Wilderness Mombo newsletter – August 2025

Towards the end of August our guests witnessed a rather daring show of force by the pack of five. While tracking the pack during an afternoon drive, they followed them right into a hyena den. Pandemonium ensued as the hyena pups were sent scurrying into their burrows while the adults went on the defensive.  This was the first time we’d seen anything like it. As with most instances of uncharacteristic behaviour, we were left to speculate what must have motivated the dogs to venture right into the heart of enemy territory.

Did the dogs set off that day looking to launch a co-ordinated attack on the hyena den, or was this a spur of the moment decision when they happened upon the hyena den? Whatever motivated their bold actions, it certainly made for a very rare sighting we won’t soon be forgetting.

This is how one of our recent guests described their stay. It’s always great to get feedback from guests, especially when their description of the camp aligns closely with what we are striving to achieve through our offering.  During their stay they got to experience all the things that make this place so special to all of us – from exceptional dinners under the stars, to sundowners at Baobab Bob while immersed in all the unique sounds of the Okavango Delta ‘Orchestra’. The newly built Mombo Sanctuary wellness centre was also a big highlight of their stay. After having been on several safari excursions to two other Wilderness camps before getting to Mombo, they were very keen to unwind and take it easy. Upon hearing about all the amenities and treatments we offer at The Sanctuary – such as sauna, ice bath, African fusion massages, and facials – they knew exactly where they’d be spending the majority of their time in camp.  With the gym located in the same area, The Sanctuary has quickly become a haven for wellness-seekers.

It’s been another exceptional month for leopard sightings here at the Place of Plenty. At one point, a guest on the third night of their stay remarked that they were averaging a leopard a day – sometimes several in one day, from a mating pair, to solitary hunters on the prowl. On one morning drive, our guests were tracking the wild dogs until they were led to a family of three leopards (two adults and cub), which made for quite the dramatic scene as the two adults ran up a tree, leaving the cub on the ground. We can only hope that this was a well-considered tactic on their part to draw the attention of the dogs, so as to afford the cub the opportunity to hide in a thicket. If we were to assume otherwise, it would reflect rather poorly on their supervisory skills. That being said, the wild dogs eventually lost interest and moved on. Once the coast was clear the leopards came down and started calling after the cub for what seemed like an eternity. There was a collective sigh of relief from the two game viewers at the scene when the cub emerged unscathed from its hiding place. 

When heading out for drives in the early morning it’s still a good idea to throw on a light jacket. However, by about 9 o’clock you will not have much use for it. On most days the temperatures climb steadily right up until noon. By 4 o’clock it’s already cool enough to head out and see what nature has in store.