The Mababe River flows into the Khwai River, which forms the northern border between Moremi Game Reserve and the Khwai and Mababe local communities.
The deep sands of the winding Magwikwe Sand Ridge marks the shoreline of what was once a massive inland sea. The old lake bed, now called the Mababe Depression, has a dense clay floor that is rich in protein – so the area teems with wildlife. It is a birder’s paradise, with nutritious grasses that grow on the rich soils providing excellent seed for an impressive array of estrillids and viduids. Among these are the magnificently coloured Violet-eared waxbill, Black-cheeked waxbill, Village indigobird, Shaft-tailed whydah and Paradise whydah. These in turn provide a good food source for small raptors such as the Little sparrowhawk, Shikra, Gabar goshawk, Red-necked falcon and Lanner falcon. It is not only small birds that feed on the grass seeds, but rodents such at rats and mice too. As a result huge numbers of Secretary birds, Tawny eagles, Black-shouldered kites, Steppe eagles*, Lesser-spotted eagles*, Wahlberg’s eagles* and Steppe buzzards* can also be found here (*=migratory species).
We rise early to explore the wildlife found in these large floodplains, which provide good grazing for many species of antelope and unobstructed seasonal movement. Lion, leopard, hyena, servals, African wildcats and wild dogs are common predators, with cheetah less commonly seen. Buffalo use this area seasonally, with large herds moving in during the summer rains. The swampy areas in the west are home to red lechwe and other ungulates - including tsessebe, waterbuck, wildebeest, reedbuck, giraffe, zebra, kudu and impala, with sable and roan antelope less commn residents. You will also see hippo in the waterways as well as fish eagles, hawk eagles and a variety of egrets and storks.
For birders, the western reaches of the Khwai River are prime habitat for the uncommon Rosy-throated longclaw and the entire length of the river is the hunting domain of the Bat-hawk. Other commonly found species include the Tawny eagle, Steppe eagle*, Lesser-spotted eagle*, Martial eagle, Bateleur and African hawk-eagle. If you are fortunate you may see the rare Cuckoo hawk, Long-crested eagle and Black sparrowhawk. These waterways also host Africa rail, African crake*, Greater painted snipe, Allen’s gallinule*, Lesser jacana and Lesser moorhen (*=migratory species).
Exploring after dark with a spotlight offers the opportunity to see some of the nocturnal birds and animals that are rarely encountered during the day.
Note: Night drives are not permitted in Moremi Game Reserve, so these activities are conducted in the Mababe private reserve that adjoins the national park.