Cats and dogs of southern Africa

We have just completed a four-week self-drive road trip of 6,500 kms. The journey began in Johannesburg, South Africa, and ended in Kasane, northern Botswana, close to the Zambian border (the red line in map below roughly outlines the route).

The safari took us through some excellent national parks, including the Kgalagadi Trans-Frontier Park on the South Africa-Botswana border, Etosha in Namibia as well as Moremi Game Reserve plus Savuti, Khwai, Ghoha Hills, and Riverfront within the Chobe National Park in northern Botswana. In addition to covering these parks, the trip went through landscapes with great views in Namibia, including Fish River Canyon and Sossusvlei in Namibia (see blog post from 12 June 2023 titled "Travelling in Distance and Time in Namibia).

The road trip was particularly rich in sighting of cats and dogs. We kicked off with nine huge Lions in Kgalagadi - see also blog post from 12 June 2023 titled "The Lions of Rooiputs").

Kgalagadi also 'delivered' half a dozen Honey Badgers and a Cheetah kill.

On our way out of the park, we caught three Lion cubs playing on the slopes of the sand dunes of the lower Nossob River.

In Namibia, we encountered Bat Eared Fox near Luderitz.

Later, in Etosha we were presented with the exciting spectacle of a Lion chasing a Leopard up a tree (see also blog post from 15 June 2023 “Lion Shows Leopard Who's Boss - And Foregoes A Meal”).

In Khwai, we tracked a young Leopard, which soon flushed out an Africa Wild Cat, a lifer for me. The same evening, we spotted a Serval Cat as we sat around the camp fire (sadly no photo).

We also came across a Lion couple in the throes of pro-creation; the young male Lion sporting a bruised (broken?) nose.

The next morning, we found a Leopard eating an Impala at the foot of a tree in Northern Moremi.

In Ghoha Hills, we came upon a den of Wild Dogs...

...and then arrived just in time to see four of the dogs chase a hyena off a Kudu kill.

The hyena was not best pleased as it retreated.

Throughout the trip, we spotted jackals, both the black backed and white-striped variety. Here a black-backed jackal munching on a giraffe!

One life. Live it.

End