Friday the 13th bears no meaning to our wildlife. For them, it’s just another day in the bushveld where one day becomes interlaced with the next, and the only focus is to eat, survive and reproduce. The simple life can often be a brutal one! This week has displayed its fair share of barbarity, with plenty of predator kills happening on our doorstep. This is the circle of the safari life, where endearing moments are meshed together with heartbreaking moments. And, as bystanders, we get to observe the beauty of the bush life unfolding before our eyes.
Our Botswana camps are the ones in the spotlight today – and with good reason. Our photographer spent time traversing the game rich areas of the Chobe National Park, the Kwatale Conservancy and the world-heritage site of the Okavango Delta. While staying at Camp Savuti and Camp Linyanti, there was an abundance of sightings of predators.
The Marsh Pride of lions was spotted on the Savuti Marsh, feeding their newborn cubs while a lone male was in the vicinity. Then there were rare wild dog sightings, a fleeting glimpse of a leopard and plenty of lechwe and Tssebe cantering through the wilderness. The sundowners, the birdlife and the pristine night skies are testament to the fact that Botswana is a top safari destination.
Africa on Foot’s newly launched sister product, the Africa on Foot Wilderness trails set out on Thursday for yet another exciting 3 day walking adventure through the Maseke Game Reserve. A highlight from nThambo Tree Camp and Africa on Foot this week has been yet another sighting of the Ross Pride females – but not the Breakaways. These two lionesses are normally in the company of the Mbiri male coalition.
Umkumbe Safari Lodge enjoyed a rare sighting of White Dam’s male cub, scent marking and enjoying a quick sniff of the game viewer! Ezulwini Game Lodges set-up a camera trap in a high wildlife traffic area on a path that links to the lodge, and seems an elusive leopard emerged. The latest addition, Chacma opened its doors a few weeks ago, and the first guests enjoyed lion, buffalo and elephant sightings. The Maseke male lion coalition appears to be the pride to watch!
In the meantime, here are our images showcasing the beauty of Botswana and our latest camp, Chacma Bush Camp.
Jonathan Trollip