Verney’s Camp Wildlife Stories October 2024
October has been one of the most difficult months for the wildlife here at Verney’s Camp. The heat has made water and food scarce, forcing many animals to travel great distances to drink from limited water sources.
However harsh the environment may be, this leaves us with wonderful sighting opportunities near watering holes. Waterholes have been frequently visited by large numbers of herbivores coming to drink water and opportunistic predators hunting prey.
Welcome To The Concession
We had an amazing week of wildlife sightings, capped off by seeing an entirely new pack of African wild dogs enter the concession.
We were on a 4x4 safari on our way to Sindanga, a beautiful area within the concession, when we saw the huge pack. There were 19 adults and 10 pups, all with full bellies.
After observing them for a while, we noticed they had no collars, meaning they came from the bottom part of the park.
Return Of The Cat
Our team members and some returning guests were elated to see one of our favourite leopards back at camp. Elephants had all but taken over the pan, so this big cat became scarce over the dry season. However, on an early morning safari, we found it.
Many of our guests had seen this particular leopard on their previous trips, and seeing it again felt like a warm welcome back. The leopard was a little skittish at first but later relaxed and rested in nearby bushes. Our guests captured some photos and videos while making sure their excitement didn’t spook the leopard.
Breakfast Party
The swimming pool at Verney's often attracts unexpected visitors. This month, we witnessed an incredible hunt and kill from the dining area at breakfast. As our guests were having their first meal of the day, two male lions came into camp for a drink of water. We marvelled at this beautiful sight for some time.
Later, a sub-adult elephant also came into camp, looking for something to drink. Sensing the opportunity, the lions took to the hunt. We watched as the two powerful males brought down the elephant and killed it. And as if that wasn’t enough, the two male lions then invited some females to share in the feast.
Sing Along To The Lion Song
October was an incredible month for lion spotting. At almost every activity, we managed to see lions feasting on their prey or relaxing with their pride.
On an evening safari, we saw two male lions calling out in unison from our safari vehicle. The males' song roared across the plains, sending tremors up to five kilometres away. We were elated to hear their voices so up close and personal.
Until next time,
Themba
Verney’s Camp