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September 2026 - Week 4 Roundup
Updated: Oct 5
20th - 26th September 2026
Trumpet Thorn, Giraffe, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl & Lion
Sighted on: 26.September.2026
Today’s game drives brought us a wonderful mix of Kalahari sightings, showcasing everything from delicate plant life to apex nocturnal predators.
We started by taking a closer look at the Trumpet Thorn (Catophractes alexandri) coming into bloom, its crisp white flowers bringing a welcome burst of life to the dry branches. As we explored further, we spent time watching a solitary giraffe quietly browsing among the low canopy in the late afternoon sun.
As day turned to night, a Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl gave us a classic Kalahari silhouette, perched high on a dead acacia snag against the fading evening light. We capped off the evening drive with a memorable encounter with a lioness, resting comfortably right on the warm, sandy track during her nocturnal patrol.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Steenbok - Camera Trap
Sighted on: 26.September.2026
Caught under the cover of dark, this sleek steenbok moves cautiously with alert ears and eyes reflecting the infrared sensor light. These small, solitary antelopes are master adapters of the Kalahari, obtaining almost all their required moisture from the vegetation they browse.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Warthog - Camera Trap
Sighted on: 26.September.2026
A warthog stepping briskly across the open, sun-baked terrain in the late afternoon heat. Notable for its coarse, bristly coat, curved tusks, and habit of running with its tail held high, it is a classic sight near our open pans.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
African Wild Dogs
Sighted on: 25.September.2026
Out on our morning drive through the Blinkblaar sector, we were treated to an incredible encounter with a pack of African wild dogs as they gathered around a muddy waterhole.
Watching these "painted wolves" at close range gave us a remarkable look at their distinct physical features their uniquely patterned tricolor coats of black, yellow, and white, along with their large, rounded ears tuned to the surrounding bush. Even without fresh tracks to follow, locating the pack actively wading through the shallow mud to drink and cool off was a special highlight.
Seeing wild dogs in the Central Kalahari holds immense ecological significance. As highly wide-ranging apex predators, their presence is a key indicator of a healthy, intact ecosystem. By keeping prey populations vigilant and mobile, they help maintain balanced vegetation cover and support the overall biodiversity of the reserve.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Crimson-breasted Shrike
Sighted on: 24.September.2026
Encountering one of the most striking birds of the Kalahari, a species unlikely to be confused with any other, is always a memorable sighting. With its brilliant crimson underparts, it is almost impossible to miss and makes for an unmistakable identification on a game drive.
As a shrike, its diet consists mainly of invertebrates, particularly beetles, ants and caterpillars, although it also feeds on fruit.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Spotted Bush Snake
Sighted on: 24.September.2026
During our drives, we encountered this elegant and very swift snake, an excellent climber and swimmer that is equally at home on the ground, in the bushes and trees of the dry areas, and along rivers and streams.
Diurnal in nature, it hunts mainly geckos, frogs, toads and other diurnal lizards. Here, it displayed a fascinating hunting behaviour, raising its head and undulating it from side to side as it focused on its prey before darting forward.
When disturbed, it inflates its throat, but it rarely bites.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Common Eland
Sighted on: 24.September.2026
Capturing this incredible moment of pause and observation, a male Common Eland stands alert, its impressive stature reaching up to 1.6 metres at the shoulder and its weight sometimes approaching 900 kg. The male is darker in colour and considerably larger than the female.
This large antelope tolerates a variety of habitats, including semi-desert and woodland savanna. It is a selective mixed feeder, both grazing and browsing, and uses its horns to break off branches and access leaves. It can also survive for extended periods without drinking water, obtaining much of the moisture it needs from the vegetation it consumes.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Common Centipede
Sighted on: 24.September.2026
The Common Centipede is a long, reddish-yellow arthropod with numerous legs, belonging to the class Chilopoda. It is capable of regenerating lost legs over successive moults.
Its bite can cause pain and swelling in humans, although it is generally not considered dangerous.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Lavender Fever Berry Tree
Sighted on: 24.September.2026
The seasonal transition in the Kalahari becomes particularly evident after the first rains, when the vegetation begins to respond almost immediately. During the second week of September, we received 6 mm of rainfall, an early shower ahead of the main rainy season, and the Lavender Fever Berry Tree was among the plants that responded noticeably.
Its leaves have a silvery sheen on the underside, covered with tiny russet scales, while bright orange leaves appear among the foliage. The leaves are aromatic when crushed, and the flowers are creamy in colour.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Wild Sage
Sighted on: 24.September.2026
Wild Sage adds another seasonal burst of colour to the Kalahari ecosystem, with its blooms appearing as the landscape responds to the first rains.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Ground Agama
Sighted on: 23.September.2026
Some of the Kalahari’s most interesting encounters are often the smallest. During the morning fence check, a Ground Agama was spotted basking in the warm afternoon sun. A small but colourful reptile, perfectly adapted to the Kalahari, and another reminder that there is always something to notice when you take the time to look.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Helmeted Guineafowls, Sabota Lark & Pied Crow
Sighted on: 22.September.2026
Our guests enjoyed a beautiful afternoon of birdwatching to round off our Kalahari drive.
Guineafowls climbed into a camel thorn after catching the last glimpse of the sunset before settling in to roost. A warm golden glow wrapped around the melodic Sabota Lark, while a Pied Crow paused in ready motion, moments away from take-off.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Bat - eared Fox
Sighted on: 21.September.2026
During our game drive today, we had an exceptional encounter with a bat-eared fox resting low in an open clearing, offering a wonderful look into how these small carnivores adapt to the Kalahari environment.
Instead of retreating into thick vegetation, the fox settled into a shallow depression in the dry grass. Resting in open ground allows it to use its sandy coat for natural camouflage while keeping an unobstructed 360-degree view to spot potential predators like raptors or jackals.
Even while resting, its oversized ears were actively at work. The large pinnae help dissipate body heat during warmer daylight hours, while constantly swiveling toward the ground to detect the subtle movement of harvester termites beneath the topsoil. It was a great demonstration for our guests of how every physiological adaptation in the desert serves a clear, dual purpose for survival.
Content Creator / Photographer:
Mogomotsi Maboga
Northern Black Korhaan & Lion
Sighted on: 20.September.2026
During the routine management patrol across our sector, we logged two key wildlife encounters.
In an open clearing, we observed a female Northern Black Korhaan (Afrototis afraoides) actively foraging along the sandy substrate. Recording ground-dwelling bird species helps us track avian distribution and insect activity across the open pans.
Later in the patrol, we located a lion (Panthera leo) resting in dense shade beneath an acacia thicket. We were able to observe her at close range without disturbance, noting her strong body condition, clear amber eyes, and relaxed behavior.
Documenting these routine sightings during non-guest operational drives ensures continuous, detailed monitoring of our core territory.
Content Creator / Photographer:
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