CAMP MOREMI - July 2008
The delta is going through a lot of noticeable changes at the moment. Winter has set in, and the evenings and early mornings are getting considerably colder. The flood water from further north is also now pushing through, causing the plains to slowly fill up and the crossings to getting considerably deeper.
Along with these environmental changes comes an ever diverse and exciting array of wildlife. We have had so much game activity in the Camp Moremi area, and a lot of it seems to be happening on our doorstep.
This morning we were notified by the Earth-Touch film crew that the resident Xakanaka lion pride had killed a buffalo not far from Camp Moremi. This was great news because for the past week the pride had been moving in areas further north of Dead Tree Island. This is an inaccessible area, but an area that the buffalo move through, therefore the reason the pride had been out of sight for the past week.
Along with these environmental changes comes an ever diverse and exciting array of wildlife. We have had so much game activity in the Camp Moremi area, and a lot of it seems to be happening on our doorstep.
This morning we were notified by the Earth-Touch film crew that the resident Xakanaka lion pride had killed a buffalo not far from Camp Moremi. This was great news because for the past week the pride had been moving in areas further north of Dead Tree Island. This is an inaccessible area, but an area that the buffalo move through, therefore the reason the pride had been out of sight for the past week.
The Xakanaxa lions are a very exciting and dynamic pride. There are two males, seven females, and eleven cubs of different ages. It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to watch these lions interact and play with each other. They are very calm creatures and are never too bothered by our presence when watching them. 
This morning the Camp Moremi game drive vehicles went out to see the pride and their kill which they had brought down at sunrise, a few hours before we got to them. The experience was a real eye opener for most of the guests. The females chewed away and tore at the flesh of the carcass in a determined and hurried manner, while the cubs climbed on top of each other, and the carcass, tearing off any amount of flesh their little teeth could saw through. 
The males lay in the morning sunshine until the rest of the pride had eaten. They then took their turn to tear off large hunks of meat from the quickly diminishing carcass.The pride ate the carcass throughout the day, occasionally strolling with their heavy bellies almost touching the ground down to Jesse’s Pools for a much needed drink.
Toward the end of the day the spine, skull and pelvis were all that was left of the buffalo. The adults lay on their backs in the dusk sunshine with swollen, achingly full stomachs while the cubs tried their luck at suckling from the uncooperative and tired females. Some of the cubs even harassed the sleepy males for some attention, but didn’t succeed to any great degree.
It was an amazing opportunity to be able to watch the interactions and personalities of the pride, One could never get tired of watching these beautiful and powerful creatures.
It was an amazing opportunity to be able to watch the interactions and personalities of the pride, One could never get tired of watching these beautiful and powerful creatures.
Mod, the Camp Moremi guide enjoying this sighting with guests.This article was submitted by Kirsty Roberts - Camp Moremi Manager
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