News / Camp News

Ongava Lodge - July 2009

29 Jul 2009

Weather
The mornings and evenings continue to be cool while the afternoons much warmer, with temperatures averaging 14 -20° Celsius.

Wildlife Sightings
As the natural waterholes continue to dry out around Ongava Game Reserve, wildlife regularly visits the artificial waterholes, making it easier to enjoy the animals on game drive activities.

The sub-adult members of the Sonop Lion Pride are pushing more to the eastern part of the reserve, while the sub-adult members of Stompie's Pride are moving more to the western side of the reserve. There are new members to Stompie's Pride - three cubs about a month or two old have been spotted with one of the females, adding to the ever-growing lion population on Ongava.

As the lion population continues to thrive, and the cubs grow older, we are hoping the different prides will make contact, have a territorial dispute and the losers driven out of the reserve into Etosha National Park. This will help to control the number of lions on the reserve. We are very fortunate at the moment, as guests are almost guaranteed to see rhino and/or lion on an afternoon game drive activity.

Sightings of cheetah are improving as the area gets drier and more open. The cheetah always appear uneasy - probably due to the large population of lion on the reserve.

White rhino are still seen mostly in the far western part of the reserve (Sonop). This area is most suitable for them as it is has large open plains, lots of grass and abundant water. On rhino tracking activities here we are almost guaranteed of finding them. One of the females has been observed with a tiny calf, barely two months old.

Black rhino are regular visitors to the Ongava Lodge waterhole and the hide here is perfect for seeing animals up close. Our nature walks continue to be another pleasurable activity.

The morning drives into Etosha continue to be productive as the animals now concentrate around the waterholes. As the temperatures rise in the late mornings, we see lots of animals. The elephants have started coming to drink earlier; large herds of up to 50 animals have been seen at some waterholes during the late mornings and early afternoons. This is always exciting to see the young ones play in water or take a sand bath, and how they interact with each other and the adults.

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