Xigera Camp - October 2008
14 Nov 2008
Weather
October has turned out to be a hot month as expected with average high temperatures around the 35 degrees Celsius mark and some days pushed close to 40 degrees in the shade. There has been no significant rain as yet but it is definitely threatening, thunder clouds are building and we expect it to rain very soon. We are really looking forward to some rain as it has not rained in six months.
Water Levels
With the flood levels very low at this time of year we have moved our motor boats to Xigera Lagoon. We can access the main channel (Boro) more easily from there. The lower water level around camp allows for more game to be seen from mokoro because animals like red lechwe are moving in to graze.
The highlight for us has been the increased sightings of Sitatunga antelope. We have seen them on a regular basis on the Xigera floodplains by boat. These shy, secretive antelope are seldom seen and some lucky guests have succeeded in getting some very good photographs of them.
The other characteristic Okavango species that has been seen with regulatory is the Pel's fishing-owl. We have had very good sightings of this piscatorial hunter right in camp. The best way to find them is to go out on mokoro and search the tall tree canopy on the edge of the islands. Sometimes a short walk along the tree line is needed.
Pink-Backed Pelicans are feeding in front of camp where the water is drying up and small fish are trapped in the floodplain. They are joined by Whiskered Terns, Yellow-Billed Storks, Marabou Storks and Slaty Egrets. The summer migrants have also arrived like the Wahlberg's Eagle, Broad-billed Roller and Yellow-Billed Kite but the most notable is the arrival of the Woodland Kingfisher. This beautifully coloured kingfisher with its diagnostic call is the epitome of summer in the bush!
There have also been good sightings of elephant, leopard, spotted hyaena, tsessebe, greater kudu and reedbuck on the main island.
-The Xigera Team-
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