Verney’s Camp Wildlife Stories October 2025
We’re back with another exciting month of wildlife sightings from Verney’s Camp.
Weather Report
October lived up to its name as the hottest month of the year. Temperatures reached highs of up to 40°C. The evening’s cooler temperatures gave us a brief break from the heat, allowing us to go on night safaris and spot predators at their peak.
Leopard Day-Hunting
Sometimes we see things that we did not expect at all. During one particular game drive, we saw exactly that when we encountered a leopard stalking a steenbok.
We had set out to find some cheetahs or lions along the Ngugama Vlei, but when we found this nocturnal hunter prowling in the middle of the day, we couldn’t help but stop to watch how the hunt played out.
Due to the lack of cover, the leopard was unsuccessful, but we still enjoyed the sighting.
Favourite Surprise
At first light, we left camp to explore a part of the savanna our guests had never seen before. Minutes later, two painted wild dogs ran past us towards the watering hole in front of camp. We followed them, parked at a safe distance and watched as they drank.
The puppies were especially excitable as they chased each other around the water and mock-fought between their parents. After drinking, they lingered around the watering hole until they returned to their resting place some 200m away from camp.
This sighting put a smile on everyone's face. We loved seeing them, not only because the dogs were adorable, but also because they were among our guests’ favourite animals to spot.
Zebra’s Lucky Day
As we got to Manga One Pan, we spotted some very alert zebras. We stopped the safari vehicle and saw a lone hyena pretending not to notice the dazzling herd. It walked towards the herd while the zebras stood their ground.
Suddenly, the hyena bolted towards a zebra with its mouth open, narrowly missing it with its sharp teeth. Only then did we realise that the zebra that was attacked had a deep cut on its rear. The cut was deep but not deep enough to be fatal.
Lion’s Shed
On a few occasions, we have to share our space with animals trying to stay out of the sun. On this occasion, as we approached the Ngweshla picnic site, we found lionesses taking shelter in the shade. We normally use the site for our mid-morning teas and coffees, but watching these magnificent creatures from a distance was far better than what we had originally planned.
After the lionesses at the picnic site, we went further to Kennedy Two watering hole. There, we found another three lionesses relaxing under the viewing platform. Although not rare, we still basked in the awe that the lions inspired.
Verney’s Camp and Hwange National Park never disappoint. Watch this space for more Wildlife Stories.
Until next time
Simatete
Verney’s Camp
