Ingwe Pan Camp Wildlife Stories September 2026
Weather Report
September at Ingwe Pan Camp came with hot weather, beautifully clear skies, and fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities. Average temperatures ranged from 32ºC to 36ºC, while nights were warm, averaging 19ºC. No rainfall was recorded throughout the month, keeping the plains dry and dusty but also drawing large numbers of wildlife to permanent water sources near camp.
Not Today
During one of our game drives, we encountered a large grunting male lion following a lioness. He was clearly interested in the female, but she was not having any of it. He tried to mount her, but she kept moving away and lying somewhere else when he attempted to mate with her.
Although seeing lions in Mana Pools National Park is common, seeing a lioness reject a male’s mating attempt is not. This could be due to several factors, most notably, the female is not inis that the female is not in estrus, and she might be testing the male’s quality.
Let The Puppies Play
African wild dogs are some of the most ferocious hunters in southern Africa, having an even higher hunt-to-kill ratio than lions. However, they are also some of the most adorable animals when they’re pups.
We came across a group of wild dog puppies playing and drinking at a watering hole while the adults vigilantly watched over them. Each member of the pack looked healthy, fed, and uninjured, which made us very happy during the 20 or so minutes we spent with them.
Feast For The Kings
Nothing is more bittersweet than seeing lions feed on a fresh kill. The sighting itself is exciting, getting to see the king of the jungle feast. However, at the back of our minds, we know one of Mother Nature’s other creatures had to be sacrificed so that the lions can be sustained.
That’s how some of us felt as we watched a group of three lionesses feed on a fresh buffalo kill. Belonging to the bovine family, buffalo are massive animals that can hold their ground against lions. If one of the lions made the wrong move, the kill at the end of this hunt could have been one of them.
Snake On The Plains
During a quiet morning near camp, we spotted a bush snake in the thickets actively hunting a frog. It slowly crept up to its prey, sunk its teeth into it, and coiled its long body around it. The snake held it tight until it stopped moving. It unhinged its jaw and started to swallow it whole. Not one of our usual sightings, but that just makes it more special.
September gave us some amazing sightings. We can’t wait to tell you what October has in store for us.
Until next time,
AB and Everard
Ingwe Pan Camp
