Monachira Camp Wildlife Stories August 2025
The days had slowly warmed up as August ushered in the approaching arrival of spring. Early mornings and evenings still require a bush baby (hot water bottle), but the middays are peaking over 30 degrees Celsius. The floodplains and water levels have also dropped, which will soon give us access to much-loved parts of the concession.
Adventurous Leopard Cubs
Leopards are some of the most elusive big cats to spot, and a female leopard will hide her cubs away for their safety while she hunts.
Luckily for us, an ambitious and curious little cub gave up his mother’s hiding spot. We saw them at the base of a tree trunk where the playful and curious cub was play-fighting with its mother.
Female leopards only stay with their cubs for about one and a half years. In that time, the little hunter learns everything it needs to know about survival from its mother. Through play fighting, these young predators learn that the neck is the most important area to get a hold of. Graciously, female leopards let their cubs use them as practice.
Battling Lion Brothers
There is no greater bond than that of two male lion siblings. Catching prey, defending their territories and snuggling up to one another make them almost inseparable. Except when the topic of mating rights arises.
We witnessed brothers brawl over a lioness in her estrus cycle. The battle had been building for multiple days while they each competed for dominance to mate. It finally concluded in a fight in which one of the male lions stood tall over the other.
Hushed Leopard Excitement
While on a game drive, we came across a mother leopard hunting. Seeing the perfect opportunity to sneak up on her prey, she used our vehicle for cover while stalking a reedbuck. We were stunned at how close she was to us, and we had to keep our cool.
Eventually, she bolted towards her target and successfully caught herself a meal.
The Lions Are Adapting
Over the last few years, more and more lions have been spotted in trees. Primarily ground-dwelling, lions have never really had a reason to climb trees.
As we’re exploring the channels and plains surrounding Monachira, the wild continues to surprise us. A subadult lioness was spotted on a low branch in a tree. This was our very first sighting of a lion climbing a tree in the Moremi concession!
August was an amazing month for big cat spotting. Join us next month for another exciting blog from Monachira.
Until next time,
Royale Ngele
Monachira Camp
