This area is amazing for what it produces in the natural scheme of things to keep our guests happy!

The lion behaviour has been abnormal recently with the males killing a younger male (we later saw a leopard feeding on the carcass, a natural phenomenon on view for our guests to witness). Although the pride continue to kill Buffalo making for more “National Geographic” moments, they also seem to have had enough of each other and after what seems to have been a family spat, have split up somewhat and spread out and can be heard calling from all over the surrounding islands. In addition, new males to the area have been seen mating with females from the area, so with the new birth of the bush from the recent rains and the onset of the rainy season, so comes a new chapter in the lion prides’ life.

We thought our elephant population would decrease now that we’ve had some rain but to our surprise, the opposite has occurred and there have been sightings of 200 plus in a herd close to the airport and the camps. The road to Maun is churned up close to the Xakanaxa area, where the huge herds have been moving around.

The trees and shrubs are all pushing out new foliage so it is difficult to see through to the distance to find those elusive cats and baby impala etc. The leopardess here has brought out 2 cubs and has been seen munching on baby impala steaks quite frequently recently. We’ve also had a marked increase of python sightings in the area and they too have been taking the opportunity to gobble a few impala pickings! Speaking of which, there has been a great crop of new impala this season who have been born earlier than previous seasons according to the guides. Some guests have been exceptionally lucky in witnessing some of the births. One of the baby’s we witnessed was up on its feet and exploring the world before 'mum' had disposed of her 'bloody trail' (she seemed a little distressed at having to chase after her 'little' one so early on in its’ life)!

Some of our day trips along the Khwai river have produced interesting sights; one of a Python devouring a squirrel and another of an enormous Egyptian Cobra on the lookout for a squirrel meal too. We were even able to get it to raise its hood and give us a show. The birds have been building madly and producing offspring, only to find the monkeys have swept through the trees and had a meal of chicks and eggs and they have to start all over again. So far, the Chin Spot Batis along with the Sunbirds have been lucky and escaped the prying eyes of the monkeys.

Zebra and wildebeest have been seen in good number (even a wildebeest birth), which is a change for the Xakanaxa area. Cheetah have been scarce but a handful of sightings included one of a mother and cub. Wild dog have been sighted in good number now, especially with nine new pups. In addition to the nine adults, our viewing is up to 18 dogs. Unfortunately as they have a wide area to take up their patrols, they are seldom seen, although we have been fortunate enough to see them killing impala and resting on occasion.

In camp, “Doc the Croc”, our resident crocodile in front of the dining area, is rather fat these days and seems to be growing (his fish catching skills must have improved). Our Hippo family have been active in camp most nights and Amadeus has got more battle wounds than ever; his leg nearly severed at the moment with a wound.

The temperatures have been reduced somewhat by the rain but they are still getting into the 42 max and 21 min range. The rains have been very scattered and for all the 'talking' (thunder), there has been very little rain that has fallen for this time of the season. Of the eight storms that have produced rain, only 67,5mm of rain has been recorded. Some guests have been requesting the famous thunderstorms of Botswana and have witnessed the “fireworks” but not the torrential downpour that follows. Rain has obviously been better along the Maun route as the road is filling with water in some of the bigger dips there. Water levels have dropped and been low for the same period last year. Whether the sand banks have moved with the flow of the water or it is exceptionally low remains to be seen. Roll on the good rains!

That’s all of our Xakanaxa news for the time being – we’ll report in again next month!