Wilderness Linyanti Wildlife Reserve camps newsletters – June 2025

As June dawned upon us, winter crept in with a quiet but determined chill. The mornings greeted us with frosty breath, and the evenings wrapped themselves in icy whispers, as the temperatures began their steady descent. The once-warm sun now shared the sky with brisk, biting winds that danced through the trees, reminding us that the heart of winter was near.  

From the crack of dawn at a shivering 8°C, the mild afternoons peaked at around 25°C.

Big cat drama at DumaTau

The wild pulse of DumaTau beat strong this month, offering our guests and guides front-row seats to the raw drama and intricate strategies of the bush. Predators large and small showcased their skills, while the ever-present dance of hunter and hunted played out across our diverse Linyanti landscapes.

All eyes were on a formidable adult female lion near the Savuti Channel. Demonstrating leonine patience and power, she was seen stalking and successfully bringing down a large warthog. The hard-won prize didn't go to waste; the same lioness was later spotted in the vicinity, feeding on the warthog. After such exertion, she was seen resting by the site of the original DumaTau camp – a powerful image of the present inhabiting the past. 

Meanwhile, near the Giraffe Bone area, another skilled lioness proved her prowess. She was observed intently hunting, her focus set on a red lechwe. The outcome of this particular hunt was unsuccessful, but the sighting underscored the constant cycle of the food chain, and the focus of these relentless apex predators.

Our enigmatic spotted cats were also active. The well-known female leopard, MmaDibuka, was sighted moving purposefully towards the water near the bridge – a vital resource in the dry season. 

In another riveting encounter, an unidentified female leopard attempted her luck on a group of juvenile kudus. While the hunt itself was ultimately not successful, witnessing the leopard's strategy unfold, followed by the heart-stopping moment the kudus detected the danger and exploded into evasive action, created a truly unforgettable and educational spectacle. It was a masterclass in prey awareness.

The painted dogs return!

Exciting news echoed through camp: Our formidable pack of 20+ African wild dogs is back! Their return was dramatic. Tracked diligently by one of our guides, the pack surged towards the DumaTau area. Their target? An unsuspecting impala. In a breathtaking display of co-ordinated speed and strategy, the dogs cornered their quarry right near camp and made a swift kill, a powerful reminder of nature's relentless cycle and the wild dogs' exceptional efficiency.

An opportunist strikes

The circle of life often involves unexpected twists. In a classic scene, a lone hyena was spotted brazenly (and successfully) stealing a hard-won carcass from a leopard. It was a stark lesson in the harsh realities and opportunistic nature of survival in the wild.

Quiet giants on the move

Elephants, the undisputed titans of the bush, dominated our Linyanti landscape in magnificent numbers. Towering bulls, their tusks gleaming in the sunlight, moved with quiet authority through the mopane woodlands. Not to be outdone, breeding herds — mothers with their playful calves — wandered closer to camp, their rumbling echoing through the riverine thickets.  

One evening, as the sun dipped low over the lagoon, casting long shadows across the water, guests were treated to a spectacle that defines DumaTau’s magic — a grand elephant crossing. A procession of these majestic creatures waded through the river, trunks raised like periscopes, their sheer size and grace leaving everyone breathless. It was a sighting that reminded us why elephants are the soul of the African wilderness.  

Hippos & crocs: Riverbank drama

The waterways, too, were alive with activity. Grunting hippos wallowed in their water-filled realm, their bulbous eyes and ears peeking above the surface. From the safety of the riverbank, guests enjoyed front-row seats to their antics — territorial displays, dramatic yawns, and the occasional explosive quarrel spraying the water in great arcs.  

Meanwhile, the crocodiles, ancient and watchful, took advantage of the winter sun. These massive reptiles stretched out on the sandbanks, their armoured hides soaking up the warmth. Some lay so still they seemed like sculptures, while others slid into the water with surprising speed, a reminder of their prowess as stealthy predators.  

June was a month where the wild came alive in full force, and every game drive held the promise of wonder. From the thunder of elephants on the move to the silent glide of crocodiles, DumaTau proved, once again, why it is a sanctuary of unforgettable wildlife encounters.  

And as the firelight flickered in camp each night, the stories shared were not just of animals seen, but of moments that touched the soul — the true magic of the bush.

DumaTau welcomes new guides

Please join me in offering a heartfelt DumaTau welcome to our two newest guides, Kevin Welio and Gagoope Sonny Monnafela! 

They have successfully completed their rigorous training within our Wilderness Guide Training Programme and are now ready to embark on the next exciting chapter of their careers. As part of their training, they immersed themselves in the heart of our wild areas, gaining hands-on experience across some of our most stunning concessions — including the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, and the Okavango’s Vumbura Concession. Their dedication and passion are already shining, and we’re thrilled to have them as part of our family.  

Kevin and Sonny, congratulations on this achievement! We’re excited to see you grow, share your knowledge with our guests, and contribute to the DumaTau legacy. Here’s to many unforgettable adventures ahead!  

Managers in camp
Lopang ‘Lops’ Rampeba – DumaTau General Manager
Karabo Samson – Guest Relations Manager
Dolly Michael – Housekeeping Manager 
Alice Monnawatlala – Administrator

Guides in camp
Ronald Masule
Tsholo Shandakao
Tom Satau
Morotsi Odgers Kesietswe
Gagoope Sonny Monnafela.

Newlsetter compiled by Lops Rampeba

Please join me in offering a heartfelt DumaTau welcome to our two newest guides, Kevin Welio and Gagoope Sonny Monnafela! 

They have successfully completed their rigorous training within our Wilderness Guide Training Programme and are now ready to embark on the next exciting chapter of their careers. As part of their training, they immersed themselves in the heart of our wild areas, gaining hands-on experience across some of our most stunning concessions — including the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, and the Okavango’s Vumbura Concession. Their dedication and passion are already shining, and we’re thrilled to have them as part of our family.  

Kevin and Sonny, congratulations on this achievement! We’re excited to see you grow, share your knowledge with our guests, and contribute to the DumaTau legacy. Here’s to many unforgettable adventures ahead!  

Managers in camp
Lopang ‘Lops’ Rampeba – DumaTau General Manager
Karabo Samson – Guest Relations Manager
Dolly Michael – Housekeeping Manager 
Alice Monnawatlala – Administrator

Guides in camp
Ronald Masule
Tsholo Shandakao
Tom Satau
Morotsi Odgers Kesietswe
Gagoope Sonny Monnafela

Newlsetter compiled by Lops Rampeba

Winter at Savuti 

As winter deepens, the cold becomes more pronounced, with some morning temperatures dropping to as low as 3°C! The air is fresh and crisp, and accompanied by golden sunrises that make our early game drives all the more magical. 

The dry season is setting in, and the animals are gathering closer to the water sources, making for fantastic sightings right from camp, or just a short drive away. The stillness of the nights and the chill in the air have made fireside evenings a favourite among our guests, with stories shared and memories made.

Wildlife sightings around Savuti

June brought with it some thrilling wildlife sightings. Guests were treated to the incredible sight of a pack of 20 wild dogs moving through the area — an exhilarating and rare experience! Guests especially loved seeing them in their element, hunting as a team. 

Lions continued to make a strong appearance, their roars echoing across the area in the early mornings and evenings. These are the iconic sounds that bring great thrills to all who hear them, guests and staff alike.

We were also lucky to spot two cheetahs gracefully scanning the area, a rare sighting indeed that generated great excitement among our guests and their guides. 

On a few special occasions, there were also glimpses of the ever-elusive leopards.

Staff news

As always, a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful guides and camp team – you continue to make every guest’s stay at Savuti unforgettable.

In the Management team this month, we had Sasha, Lebo and Udu, and extend a warm welcome to Alex Makwala who has joined the team us the manager overseeing the maintenance department.

The Guides this month were Onx, Elvis and Kevin, with another addition to the team being Kemza, who joined us from a sister Wilderness camp in the area.

Savuti newsletter compiled by Sasha Wright

Dry season landscapes of the Linyanti

With winter now upon us, the temperatures dropped to minimum and maximum averages of 6-22° C, with a few clouds in evidence on a few days but no rainfall recorded. The bush has mostly dried out, but is still thick. The tree leaves have also dried up, and the grass is dry. 

Outstanding wildlife sightings

Animals, especially predators, were spotted in good numbers around our area. An enormous pride of 17 lions – consisting of three males, three females and 11 cubs – was spotted around our famous bush-brunch spot Croc Corner feasting on a zebra carcass. The pride crossed the river to the Namibian side a day later, and afterwards most of the members of the pride were spotted, namely one female with four cubs, three females with five cubs, and three males resting alone. 

We also saw the pack of 20 wild dogs hunting and chasing impalas and zebras east of our camp. 

A female leopard was also spotted hunting around the floodplains. 
After some time without being seen, a female cheetah and her two cubs were seen moving towards the south. 

The population of elephants has increased significantly, and we saw great numbers drinking water in front of camp daily.

 
Our young resident sitatunga and its parents are well and healthy, while an additional sitatunga was spotted around camp – and thrillingly, it is expecting, so we should be seeing a new addition to the family in a few months. 

The nine hyena cubs spotted at the den recently appear healthy and growing up well.

Birdlife

Birdlife in the Linyanti area is consistently prolific, and we have seen African fish eagles, herons, egrets and geese in flight. 

The lesser striped swallow pair at West’s main area are busy rebuilding their nest for the fourth time. Over the past few weeks, they have lost three nests as each has collapsed upon completion. But still they soldier on with their construction. 

The swamp boubou is also still around the office and main area, and guinea fowl are now a permanent fixture all over the camp area. 

Reptiles

The water monitor lizard is still around every day, often out of the water. Meanwhile, the resident black mamba has not been seen all month, not even its trail marks, and we believe it has gone into hibernation for the winter.

Camp activity

We have introduced a new sundowner spot called The Beach on the eastern side of camp – it has a clear view of the sky, and a good population of hippos in the water, with numerous and varied species of game dotted on the landscape to the horizon. All our guests have said it is amazing and always show their appreciation for the setups. 

There is a clearing in the vegetation at Croc Corner which is ideal for bush brunch setups, and our guests have stated that they love the spot very much. 

The newly constructed walkway has also enhanced our guests experience, and in the evenings, it illuminates the camp beautifully.  

Staff news

Brie, our housekeeping manager who was assisting at Savuti returned to LTC, but is now on leave. Alex Makwala, who was a manager here, has transferred to Savuti in exchange, and is now stationed there permanently. All staff in camp are healthy and well.

Managers: Kgotso, Olly, Brie & Chawa

Compiled by Kgotso