Celebration Lolldaiga's iconic wildlife

Elephant among the Ol’daiga plant by Jack Godwin

August is host to two wildlife days, firstly World Lion Day and then second, World Elephant Day. Since these two days feature heavily in the daily lives of Moon's Camp guests, we took a moment to celebrate these beautiful creatures. 

World Elephant Day is a moment to celebrate the grace, intelligence, and resilience of these gentle giants - and on Lolldaiga, their presence is nothing short of magical. Elephants are an integral part of the landscape, wandering through rolling hills and ancient woodlands, shaping the environment as they go. Their slow, deliberate movements and strong family bonds remind us of the deep connections within nature, and their role as ecosystem engineers ensures that countless other species thrive.

World Lion Day is a chance to honour the majesty and power of Africa’s most iconic predator, but on Lolldaiga it’s also a story of shifting balance. In the past five years, the reserve’s lion population has doubled from 20 to 45 individuals, a sign of successful conservation, yet one that carries consequences for other species. With more lions on the landscape, giraffes, already in decline across much of Africa, have become a favourite target, and their numbers here are feeling the pressure. This surge in predators highlights the intricate web of life on Lolldaiga, where every success story must be carefully weighed against its ripple effects through the ecosystem.