This October, wildlife activity in South Luangwa has been at its peak, offering guests unforgettable sightings. Our guides have been busy tracking predators and their interactions, capturing the essence of life in this vibrant ecosystem. Here’s a summary of the remarkable wildlife encounters from this month.

1st October

On a morning game drive, Elias and his guests tracked 13 members of the Mwamba-Kaingo pride near Aardvark Loop, feasting on an old buffalo bull. That afternoon, they spotted the young male leopard, known as Baboon Sniper, close to the Old Mobile Hide, drinking and watching impala in the distance.

Baboon sniper

2nd October

In the morning, Elias and his guests found Mwezi near Guinea Fowl Plain, moving from Hippo Hide towards the Old Mobile Hide, attempting a hunt.

During the afternoon, Elias and his guests encountered Chipazua by the Hippo Hide, searching for impala and looking for a tree to rest in; she eventually settled in an ebony tree. That same afternoon, Philemon and his guests spotted Chipazua’s son, Chisomo, resting in a tree at Lion Plain.

Mwezi

Chisomo

Chipazua

3rd October

On a morning game drive, Elias and his guests heard alarm calls near Lion Plain and found Chipazua’s daughter, Taonga, up in a sausage tree stalking impalas.

That afternoon, they spotted Chisomo by Debb’s Tree, feeding on a buffalo carcass left by a hyena

Taonga

Chisomo

4th October

During the morning, Patrick and his guests saw two large male lions sleeping in the Odi area. That afternoon near Debb’s Tree, they found Chisomo well-fed after feeding on the buffalo from the previous day.

Chisomo

5th October

On a morning game drive, Philemon and his guests tracked five females from the Mwamba-Kaingo pride resting near Long Cut Crossing, later finding Chisomo still feeding on the buffalo near Debb’s Tree. During the afternoon, Patrick and his guests saw Mwezi attempting to hunt antelope from her vantage point in a sausage tree but failing.

Mwezi

6th October

In the afternoon, Patrick and his guests saw Mwezi by the Nsefu area, hunting from a sausage tree and successfully killing an impala before losing it to a hyena.

Mwezi

7th October

On a morning game drive, Elias and his guests spotted Tyson south of Kaingo in a sausage tree with an impala kill. In the afternoon, they found a male lion from the Mwamba-Kaingo pride resting near Chamboo by a stream.

Tyson

13th October

On a morning drive, Elias and his guests saw the Mwamba-Kaingo pride at the Mwamba Hide, where a crocodile caught an impala. Seven lions scavenged the kill. Later, they found Chisomo up in a tree at Lion Plain after being chased by a pack of wild dogs. After a while, he descended and walked off into the distance.

Chisomo

14th October

In the afternoon near Waterbuck Lagoon, Elias and his guests spotted four Hollywood pride members eating a buffalo stuck in the mud. Later that day, they observed three females and two males from the pride near Fish Eagle Lagoon, relaxing under a sausage tree after killing a large male buffalo.

16th October

On a morning game drive by Fish Eagle Lagoon, Philemon and his guests found a male and four females from the Hollywood pride resting under a sausage tree. That afternoon, they witnessed members of the pride killing a buffalo nearby and later tracked Chisomo up a tree with an impala kill.

17th October

During an afternoon drive, Patrick and his guests found Chisomo feeding on an impala in a tree near the Main Shelf, possibly taken from Chipazua, who was nearby and previously feeding on it.

18th October

In the morning, Patrick and his guests found Chisomo sleeping in a sausage tree at Elephant Bend, looking well-fed. They later saw two male and three female Hollywood pride members resting under a sausage tree near Fish Eagle Lagoon, also looking well-fed after a buffalo meal.

21st October

On a morning drive, Mwezi and an older male leopard were seen mating near the Ebony Grove. They were also seen mating in a tree which is quite unusal.

22nd October

In the morning, Mwezi was spotted close to Kaingo Camp, sleeping under a Natal Mahogany tree. Two young males and one female from the Mwamba-Kaingo pride, were also seen sleeping and appearing well-fed at Long Cut Crossing.

During the afternoon by Pelican Lagoon, a male and female from the Hollywood pride were seen feeding on a buffalo that had gotten stuck in the mud.

23rd October

On a morning game drive, Patrick and his guests encountered 12 lions—a mix of males and females from the Mwamba-Kaingo pride—feeding on a buffalo along the river’s edge. That same morning, they found 14 lions from the Nsefu pride at the Main Shelf, feeding on another buffalo. In the afternoon, they watched 14 Nsefu pride members face off with the Hollywood pride in a territorial standoff. Outnumbered, the Hollywood pride withdrew.

24th October

On a morning game drive, Patrick and his guests spotted an unknown male resting in a tamarind tree by the Old Mobile Hide, appearing well-fed. In the afternoon, they found Chipazua in an ebony tree, feeding on a baboon.

Chipazua

25th October

In the morning, Patrick and his guests saw Chipazua by Fish Eagle Lagoon, prowling towards Pelican Lagoon. Near Pelican Lagoon, they found 14 members of the Nsefu pride feeding on a buffalo. During the afternoon, they observed a lioness from the Mwamba-Kaingo pride at Long Cut Crossing with two small cubs.

We hope you enjoyed this captivating glimpse into the world of big cats at Shenton Safaris. Stay tuned for more exciting updates next season!

The Shenton Family

For previous Big Cat Round-Up features, please click here.

About Megan Woolley

Megan Woolley has written 55 post in this blog.