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June 2026 - Week 2 Roundup
- Jun 8
- 3 min read
Updated: 10 hours ago
7th - 13th June 2026
Southern Giraffe
Sighted on: 13.June.2026
While conducting our afternoon fence line patrol yesterday, we encountered a healthy journey of Southern giraffes moving parallel to the boundary. The herd exhibited highly relaxed, undisturbed behavior, demonstrating a complete comfort level with our presence and the vehicle.
They were actively browsing, utilizing their prehensile tongues to navigate the thorns of the acacia canopy and trumpet thorn bushes. The individuals showed great group cohesion, moving fluidly together while maintaining high situational awareness, with a few mature individuals acting as sentinels elevating their heads to survey the surrounding sand veld terrain while the rest of the herd fed peacefully.
There were a few adult males among the journey actively checking the reproductive status of the females. We observed the bulls trailing the females closely to test for estrus. Interestingly, the males kept a respectful distance from one another, intentionally giving each other space and carefully avoiding any direct confrontation or necking displays.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Impala
Sighted on: 11.June.2026
The quiet of the afternoon was suddenly broken by an explosive display of pure athleticism and territorial rivalry. Two male impalas flying across an open pan clearing, tearing after each other and kicking up a massive cloud of Kalahari dust. With their ears pinned back and legs fully extended, this high-energy chase was a front-row seat to the intense bachelor herd dynamics that keep the bush alive.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Southern Pied Babblers
Sighted on: 11.June.2026
A great look at this classic Kalahari species nestled in the branches. They were actually busy grooming each other when we watched them, which is a huge part of how these incredibly social birds maintain their tight group dynamics and reinforce their family bonds.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Plains Zebra
Sighted on: 10.June.2026
A small harem was grazing peacefully on the golden winter grass. Their monochrome stripes look incredible out here, creating a perfect camouflage as they move together through the patchy light and shadows under the acacias.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Common Eland
Sighted on: 10.June.2026
We spotted a magnificent, heavy-set bull watching us calmly from the thicket. Despite their massive size, these gentle giants are total masters of stealth, using the dense, thorny bushes to blend right into the background while resting up during the heat of the day.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Greater Kudu
Sighted on: 09.June.2026
With a sharp bark alarm call alerting the females, this magnificent greater kudu bull wasted no time taking off into the thickets. As he bounded away, the striking white underside of his tail flashed brightly—a natural beacon acting as a "follow me" sign for the herd.
A beautiful example of the intelligence and adaptation of these elegant antelope, members of the Tragelaphine tribe, where communication and survival go hand in hand.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Zizie Seitaa
Southern Giraffe
Sighted on: 08.June.2026
An open mouth revealed the remarkable adaptations of this magnificent solitary male giraffe. The clear difference between the upper and lower lips highlights their specialized functions, with the highly flexible upper lip expertly designed for grasping and selecting leaves among thorny branches.
A fascinating glimpse into the feeding adaptations that make giraffes masters of browsing in the Kalahari.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Zizie Seitaa
Bearded Woodpecker
Sighted on: 08.June.2026
The rhythmic drumming and striking plumage of a female Bearded Woodpecker made for a memorable photographic encounter. Clinging effortlessly to the tree trunk, this woodpecker revealed the beautiful patterns and colours that make the woodpecker family so captivating to observe.
A rewarding Kalahari birding sighting, showcasing both beauty and behaviour in perfect harmony.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Zizie Seitaa
Lion
Sighted on: 07.June.2026
Encountered directly on the double-track reserve road, two young sub-adult lions are resting side by side on the soft, open sand. They frequently use these cleared vehicle paths to travel easily through the bush or to rest where they have a unobstructed view of their immediate surroundings before moving back into the thicker brush.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Springbok
Sighted on: 07.June.2026
A large herd of springboks is spread widely across the golden, expansive grasslands of the Kalahari pan system. They are peacefully foraging and browsing on hardy shrubs under a clear blue sky, relying on the wide-open terrain to give them a distinct line of sight against approaching predators.
Content Creator / Photographer:
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