Blog
April 03, 2014
March News – Duba Plains, Botswana
Duba game drives still continued to amaze us during the peak summer rain season.
We’ve seen new water channels fill up presenting the classic Okavango Delta feel to the region, surrounding the dry island of the plains.
The weather, although unpredictable, has provided some stunning vistas of emerald grasslands and for the landscape photographer an opportunity to capture the moody skies punctuated by lightning.
Lions
The lions of Duba, as they do at this time of year, switch from hunting Buffalo to more varied game, such as Warthog and Lechwe. The buffalos are at their prime health due to the rich grass that is in its abundance. They can run further and faster so it becomes very dangerous for the Lions to try and hunt them regulary, they will only dare go for the young and elderly. The upside of this is the Lions must hunt more as the prey is much smaller. It provides a new dynamic at this time of year, and allows the Buffalo to have a rest.
The Tsaro pride still lives in separation away from any of the other lions of Duba. The new young alpha male, that has taken the territory, has been working hard to make his mark making his presence felt. That has led to most of the female lions to live in hiding, as a way to protect the still growing young males, and also the cubs. He is a real bully. The Tsaro alpha male is frequently found with the 2 females so they are the lucky one receiving his protection, and him being well provided for by his huntress.
We live in a dynamic period of movement and settling of prides, this is what makes Duba so exciting, it is never the same.
We have for 2 weeks now missed a group of 3 females, a young male (3 years old) and a one and half years cub after confrontation with the territorial male. We suspect they have moved to Paradise Island temporarily, a distant part of the concession. The other group of 4 with 2 cubs, who are believed to be seven months old, are also avoiding the alpha male just to protect the young cubs.
We see more Leopard Tortoises than Leopards at Duba normally – but not this month
General Game
We always cherish the sightings of leopards in Duba as this is one area where leopards are not common due the high levels of water and the number of lions roaming the area. The leopards that we see are usually very shy, preferring to move around without being noticed. This month has brought a handful of sightings to the great delight of our guests. More so is their impressive ability to survive in such a region of hostility. To be surrounded by three prides of Lion, all of who would decimate you in an instant must take stealth and courage. It can be only because there is an abundance of game that keeps the predator there. Please let us know if you have ever seen one at Duba?
Among the other interesting sightings we’ve seen this month would be the Pel’s fishing owl which seems to dominate the Old mokoro station area.
An Aardwolf is also one of the animals that are hardly seen and it has been a great month for them as the guides would most of the time see driving back to camp in the evenings.
There is nothing that beats the beauty of seeing a hippo outside the water and this is very common in Duba with guaranteed Hippos sightings during any stay either from the vehicles or on our boats.
We’ve had a great combination of spectacular moments this month when I accompanied two guests on an afternoon game-drive. Our guide Spike drove us through a deep channel of water to position us towards this beautiful sunset disappearing behind the horizons of the plains. In front of us there was a pond, home to a group of about 15 hippos whom were very inquisitive, making great sounds and displaying their amazing teeth. A glass of wine, amarula on the rocks and a ginger beer summed up this amazing afternoon.
The other general game that was seen would include;
Bat-eared fox, side stripped jackal, both of which are quite common here, giraffe, kudus, red lechwes and the amazing bird life of Duba Plains. In the summer Duba has some of the best birdlife in northern Botswana where populations increase by over 30% over the season.
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Duba game drives still continued to amaze us during the peak summer rain season.
We’ve seen new water channels fill up presenting the classic Okavango Delta feel to the region, surrounding the dry island of the plains.
The weather, although unpredictable, has provided some stunning vistas of emerald grasslands and for the landscape photographer an opportunity to capture the moody skies punctuated by lightning.
Lions
The lions of Duba, as they do at this time of year, switch from hunting Buffalo to more varied game, such as Warthog and Lechwe. The buffalos are at their prime health due to the rich grass that is in its abundance. They can run further and faster so it becomes very dangerous for the Lions to try and hunt them regulary, they will only dare go for the young and elderly. The upside of this is the Lions must hunt more as the prey is much smaller. It provides a new dynamic at this time of year, and allows the Buffalo to have a rest.
The Tsaro pride still lives in separation away from any of the other lions of Duba. The new young alpha male, that has taken the territory, has been working hard to make his mark making his presence felt. That has led to most of the female lions to live in hiding, as a way to protect the still growing young males, and also the cubs. He is a real bully. The Tsaro alpha male is frequently found with the 2 females so they are the lucky one receiving his protection, and him being well provided for by his huntress.
We live in a dynamic period of movement and settling of prides, this is what makes Duba so exciting, it is never the same.
We have for 2 weeks now missed a group of 3 females, a young male (3 years old) and a one and half years cub after confrontation with the territorial male. We suspect they have moved to Paradise Island temporarily, a distant part of the concession. The other group of 4 with 2 cubs, who are believed to be seven months old, are also avoiding the alpha male just to protect the young cubs.
We see more Leopard Tortoises than Leopards at Duba normally – but not this month
General Game
We always cherish the sightings of leopards in Duba as this is one area where leopards are not common due the high levels of water and the number of lions roaming the area. The leopards that we see are usually very shy, preferring to move around without being noticed. This month has brought a handful of sightings to the great delight of our guests. More so is their impressive ability to survive in such a region of hostility. To be surrounded by three prides of Lion, all of who would decimate you in an instant must take stealth and courage. It can be only because there is an abundance of game that keeps the predator there. Please let us know if you have ever seen one at Duba?
Among the other interesting sightings we’ve seen this month would be the Pel’s fishing owl which seems to dominate the Old mokoro station area.
An Aardwolf is also one of the animals that are hardly seen and it has been a great month for them as the guides would most of the time see driving back to camp in the evenings.
There is nothing that beats the beauty of seeing a hippo outside the water and this is very common in Duba with guaranteed Hippos sightings during any stay either from the vehicles or on our boats.
We’ve had a great combination of spectacular moments this month when I accompanied two guests on an afternoon game-drive. Our guide Spike drove us through a deep channel of water to position us towards this beautiful sunset disappearing behind the horizons of the plains. In front of us there was a pond, home to a group of about 15 hippos whom were very inquisitive, making great sounds and displaying their amazing teeth. A glass of wine, amarula on the rocks and a ginger beer summed up this amazing afternoon.
The other general game that was seen would include;
Bat-eared fox, side stripped jackal, both of which are quite common here, giraffe, kudus, red lechwes and the amazing bird life of Duba Plains. In the summer Duba has some of the best birdlife in northern Botswana where populations increase by over 30% over the season.