October 2025
Kruger National Park
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Kruger National Park: October 2025
October in Singita Kruger National Park began with dry, dusty conditions. The grasslands were still dominated by shades of brown and yellow, and most of the vegetation had gone dormant, waiting for the first rains. Midway through the month, the change began to show. The first cuckoos arrived, their calls marking the start of the breeding season and signalling that rain was near. Soon after, frogs began calling from the pans and drainage lines, followed by the distinctive bubbling call of the Burchell’s coucal — a reliable indicator of rain on the way. Two days later, the first significant showers fell across the reserve. The ground soaked it up quickly, and within days green shoots began pushing through the soil. Insects, particularly termites and flying ants, became active almost immediately, providing food for birds, reptiles, and other small predators. The bush had begun its shift from the dry season into summer.
A Sightings Snapshot for October follows:
Lions
- The Mananga Pride has seen a small but noticeable change this month. Their numbers have dropped to 14, (7 adults and 7 cubs), down by two cubs since September. It's always tough to witness these losses, but the good news is that the remaining cubs are looking healthy and strong, giving them a better chance of surviving into adulthood.
- Earlier this month, three of the Mananga lionesses were seen with two of the Sonop males, feeding on a zebra carcass. Nothing unusual there — but what happened next was quite unexpected. The same group was later spotted feeding on a klipspringer high on the rocky ridge. While we didn’t witness the hunt itself, it’s very likely they stole the kill from a leopard, as klipspringers are extremely agile and not a typical target for lions. Still, it was a rare sighting and a reminder of how opportunistic and competitive life can be out here.
- The Chava Pride has been more elusive this month, with sightings limited to two adult females who were seen either alone or accompanied by the two subadults and a group of 11 cubs. One morning, the subadults were spotted alone in an open clearing with just a single cub, raising some concern. The two adult females were later located nearby, though notably without the remainder of the cubs. Tragically, the pride suffered the loss of two adult females last month due to natural causes. This reduction in adult numbers may affect the security and cohesion of the group, particularly for the cubs. We continue to monitor the situation closely, hoping for stability in the coming weeks.
- Towards the end of the month, we had an incredible sighting of two Sonop males along with part of the Chava Pride feeding on a buffalo carcass. Both males were so full their bellies were almost dragging on the ground — a clear sign they’d been feasting for hours. As the sun reached that intense point in the morning where everything begins to bake, one of the brothers finally got up and wandered off. We followed at a distance as he moved slowly through the bush, eventually leading us to a small pool where he lapped at the muddy water.
- A massive hippo succumbed to the ever-testing times of the African wilderness and was found dead toward the end of the month in the N’wanetsi River. As cruel as she may seem, Nature does not waste, and the crocodiles, three Mananga lioness and all three Sonop males feasted for a few days.
Leopards
- Most of our leopard sightings this month have been thanks to the Dumbana female and her daughter. We have had nearly daily sightings of either one or both of them, often moving through the area or resting in the shade. One particularly interesting sighting involved both leopards at the same impala carcass. It is unclear who made the kill as both had fed by the time we arrived. While the young female is nearing full independence, opportunistic feeding remains common, particularly between related individuals. Dumbana moved off the following day, leaving her daughter to feed on the carcass for the next two days.
- There were some interesting interactions between the Dumbana and Nhlanguleni females this month. Dumbana had killed a year-old impala and was found feeding on it in a guarri thicket, thanks to one of our guide and tracker teams who had noticed a drag-mark across the road. Leopards, as well as lions, will drag the carcass under a tree, or some form of cover, to eat away from the piercing eyes of other predators and vultures. She fed for most of the afternoon and early evening before retiring a few metres away from the carcass to groom herself and sleep. The next morning it was Nhlanguleni that was found feeding on the remains of the young impala ewe. That afternoon both females had probably headed straight to Xinenene-poort, the only remaining water source in the area. Being a hot-spot for animals, we went to investigate on our afternoon game drive, to find Dumbana lying near the water. A few minutes later she was sprinting across the rocks with Nhlanguleni hot on her heels. They leapt over the rocky ridge and disappeared. Territory overlap is normal this time of the year and encounters with other individuals inevitable.
- A few shy individuals have been spotted around the concession, most likely due to the shrinking availability of water. They are now being forced into areas where they come into contact with vehicles, whereas during the wet season they can remain deep within the vast wilderness areas that are still untouched by roads.
- As Dumbana’s daughter comes of age, she is beginning to show her own personality and unique traits. As a team, we have decided to name her the Khandziya female — a Shangaan word meaning “one who often climbs trees.”
African wild dogs
- We’ve been absolutely privileged to have a pack of African wild dogs on our concession these past two weeks of the month. It is the pack that was found denning in the granophyre ridge in August; the two adult males, one adult female and five pups (now around four months old). Their movements have stretched from the far north of the concession down to the southern reaches near the lodges, allowing for frequent and rewarding sightings. We've observed them on several hunts, primarily targeting impala, though on one occasion they successfully brought down a male steenbuck, another common prey species for these efficient predators. What makes this presence extra special is how much space wild dogs require. In the Kruger National Park region, packs easily cover 800 km² of habitat (> 80,000 ha). That means simply to sustain their hunting, roaming and social needs they cover enormous tracts of land. Their regular presence on our concession which is roughly 15 000 ha/ 37 000 acres is therefore an exceptional opportunity.
Spotted hyenas
- Sightings of spotted hyenas have been notably scarce this month. The previously active den-site shows no recent signs of use, suggesting that the cubs have reached an age where they are now accompanying the adults on their nightly movements rather than remaining at the den. Observations have been limited to one or two individuals seen roaming independently during the early evening hours, often moving purposefully through the area before disappearing into the surrounding bush.
Elephants
- Elephant sightings within our concession in the Kruger have been nothing short of spectacular recently. Several very young calves have been observed among the herds, a wonderful sign of a thriving population. Large congregations of elephants have frequently gathered along the N’wanetsi River, where the availability of water draws multiple family groups together. One particularly memorable evening, as the sun set and a golden-amber light filtered across the landscape, the grasslands near Gudzane Dam were alive with movement as more than 80 elephants spread across the open plains, including several enormous bulls. It was a truly breath-taking scene that filled the air with a deep sense of awe and connection to the wild heart of Africa.
Buffalos
- October brought limited buffalo activity across the Singita Kruger National Park concession, with just a single large herd of approximately 150 individuals recorded this month. The remaining sightings consisted mostly of small bachelor groups, frequently encountered near the last remaining pools of water scattered throughout the area. As the dry season reaches its peak and grazing becomes increasingly scarce, buffalo herds tend to lose condition and adapt by forming larger aggregations for greater protection and collective strength. These herds become highly nomadic, travelling extensive distances in search of adequate forage and water sources, a behaviour that reflects the challenges of this harsh, resource-limited time of year.
Plains game
- The game paths have become etched into the earth, winding their way around the last remaining pools in the river and through a small valley linking two dry riverbeds. In an almost choreographed procession, zebra, wildebeest, elephant, and buffalo move in steady waves along these dusty corridors — a daily back-and-forth pilgrimage to water. The grasses, now cropped short and sparse, have opened up the landscape, revealing the usually secretive duiker and steenbuck, and offering rare glimpses of the elusive Sharpe’s grysbok. Each movement, each track in the sand, tells the story of a landscape holding its breath before the rains return.
Rare animals and other sightings
- This month also brought some rare sightings. We had a few minutes of quiet observation of a white-tailed mongoose moving steadily along the dirt road. On three separate occasions, we encountered a serval! Twice she was even accompanied by her kitten, both fairly calm and allowing us a decent view before slipping away. Meanwhile, a sable antelope was spotted at a distance; it bolted as soon as it caught sight of us, highlighting its cautious nature in this part of the reserve where it’s rarely seen.
Birds
- The air is alive with the melodic calls of the migratory European bee-eaters, joined by the distinctive notes of Deiderick’s, Klaas’s and red-chested cuckoos, their songs echoing through the riparian woodland once more. Along the riverbanks, black-backed puffbacks are a delight to watch as they flit among the branches, their downy feathers puffed up to give them the charming appearance of tiny snowballs. With the river’s water level steadily receding under the harsh temperatures, gatherings of herons, egrets, and storks have become a common sight, taking advantage of the concentrated aquatic life. A particularly striking sighting this week was a majestic secretary bird, perched regally on a woolly-caper bush that crowns a tall Delagoa thorn.