Kiri Camp Wildlife Sightings June 2024
Winter has officially arrived, but that does not mean the safari has to end. As a matter of fact, June had been an exciting month for wildlife viewing in and around Kiri Camp. Daytime temperatures were a warm 26 degrees Celsius, while mornings and nights are chilly.
Unfortunately, there has been no rain this month, keeping the plains dusty and dry. However, a great sign for future sightings is the much-awaited flood waters coming closer to Kiri Camp daily. Thanks to this, we expect to offer Mokoro canoe trips in July.
Hide & Seek
One morning, around 9:00, a pack of approximately 14 African wild dogs ran in front of the lodge while some of our guests were having breakfast. They began circling a bush, letting out many excited chirps and squeaks. Not one to let a sighting slip through his fingers, our guide, Shaun and his guests hopped into a safari vehicle and drove closer to the commotion.
What they found were two hyenas who curiously greeted each other nose-to-nose. For the next 15 minutes, the wild dogs taunted the hyenas until they settled down in the shade of a nearby tree.
As soon as the situation calmed, the hyenas darted out, waking the wild dogs, who chased them back into a bush, where they hid again. For the second time, the dogs frenzied around them until they eventually got bored of their game and left the two hyenas in peace.
Mom Brought Dinner
On a sunset drive in the middle of the month, our guests witnessed two lionesses kill a rarely-seen aardvark. It was amazing to see them hunt and kill their prey. However, seeing the lionesses feed their eight cubs with their newly-caught kill was even better. It was truly a great viewing for our guests.
Shock & Awe
Even sitting down for dinner could lead to an incredibly rare sighting at Kiri Camp. At approximately 21:00, a pack of African wild dogs chased an impala around our lodge and towards one of our family units.
As we and our guests left their dinner and rushed to the dining area deck, we saw that the impala had managed to get under the deck of the family unit while the wild dogs circled the room. As quick as the encounter happened, the impala escaped from under the deck, ran around the lodge, onto the deck and into one of our guests’ lounge areas. The impala was heavily injured, waiting for another moment to escape the wild dogs.
Unfortunately, the wild dogs chose to sit in the turning circle and wait for the impala. Terrified, the injured animal dragged itself behind a couch and hid. After about 40 minutes, the dogs gave up the pursuit and looked for other prey. Sadly, the impala succumbed to its injuries and died in the camp to the shock and awe of our guests.
Saddle Up
The highly anticipated flood waters have started to return to Kiri Camp. This amazing seasonal shift also brings an abundance of life ranging from fish, frogs and stunning birdlife.
Take the last week of June for example. The flood waters had reached an area known to us as “Ghost Corner”, attracting hundreds of saddle-billed storks looking to feed on the fish and frogs.
Once in a Lifetime
Possibly the rarest sight that our seasoned guide, Tops and his guests have ever seen happened right at the end of June. As they returned from an afternoon game drive, they saw a young African wild dog pouncing onto something in the grass.
It was playing with something, but they were unsure what it was. So they decided to investigate. As they neared the excited pup, they noticed that it was playing with a curled-up pangolin. A rare sighting on the plains in itself! After a few minutes of watching this incredible interaction, the pup got bored and ran off.
Allowing the pangolin to uncurl itself and walk into the bushes, to our guests' amazement.
Until next time
Stef
Kiri Camp
