News / Camp News

Vumbura Plains - June 2009

06 Jul 2009

Weather
It has been a month of extremes as far as the weather is concerned, with temperatures fluctuating between extremely cold and unseasonably mild. Mid month, we were lashed by a couple of big storms and heavy rain - something very unusual, if not unheard of, at this time of year. We received about 50 mm in two days which, considering our average yearly rainfall is 500 mm, is about a tenth of this amount. This made our animals run for cover and stand with their backs turned to the cold rain, but made for great drives the morning that it cleared. There is nothing quite like driving through the African bush after a rainstorm, with the clouds clearing and the dust settled while the fresh smells, sounds and sights assault the senses. The rain also topped up the many floodplains and waterways of the Delta.

Wildlife
The sighting of the month was definitely the two Kwedi white rhino. The tracks were seen by Ona early one morning on his way to the airstrip. The quick reaction by Andy and the other available guides, as well as their amazing tracking skills, produced the first sighting of these rhino in over six months. Moronga then quickly gathered his guests and headed out to the area, and O.B walked them into viewing distance of these prehistoric-looking beasts.

The wild dog sightings this month have been fantastic, with both packs showing themselves regularly. They are forever the crowd pleaser with their amazing social behaviour as well as their voracious appetites and fearless hunting skills. Two dogs were somehow left behind and split from the pack, with a third one joining them a few days later. This new small pack has been in and around Vumbura Plains for the last couple of weeks.

Selonyana, our resident female leopard, has been regularly seen throughout June; at times on impala kills, and of course, often spread out on a branch up a tree surveying her territory. She is absolutely magnificent. Sadly, however, her cub is now confirmed dead, so the legacy of the Marula male, our once proud male leopard, who was killed earlier this year, is now gone.

The lion cubs, however, are doing well and full of fun. They have been watched playing with each other and even with their father, who is not often responsive to his cubs' playfulness. 

Our usual elephant sightings, plus the rarer sable sightings, as well as all the myriads of bird and mammal life present in the area have kept all our guests enthralled through the month.

Activities by Boat
With the high level of flood water, we managed to navigate a brand new channel from the end of camp through to the main channel East of Pipi Island. In times of flooding this will give us access to a new area to boat, an area remarkably beautiful and untouched.  The guides and our proud boat captains, Sparks and Pro, have had an amazing time exploring the area. One of the islands we have landed on has very recent tracks of the rare sitatunga, an antelope restricted to the papyrus and reed beds, in the heart of the delta.

Guest Comments
"This place is amazing, I'll never forget Botswana, and it has been so much fun. Thanks for everything" Lizzy, Colorado, U.S.A
"An amazing way to celebrate Dad's birthday. Awesome place!" Anil and Tina. Mumbai, India.
"Thanks to all at Vumbura! This is a beautiful and unforgettable place. Our trip was absolutely INCREDIBLE" Paul and Brenda. Hamburg, Germany.

Camp Staff
Managers this month at Vumbura Plains North were Tanya Karovsky, Gordon Karovsky, Phenyo Tlalenyane and the guides were Moronga Kandondi, Sebonta Thekiso Onamile Lekgopho.
Managers at Vumbura Plains South Zara Shaikh and Frank Matomela  and guides were Obonye Kamela, Setsile Chikusi  and Lethebe Sethwara.

Images courtesy of Gordon Karovsky

Browse our RSS feed page and sign up for the most up to date news as it breaks.

More about Vumbura Plains