There have been two spectacular sightings in Savute recently. The first was an awesome life-and-death fight between a slider mongoose and a particularly venomous snorted cobra. The little, but very persistent, mongoose was quite determined to make a meal out of the much bigger snake. He was biting on the snake’s tail (at the far end of the snake, nice and safely away from his venom) and would pull it every now and then. This would make the snake strike backwards and spit his venom. The little mongoose’s intention was to carry on biting and pulling the snake’s tail until the snake ran out of venom or got too exhausted, and then he would eat him. However after 30 minutes tug of war, the mongoose gave up - the snake was proving to be just that little bit too big and strong!

It is breeding season for the Kori Bustards in Savute. Kori Bustards are the largest flying birds in Africa, standing at nearly 4 feet and last week we saw a male Kori in full courtship display. It is a truly magnificent sight to behold as the oesophagus in the neck of the male is inflated to four times its normal size, the tail feathers are cocked so as to show as much of the white underfeathers as possible and the wings are dropped until the tips of the primaries touch the ground. The reason he goes to such lengths to show himself off to his chosen mate, is that contrary to most bird species where the males are the bright and colourful ones and the females are the dull ones, the male and female Kori Bustards look exactly the same. And so the male really has to do something very impressive to attract her – and big necks are it!

It is almost a year since we first reported water flowing in the mysterious river - which was known as the “stolen river” – the Savute Channel. Excitement is increasing as the Savute channel gets closer to Savute Elephant Lodge. It is now only 8kms away from the lodge and just 9kms further to what was once the channel’s final destination, the Savute Marsh.

In the Delta however, things are quite the opposite, with the water level dropping very fast as the floodwaters start drying up, leaving behind rich and fertile soil for lots of green grass to grow. The Khwai River level is also dropping, exacerbated by soaring temperatures.

Weather

Summer is here – it is hot, the days are long with the sun rising at 05:40 in the morning and setting at 06:40 in the evening. Big clouds are starting to build up in preparation for the rainy season, although there has been some rain during the past month.

Temperatures and rainfall in September:

Vegetation

The Savute and Khwai areas are vibrant; most of the trees and shrubs of the acacia species are bright green and in full foliage. The majestic camel thorn (acacia eroioloba) trees attract large herds of impala and wildebeest, journeys of giraffe and herds of elephants to their cool shade. The Kalahari apple (Lonchocapus nelssii) trees are providing much needed green leaves to the browsers; and the mopane trees (colophospermum mopane ) are also starting to green. By the way, did you know that trees lose their leaves in the dry season to conserve water?
The drying flood plains in Eagle Island and Khwai are vivid green with new grass growing in the fertile soil. At Eagle Island, the sycamore fig (ficus sycomorus) and common wild fig (ficus thonningii) trees are in season, attracting many birds.

Mammals

Leopards continue to top our sightings at Savute and Khwai. The local mother leopard and her cub frequently visit the fountain in Savute, and the once-shy cub has now become quite playful.
In Khwai, the regular sightings of mom and baby leopard are no more – they are growing apart as the cub grows older. This is quite normal as a cub spends up to the first18 months of its life with its mother and then they separate for life.

Lion sightings continue to be impressive – in Savute the two males with their two females are regularly spotted, and in Khwai the pride was sighted regularly not very far from camp. A few more lions were spotted from the helicopter flights at Eagle Island Camp.

Savute is establishing it self as “Wild Dog Area”. The regular pack of twelve was sighted on almost every game drive this month, and another more elusive pack of twenty-one has been sighted in the area once again.
The Khwai Wild Dog pack was also sighted regularly throughout the month.

Birds

With the water level going down in the Delta, more and more birds are attracted to Eagle Island. This is because water lilies and other aquatic root plants are exposed and many birds like to eat the roots. The endangered Wattled Cranes also love these roots, and if there is a snake too, then even better! Many of the Storks like to eat the fish that are stranded in the muddy sand left by the receding water - Marabou and Saddle-Billed Storks particularly love eating the barbell.

The spectacular Malachite Kingfisher, the elusive Pel’s Fishing Owl, the Black Egret, Little Egret and the Slaty Egret are all still regularly seen.

Reptiles

With the warm weather upon us, crocodiles are easily spotted spending most of their days basking on the river banks.

Hot off the Press - Helicopter Safaris offered at Khwai River Lodge

From January through March 2010, Khwai River Lodge guests will have the opportunity to experience an exhilarating helicopter flight over the Moremi Game Reserve. Renowned for its high game densities, the Moremi is best seen from the air to witness the many large herds moving across the plains. The helicopter, a Bell Jet Ranger, will fly with the doors off at low speeds to ensure an unparalleled ‘birds eye' view of game.

And lastly, this month we find out a little more about two people you are likely
to encounter when visiting
Savute Elephant Camp:

Barman and Chef, John Setshego
John was barman for ten years before being promoted to Chef. Serving food at the buffet table, he can continue chatting to the guests, as he used to do when he was barman. John says that people like to compare cultures, but one thing we all have in common is that we like to sit down and have something to eat and something to drink.

Waiter Lingane Gabobogwe
Lingane loves his job which allows him to sing a lot and share stories with guests about his people and his culture.

Until next time,
Onx