Deteema Springs Camp Wildlife Stories August 2025
August was full of surprises. It started with pleasantly warm morning temperatures and ended with some of the most spectacular sightings we’ve seen in a long time!
Lion’s Noisy Meal
Late one night, we heard loud noises near the Deteema Dam. Knowing we might be in for an amazing sighting, we travelled to the scene of the commotion. When we arrived, we spotted three male lions feeding on a hippo carcass. They had just started their meal, giving us another opportunity the next day to watch the brothers interacting with each other and the carcass.
Cheetah Crossing
We were enjoying a morning game drive heading towards Big Tom's Salt Pan when we found fresh cheetah spoor. Excited, we followed the tracks for about 20 minutes until we found a male cheetah walking on the road.
Unlike lions and leopards, cheetahs are diurnal hunters. They are mainly active during the day and hunt in the cooler hours of the early morning. Cheetah behaviour evolved this way due to their superior daytime vision and to avoid competition with the bigger and stronger nocturnal hunters.
Mother Lion & Her Cubs
Midmonth, some of our guests said they wanted to see lion cubs, luckily for them, we didn't need to go too far. During an afternoon game drive, we heard a lioness calling near camp. We rushed over, and moments later, four of the cutest lion cubs came running out of a nearby bush.
Buffalo Sighting
After a long search, we managed to spot a herd of over 100 Cape buffalo near Deteema Camp.
These not-so-gentle giants are known as the ‘mafia of the bush’. Whether it be lions, leopards, hyenas or even people, these massive creatures are notorious for killing hunters, leading them to become a member of the Big Five. Safe to say, if any animal on the African continent wants to face the Cape buffalo, they'd better be ready for a fight.
Hundreds Of Elephants
After a long day of driving and animal spotting, we decided to end the day at a dam near Deteema.
The dry season has left very few water sources able to sustain massive amounts of animals. Luckily, Deteema Dam has enough water to quench the thirst of the hundreds of elephants in the area.
From lions and cheetahs to buffalo and elephants, August at Deteema was unforgettable. Watch this space for another thrilling wildlife Story soon!
Until next time,
Julius
Deteema Springs Camp
