September 2025

Pamushana Lodge

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Pamushana Lodge: September 2025

September has given us some toasty days, as well as the first seasonal rain of 5 mm. Before you know it we’ll be on the lookout for the first impala lambs of summer.
One of the highlights, for all of us, was hosting guests celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. As part of the celebrations they had a vow renewal ceremony, while on a sunset boat cruise. Our team had arranged a beautiful setup, and it was all very special and charmingly romantic. (Trying to upstage the event was a huge bull elephant that crossed the river at sunset, as the ceremony took place.)
The sightings have been incredible, it’s an especially good time to see wildlife. Several safari drives have reported seeing the ‘Big Five’ within a couple of hours of departing the lodge, such as this morning drive that revealed: elephants near Meso, two black rhinos at Tsvuvuka Pan, two dagga boys after Lojaan, a sable bull, five lions at Nduna Dam, and a dramatic sighting of a male leopard bolting from Mabhakweni Cave.
A sightings snapshot for September follows:
Lions
  • Multiple sightings of the Nduna Pride (nine lions: three males, five females, one cub).
  • Lionesses feeding on a young sable at Makeche.
  • Two males feeding on a young buffalo at Kim’s Crossing, while eight members of the River Pride lounged nearby.
  • Two lionesses attempted an ambush at 02 Pan.
  • Other memorable scenes included three males walking in line at Banyini, scanning for prey; a pride blocking thirsty animals at Chiloveka Dam; a lioness feeding three tiny cubs; a pride roaring, echoing across the hills; three males feasting on a zebra carcass.
Leopards
There have been several special sightings:
  • A relaxed female, seen repeatedly, resting above Old Hyena Den on West Valley.
  • Brief encounter at Kwali Junction as a leopard stalked impala.
  • Stunning male at 02 Crossing, revealed by guinea fowl alarm calls, in golden morning light.
Wild dogs
  • 19 dogs at Nduna Dam alongside lions and rhinos. The same pack hunting and killing an impala at Simbiri Dam.
  • 23 dogs resting under a thorn tree, later bonding, hunting impala, and successfully killing a young male. Dogs confronted a lone spotted hyena, forcing it to retreat. Incredible morning with the same pack at the airstrip: pups playing in elephant dung, multiple hunts, hyena chases, and successful kills of impala.
  • Nine dogs (seven adults, two pups) were found resting north of the swamps.
Rhinos
  • Epic drive with double-figure white rhinos seen across Hwata and Mahande Loop.
  • A dramatic clash between a male and female white rhino with a calf.
  • Rare sighting of five black rhinos together at Nyari, with courtship behaviour noted.
  • A timid black rhino mother and calf eventually drank at Hwata Pan.
  • Along Mubangweni, a black rhino charged the vehicle before retreating.
Elephants
  • Breeding herds seen at various points, including at Ray’s Drift and the swamps.
  • Herd of 23 elephants were seen enjoying a mud bath.
  • Group of five impressive males, with two notable tuskers were seen.
Hyenas
  • On a boat cruise, five spotted hyenas were seen on the shoreline, feeding on a giraffe carcass.
  • Near Malevula Hills a new active hyena den was found near the road.
  • Startling moment observed when a warthog turned on a hyena, ramming it in the face and forcing it to flee!
Brown Hyenas
  • Rare sighting of a brown hyena in the same vicinity as a male lion, two black rhinos, and a leopard — all within just 2 km².
Buffalos
  • Various large herds seen, including a herd of over 300 on Hippo Valley, with evidence of lions attempting a hunt.
Plains game
  • Abundant plains game, especially at the swamps.
  • A herd of 20 sable at Banyini Pan.
  • Nine Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, including two young calves.
  • Several sightings of small antelope such as Sharpe’s grysbok, klipspringers and steenbuck.
Birding
Rich birdlife added to every drive. Diverse and rare sightings included:
  • African scops owls, Verreaux’s eagle owls, African swamp hens, white-backed night herons, Wahlberg’s eagles nest-building, crowned eagles mating, African barred owlets, juvenile palmnut vulture, a black heron, grey herons and white-backed vultures nesting with chicks, greater painted snipe, purple-crested turaco, and racket-tailed rollers.
Boat cruises
  • Sightings included buffalo bulls, black rhinos, elephants, warthogs, waterbuck, nyala, giraffes, crocodiles, and numerous hippos.
  • Highlights included a leopard on the floodplain; crocodile catching and eating a tilapia; a herd of 20 elephants swimming across the river, framed by hippos.
  • Even when mammals on the shoreline aren’t seen the sunset cruises offer the most idyllic and unique way to enjoy a safari!
Fishing
  • Good catches of tigerfish and tilapia.
  • Special moment: a lioness appeared at Nyamasikana River while guests were fishing.
Rock art
  • Visits to Chinzwini Rock Art, and other sites, with cultural history explained, a highlight for guests.
Unusual sightings
  • Found and tracked a massive African rock python, estimated at nearly 4m. Guests were awed by its size and colouration.
Photographic hide
  • Spectacular wildlife concentration: breeding buffalo herd, multiple white rhinos, elephants, eland, and lions on a buffalo carcass.
  • At the pan, elephants bathed, hartebeest with a new calf arrived, and zebra and rhinos surrounded the area.
  • Guests experienced close-up encounters, including a young elephant bull playfully spraying muddy water into the blind.
  • Dramatic scene when a lion approached the blind, drank and was later chased away by a dominant white rhino bull.
Walks
  • Guests taken on a walk to Hippo Pools, enjoying close views of 30 hippos, crocodiles, and excellent birdlife.
  • A walk revealed lion tracks; guests tracked and briefly saw a lioness before startling a pack of 16 wild dogs.
Stargazing
  • A group of guests enjoyed a magical stargazing session at the airstrip, lying on rugs and pillows while learning about the night sky.
Gonarezhou National Park
  • Epic 13-hour trip with over 200 elephants seen.
  • Other sightings: kudu, impala, wildebeest, giraffe, steenbuck, klipspringers, hyrax, buffalo, zebra, mongooses, and hippos.
  • Breakfast and lunch enjoyed at Sililijo Loop and Chilojo Cliffs.
  • Birding highlights: tawny eagle on a nest, Wahlberg’s eagle, multiple bateleurs, four martial eagles (including a juvenile), brown snake eagle, shikra, Dickinson’s kestrel, kori bustard, and a southern white-faced owl on a nest.
By Jenny Hishin
Author / Field Guide