This month, we’ve witnessed many more incredible wildlife sightings at Xigera Safari Lodge. We’re opening our sightings blog with a beautiful image taken by our Safari Guide Oratile Gotshajwang, also known as Des. The shot captures a sundowner in front of a spectacular pink-hued sky, that took place at Xigera at the beginning of December.

Sundowners Xigera December

Picture by Oratile Gotshajwang

Early this month, our guide Ikalaheng Mogalakwe, Ike, sighted some impressive lion activity, with the two females and six cubs enjoying a red lechwe kill.

Lioness and warthog Xigera December

Lioness crouching Xigera December

Lion cub Xigera December

Lioness and cub Xigera December

Pictures by Ike Mogalakwe

The large male lion (pictured below) was a highlight of this sighting.

Lion in grass Xigera December

Lion at watering hole Xigera December

Pictures by Ike Mogalakwe

Ike also spotted a male leopard cub at Mokolwane Crossing, lying in a Kigelia africana ‘sausage’ tree, named for its distinctive, long sausage-shaped fruit.

Leopard in tree Xigera December

Picture by Ike Mogalakwe

This safari also offered an abundance of incredible birdlife following heavy rain.

BIrd Xigera December

Bird on leaf Xigera December

Pictures by Ike Mogalakwe

Giraffes are graceful animals, particularly when photographed against a misty morning backdrop. We have had excellent sightings of giraffes in the Xigera area this month, as observed in the below pictures from our guide, Des.

Giraffe in mist Xigera December

Giraffe in mist Xigera December

Pictures by Oratile Gotshajwang

Below, you will see Xigera’s two dominant male lions patrolling their territory. Des heard them calling to each other in the morning and eventually found them on the southern side of the Xigera airstrip. They looked magnificent as they walked over the airstrip pad, roaring as they marked their territory. The lions really gave us a show and we followed them for more than an hour until they retired in front of our guest Suites.

Lions walking Xigera December

Lions walking Xigera December

Lion walking Xigera December

Lion walking Xigera December

Lion walking Xigera December

Lion walking Xigera December

Lion walking Xigera December

Lion lying down Xigera December

Pictures by Oratile Gotshajwang

In mid-December, Ike spotted a pack of dogs comprised of five puppies and six adults walking infront of the Xigera Suites, between Suite 2 and Suite 12. We believe this to be part of a larger pack of 20 dogs that have been sighted in previous years, although it is possible that a new pack has moved into the area.

Wild dogs Xigera December

Wild dogs Xigera December

Wild dogs Xigera December

Wild dogs Xigera December

Wild dogs Xigera December

Pictures by Ike Mogalakwe

Ike also had a nice sighting of Tshameko to the east of the Baobab Treehouse. Below, you will also see a male lion on the far eastern side of Xigera, some red lechwe, a small crocodile and an amur falcon.

Leopard Xigera December

Lion Xigera December

Lion Xigera December

Red lechwe Xigera December

Red lechwe Xigera December

Crocodile Xigera December

Falcon Xigera December

Pictures by Ike Mogalakwe

The dramatic summer clouds produce an unforgettable landscape at Xigera, as captured by our Safari Guide, Des.

Dramatic sky Xigera December

Dramatic sky Xigera December

Dramatic sky Xigera December

Pictures by Oratile Gotshajwang

On a morning in late December, our Guides finally found closure: confirmation of the large eastern males being the fathers of the six cubs. Ike spotted Sisilia, Mpho, Boitumelo and the cubs feeding on a male red lechwe kill. The large, male lion allowed only the cubs to feed whilst he sat there, ensuring their good table manners. This scene took place on the burnt area to the east of Xigera camp.