known for their beauty, speed and agility, traits that help them stay ahead of predators and remain some of the most graceful creatures on the savannah.
A Leopard’s Near-Death Encounter
The wildlife of the African savannah must always remain alert. One of our resident leopardesses found this out the hard way.
While she and her cub were feeding on a tsessebe kill, they were attacked by a group of lions. The mother leopard managed to escape her assailants with some bad injuries. Unfortunately, we are not sure if the same can be said for the little cub.
Ruthless Lions
The lions of the area cemented their dominance by calling all night. Unfortunately, in the process of patrolling their beloved territory, they came across our vulnerable wild dogs where they killed one member of the pack.
Two big black maned lions also surfaced and have been mating with one of the lionesses. Hopefully we’ll spot the next generation of lion cubs in the next 100 days.
Herds Of Hippos & Elephants
Hippos and the massive “Monachira” elephants visited camp to greet our guests throughout the month. We spotted a small breeding herd of elephants moving around the wetland islands that we hope will linger a little longer. But only time will tell.
Hippos have been spotted on numerous occasions floating along in the nearby river during our boat excursions. Gentle as they may seem, we know not to mess with the third-largest land mammal in the world.
Birder’s Delight
Between all the predator fights, massive mammal sightings and antelope adventures, we were blessed with exquisite birdwatching opportunities. In the last month, some of the birds we spotted in May were night herons, egrets, storks, spoonbills, cormorants and darters.
In the coming months, we expect to see even more species as the birds start to pair and nest nearby.
Join us next month to see what June has in store.
Until next time,
Moss & Roy
Monachira Camp
