Linyanti Wildlife Reserve newsletters – July 2025

Winter in the Linyanti

Winter still has its claws firmly around DumaTau!  July brought crisp, golden mornings and chilly evenings, with the mercury dipping to a brisk 7°C at dawn and climbing to a pleasant 28°C under the afternoon sun. Perfect weather for layering up with a bush baby (hot water bottle) and sipping a steaming cup of coffee before heading out on your early morning game drive. 

Sightings

On the subject of the wild dog pack, our guides tracked down their den site, where the alpha female was nursing a new litter of pups – a rare and heartwarming moment that left guests enchanted. 

Elsewhere across the Linyanti, the lion activity unquestionably confirmed DumaTau’s name (which means roar of the lion in Setswana), and reputation as a lion paradise.  

The elephant-hunting specialists – a pride of seven lions – was found gorging on a young elephant, a vivid testament to the skills of these apex predators. The guides suspected they had taken it down the previous night, as there were clear signs of the struggle all around. 

The legendary Army Boys male lions (now just two brothers) were spotted in the west of the concession, resting. Meanwhile, three big males were also spotted resting, near Backflow. 

A solitary lioness was seen on a hunting mission in the eastern woodlands, locked on an unseen prey. On another drive, guides spotted a sub-adult male snoozing under a leadwood tree, where he had found cover from the warmer temperatures of the day.  

Nature’s drama is never far when you’re in the Linyanti: in an amazing leopard encounter, a male was spotted feeding on a dead hippo, while keeping watch for crocodiles that were not far from the river bank where the carcass was.

In other spotted cat news, an unknown female leopard was seen snoozing to the west of camp near Old DumaTau, soaking up the winter sun, while to the delight of guests, one of our resident leopardesses, known as Supra, nearly pulled off an epic ambush on a herd of impalas near the staff soccer field – until the ever-alert birds sounded the alarm, sending the antelopes bolting.  

The hyena clan was out in force, patrolling their territory in search of an easy meal. These scavenging strategists, which are equally great hunters, are in peak condition, and were spotted feeding on the remains of an elephant that had been left by one of the local prides.
The elephants are back! Huge bulls have been seen browsing around camp, while breeding herds were seen swimming and drinking right in front of both DumaTau and Little DumaTau – the very definition of our Linyanti magic. 

Guest feedback

“What a beautiful and heartwarming moment! It’s these kinds of genuine, unexpected interactions that truly set Wilderness apart in the safari industry.  

“By inviting Mr Tswelelo [our Safety Officer] to engage with the guests, you not only highlighted the importance of his role but also gave visitors a deeper appreciation for the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into their safety and overall experience. It’s rare for guests to get such personal insights into the team’s dedication, and I’m sure they were just as enchanted as you were!  

“This is what makes Wilderness so special – the people, the passion, and the commitment to creating meaningful connections. Moments like these remind us why hospitality in the wilderness is about more than just luxury; it’s about authenticity, storytelling, and shared appreciation for the magic of the bush”.

Staff in camp 

• Lopang "Lops" Rampeba – Camp GM
• Lance Williamson – Executive Chef
• Dolly Michael – Housekeeping Manager
• Tumisang Phala – Maintenance Manager
• Joanah Matlhomola – Camp Manager
• Goseego GG Mosweu – Guest Relations Manager
• Alice Monaatlala – Camp Admin
• Girlie Orapeleng – Trainee Manager

Guides in camp

Our legendary trackers and storytellers never miss a beat:  

• Ronald Masule  
• Morotsi "Rogers" Kesietswe  
• Tsholo Shandakao  
• Boikobo "BK" Chinyepi
• Gagoope Sonny Monnafela  
• Kevin Welio  

July highlights from the heart of the wild Linyanti

As we bid farewell to July, the wilderness around camp continues to gift us unforgettable moments. Temperatures are gradually warming, and a fresh breeze now dances through the bush – an early sign that August winds are on their way.

Savuti wildlife sightings – nothing short of spectacular

A big pack of wild dogs was seen with their energetic pups, providing rare and memorable sightings for our guests. Nearby, a good number of hippos have gathered in one of the remaining water pools, creating a peaceful scene that contrasts with their usual activity.

Elephants have graced the camp waterhole regularly, their ponderous arrivals creating great excitement among guests and staff alike. In one unforgettable moment, several of these majestic animals made it clear that they, too, are kings of the bush, outshining even the lions in a moment of strength and dominance.

The Linyanti lions will not be outdone though…

The lions’ deeply affecting roars echoed through the nights, all month. At one sighting, guests did not even have to leave camp when several of these big cats were spotted drinking from the waterhole in camp, giving our visitors an up-close view of their awe-inspiring presence. 

An enormous pride – 24 lions – including playful cubs, was seen enjoying a moment of bonding. And in a dramatic turn, a leopard was chased up a tree by another pride after trying to sneak in for a drink – an electrifying scene straight from a wildlife documentary.

Other enjoyable sightings included a stately ostrich strutting his stuff in the plains, adding a quirky highlight to the month's avian checklist.

Even as the bush dries out, the landscapes remain alive with energy, mystery, and wonder – and we’re privileged to experience it all here, with you, at the heart of it.

Staff news

As the month ends, the team remains strong and we are proud to introduce new members to the team: Matilda Motheo, F&B Manager, and Guide Kemelo Kopano, who is returning to the team after a few years of working with one of our sister camps.

Winter landscapes of the Linyanti 

As we move into the heart of winter in the southern hemisphere, July at Linyanti Tented Camp was naturally quite chilly, with the lowest temperatures being 6°C (42.8°F) and an average of 9°C (48.2°F), and the highest being 29°C (84.2°F), with an average of 27°C (80.6°F). 

The month was dominated by windy mornings and nights, pushing guests to don multiple layers and scarves, further warmed by ponchos and bush babies on the vehicles for their early morning game drives. From these icy starts, it was quite a drastic contrast as the temperatures soared during the day with clear skies and sunny weather, forcing them to peel off the layers on their way back to camp. 

The vegetation has noticeably thinned out, especially the grasses, due to the dry and windy weather; furthermore, most of the trees have now lost their leaves. The channel in front of Linyanti Tented Camp is drying up, and the view from the western side of the camp is quite interesting as the channel is almost completely mud now, while the eastern side is still holding some water. 

Wildlife

Elephants are beginning to come into camp, and have been spotted by the walkways, around our guest tents, along the main roads, etc. One outstanding sighting in camp was a hippo kicking its young calf out of its territory just in front of West Camp’s main area. We also saw a herd of buffalos fairly close to East Camp. A few sitatunga were seen grazing near the main areas on different occasions – a thrilling sighting indeed for guests to spot these extremely shy and elusive aquatic antelope.

We don’t actually see predators in camp, but lion and leopard pawprints are seen in the mornings. Their chest-rattling roaring has been heard almost every night though, late, and in the early mornings, coming from the Namibian side, but none were spotted. 

On our Linyanti Concession we did see quite a few lions though – two adult males, an adult female, five sub-adult males, three sub-adult females, and one juvenile male. 

An adult female leopard, an adult female cheetah and two juvenile males were also sighted. Most of the animals were seen either resting, sleeping or finishing up their kills. The hyenas are still at their usual den, and the pups are all grown.

Birds & birding

We have seen a lot of the migratory species flying around, including European rollers, but also spotted were white-backed vultures, pied kingfishers and African fish eagles, to mention but a few. 

The lesser striped swallow couple at West Camp’s main area are still around, and are now attempting to extend their nest and make it twice as big as last month’s, which has collapsed again. 

Our resident crested barbet still frequents the office every day, and recently appeared with a bloody beak, which could be from its prey species (they feed on insects, other birds' eggs, fruit and even mice).

We have been seeing a handful, or covey, of francolins moving around camp, all of them accompanied by tiny little chicks. However, it looks like they are ever so slowly moving away.

The lesser striped swallow couple’s new, bigger nest

Reptiles

Since winter is not over yet, we have not seen our resident black mamba, and we imagine that it is still in hibernation. The regular lizards are seen on the boardwalks, basking in the sun every morning, and trying to avoid the freezing shade as much as possible.

Camp activities

The Beach has proven to be our most popular outdoor spot this month, utilised for sundowners, and our guests are really thrilled by the views. The fact that it is close to camp is a bonus after a long day out in the wilderness. 

Not only has the bush been an absolute delight for our guests, but even just around our rustic little paradise the early morning views of the sunrises, and evening sunsets around the fire, were just spectacular – and all the guests would attest to that. 

Our traditional boma evening acts were also out of this world, with the clear skies and the minimal light pollution adding to the theatrical experience.

Staff news

This month all our staff are still ours, no transfers in or out. We did have some company staff members visiting us to help upgrade camp performance; they were Bevan from Service & Standards and Moses from Food Experience. 

Managers in camp: Olly, Brie, Shadi & Chawa

Compiled by Shadi