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Raining Dogs in drought stricken Northern Botswana; early rains bring a lot of promise to the thirsty land; gobsmacked by my first time at Pom Pom; Million laughs tracking dogs and cheetah - Yet another Kwando safari October 2024.


madaboutcheetah

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madaboutcheetah

Dear All,

 

Back from another amazing safari in Botswana.  This time after a rough prior 6 months, so it really was a lovely trip and complete relaxation and de stress.  As usual, Many Thanks to my friend and guide, Spencer Mathambo for another amazing trip.  Thanks to my trackers(Kern, JD and Zuma), all the camp management and staff at the camps that really make it a joyful atmosphere with many laughs and a whale of a time ........ FYI (October 13th was the first rains of the season and it was an all night London style drizzle) so there is hope for the drought stricken parched land for the season ahead.  There were a couple other days of light rain and cloud cover ....... so, looks like early rains this season.

 

My itinerary went like this

 

4 nights Kwando Lagoon camp

3 nights 4 Rivers camp

3 nights Pom Pom camp

 

I think as a camp, 4 Rivers is quickly becoming my favourite in the Kwara concession. It's awesome camp atmosphere with Lets, AT and See in charge of camp and the quick short access to Tsum Tsum is a big draw to me.

 

Anyways, to start off - here's the first few pictures from Pom Pom and the super stars there - a pack of 20 (11 adults and 9 puppies) ....... I have no idea how or why I hadn't been to Pom Pom yet (I guess lack of availability last couple of trips) and I was completely Gobsmacked by the scenery and game density in a now very dry concession.

 

Warning: This report will have an overdose of Wild Dog images!!  

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Edited by madaboutcheetah
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madaboutcheetah

Nothing like playful puppies .... these images are right adjacent to camp next to the now drying lagoon in front of camp on my final morning.  I didn't have to go too far - in fact the dogs were too full from their meal the previous afternoon( stay tuned)  to go hunting and they chose to sleep near the staff village at night and it was easy to find them the next morning.


I opted to just stay with them until 9 am and head back to camp to shower and freshen up for my travels back home and even turned down the offer to drive 40 minutes to view the one lonely Rhino that was seen by the other fellow guests. 

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Edited by madaboutcheetah
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I am so glad you liked Pom Pom! We'll be there in in January. 

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Great start with wonderful dog images, Hari. Glad Kwando delivered again for the Indian High Commissioner to the partly sovereign nation of the Okavango!

Edited by AKR1
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Miss Biscuit

Gorgeous shots! I always love the ears. I hope to see them in person one day.

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Hari, perfect timing!  I hope you told everyone that they will see us in December!

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Oh this is SO timely!!!     Holy smokes!!    We are doing (3) Lagoon,   (3) PomPom (my favourite),    and (3) 4Rivers in less than a month's time!   I am very excited at the chance to see the dogs!!

 

Glad to hear of the early rains.......I've been reading of the drought conditions in Namibia,  Bots and Zimbabwe,    and so this is truly good news.

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6 hours ago, madaboutcheetah said:

even turned down the offer to drive 40 minutes to view the one lonely Rhino that was seen by the other fellow guests. 

 

Seems absolutely the best option, these dog pictures are really great. 

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madaboutcheetah

Thanks for your kind words @Pangolin@AKR1@Miss Biscuit@marg@Scooter@Biko

 

You guys heading off to Botswana in the next month or two will have an amazing time ...... as you know, Botswana always delivers!! 

 

@Scooter- you will love 4r.  It truly was awesome ..... In all honesty, I could have done all 10 nights in either one of those camps.  Lagoon felt very incomplete to me - I love that concession so much that i barely scratched the surface in 4 nights and didn't even get to go to many of my favourite areas. I was chasing dogs and cheetah the entire time.

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Atravelynn

So cute dogs and pups!  Will be following in your footsteps soon, at least Lagoon & 4 Rivers.

Edited by Atravelynn
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madaboutcheetah

Thanks @Atravelynn- You will have a great trip!! 

 

Can't get enough of the doggies .... rounding up my final morning (Saturday October 19th).  As you guys know, the Western section of the delta is fast drying up in recent years and the viewing is simply phenomenal with stunning Okavango scenery..... Just don't expect to see much delta water and of course, no boat trips any time soon. 

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offshorebirder

Thanks for doing this trip report @madaboutcheetah - I am very much looking forward to following along.   Great photos so far as usual.

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October 19th and you're already doing a trip report! That puts me to shame for sure.   Great photos as always. 

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Loving the dog photos.......can I ask,   what is the "toy" they have taken to arguing over?   At first glance,   it looks like something I might have in the garage,   but have no idea what is actually for lol.    

 

I am very much looking forward to the rest of this trip report.     Fantastic photos.......one day I will master getting shots of the FRONTS of dogs (instead of wagging tails from behind them)

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madaboutcheetah

Thanks @offshorebirder@Zubbie15and @Scooter

 

looks like a cable or something like it …. Looks like they picked up some trash to play with. 

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Alex The Lion

@madaboutcheetahGreat start, though I am waiting for the images from your final evening drive :D:D

Edited by Alex The Lion
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madaboutcheetah

@Alex The Lion- True!! It's going to take a bit of work to edit those...... :D  ....... You are going to have to make do with some kudu and other general game for today!:lol:

 

Here's some assorted images from the incredible Pom Pom areas .......  The area is also a stronghold for the Wattled crane and I was lucky to meet a research team that was based in camp for the week.  

 

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Edited by madaboutcheetah
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Atravelynn

Pelicans especially lovely

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offshorebirder

Kudu never show themselves in the open like that for me :-)    Always branches or brush in the way...

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madaboutcheetah

Thanks @Atravelynnand @offshorebirder

 

Still in Pom Pom ...... This instalment features flagship species in the concession.  I've followed social media for some time now and have seen many photographers come home with fabulous leopard pictures and that also ties in with meeting many guests at other camps over the years who'd been here.  Here goes a super relaxed Leopard Mum and Cub .... The cub was first in a thicket - but, soon came out to pose beautifully on a log. I didn't follow up later with this sighting simply because there were hungry dogs to follow ;) 

 

 

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Edited by madaboutcheetah
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On 10/24/2024 at 12:05 AM, madaboutcheetah said:

 

Warning: This report will have an overdose of Wild Dog images!!

  

 

@madaboutcheetahExcellent images to begin this TR. Wild Dogs have made an amazing comeback. I can remember when they were the holy grail of sightings.

 

It seems that where ever you safari in Africa these days you have a good chance of seeing dogs. Would you agree?

Like you I've just returned home from safari and on my trip I saw three packs.

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madaboutcheetah

Thanks @Geoff… I’m glad the dogs are doing well.

 

I think this time of the year with small puppies , they tend to take them over their territory/ home range to show them around. I agree with you - I’ve had a wild dog centric safari with 5 different packs numbering approx 80 dogs…. :)   However, I do agree with you, the dogs are definitely doing better.  For example., around 2004 when I first started going to say, the Kwara concession - you'd never have sightings of dogs like you do nowadays .......

Edited by madaboutcheetah
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Is it time to change your avatar to madaboutWildDogs?

Seriously great encounters and captures of your second-loved species. Wild Dogs are rally fun to observe and I love their dedication to play and family. 
And those leopards are precious as well. 
Thanks for sharing!

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Hope I am not jumping ahead too much.  Two years ago at Lagoon A new Alpha female had just joined the Moviembi pack of eight.  Is she still with the guys?  And, responsible for an increase in the size of the pack?  All of your dog sightings are very exciting!

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madaboutcheetah

Thanks @KaliCA

 

@marg- I do believe you refer to a dark coat female that came into the pack that year? I don’t believe she was still with the pack when I saw them last year 2023. In any case, in recent times that pack has drifted more south towards lebala / selinda side.  I missed them completely on this trip. 
 

up north in lagoon they were seeing a new pack of 6. However during my stay we discovered a completely new pack of 15 who have popped in from the mopane trying to take over the lagoon area. I hope they stay even after the rains start …. Spencer thinks it’s a break off from a super sized pack up way north where there’s no road network. Look forward to your sightings.  Even the pack of 6 could be a splinter from the large pack up north.

Edited by madaboutcheetah
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