Verney's Camp Wildlife Stories February 2026
Weather Report
We have officially crossed the halfway point in Southern Africa’s wet season. The landscape in Hwange National Park feels fresh and rejuvenated after the rain, with lush green vegetation covering the entire park.
For the majority of February, heavy storm clouds rolled in overhead in the late morning, and in the afternoons, thunderstorms would drench the plains in 146mm of life-giving water. The green grasses grew taller, teak forests glistened, and shallow pans filled up with water, drawing herds away from permanent water sources.
Enamored By Elands
We were on a slow-paced afternoon game drive, enjoying the restful atmosphere of the bush at peace. As we drove due south towards the Sidanga region, we encountered an incredible variety of bird species, most of which were seasonal visitors.
As we arrived at a large open plain, we noticed a massive herd of eland antelopes approaching from a distance. Imagine our excitement when we realised the massive herd was headed to a watering hole not too far from us. The guide gently asked everyone to stay calm so we wouldn’t disturb them. We watched as they moved ever closer to the body of water, the size of the herd stunning us as we realised just how big it actually was.
Eland are mega herbivores. This means they can live in enormous herds of between 300 and 400 members, and as a matter of fact, the herd we spotted was the biggest we had ever seen on our concession!
Strengthen The Herd
During a morning game drive, we were surprised at how slow the sightings were going. We had only seen a few zebras and warthogs grazing in front of Verney’s Camp. After some time watching them, we headed east in search of more animals in the open plains.
It was still quiet for a bit until we came across a breeding herd of elephants drinking and mud bathing at a watering hole. The babies were splashing and rolling in the mud while the adults were keeping watch and soaking in the cooling water. This is a rare sighting at this time of year. The abundance of rain and water sources reduces the pressure for elephants to gather and herd in large numbers around a permanent water source.
Follow The Tracks
After a morning’s worth of wildlife spotting, we decided to head back to camp, but on our way there, we spotted lion tracks. With so much excitement in the air, we had to follow them and see if we could spot the culprits. As we followed the tracks, we noticed that every so often the lions would stop and roll around on the ground. They were in no rush, making our chance of spotting them so much better.
We tracked them for around 15 minutes before their footprints veered off the road and into the teak forest. We drove around it, hoping to catch them, but unfortunately, they didn’t come back onto the road. We lost their tracks but didn’t give up hope.
For the next two days, we saw no signs of them, but on the third day, we were resolute. We were going to find them no matter what, and after some searching, we saw a male and female lion resting on the road and under the shade of a tree. Great things come to those who chase!
Attack Of The Wild Dog
A pack of 14 African wild dogs moved swiftly and purposefully along the edge of our camp. Their mottled coats appeared in and out of the tall green grass without any hesitation. They were on the hunt.
In no time, a small group of kudu, a species of antelope, burst from cover. The wild dogs surged after them, emerging from every direction. Using their unmatched teamwork, agility, and endurance, the pack kept up with the kudu as they darted between our tents and the dense shrubs.
The tall grass made the chase harder, but the wild dogs’ relentless pace did not falter. Eventually, one of the younger and slower kudus was singled out. The pack pounced on it, killed it, and started feeding on the poor antelope before we could tell if it had died or not.
A New Coalition
A new coalition of cheetahs had firmly established themselves on the open plains of Hwange National Park. The brothers were born in Chizarira National Park, a small protected area about 50 km from Hwange.
Young male cheetahs often leave their birthplace to avoid conflicts with other cheetahs and to look for their own territories. The affectionately dubbed “Chiz Boys” had a difficult journey southwards to reach us. They had to cross unfamiliar territories, avoiding threats from lions, hyenas, and even humans.
Thankfully, the two brothers made it to their new home in Hwange unharmed and have started carving out their own territory for themselves in the open plains where they can hunt at their maximum speed of up to 112km/hour.
February at Verneys was a spectacular month for safari in Botswana. Stay tuned for more Verney’s Camp Wildlife Stories coming soon.
Until next time,
David
Verney’s Camp
