Etosha National Park in Namibia has to be one of my favorite National Parks on our Acacia Route. One would always ask the reason for this, and I say, ‘The barren landscape of Etosha, the magnificent pan, the high density of wildlife and the amazing floodlit waterholes makes this place a unique national park, with a sense of beauty that one would need in their game viewing experience.’
We had a fortunate game driving day spotting herds of elephants, gazelles, zebras, rhino’s and Lion, not to forget to mention the array of birds from rapture, exotic colorful rollers and Kori Bustards – the largest flight bird in the world. What was about to happen is certainly the highlight….
Its 5oclock and we are on our way back to the Okaukuejo campsite (certainly famous for its amazing flood lit waterhole, which we were all looking forward to grabbing a sundowner drink and setting up a posse on the seated wall area to watch the night unfold with the animals that enter to drink.) half asleep from game viewing all day, we were all startled from a sudden scream of ‘CHEETAH’S’ which woke everyone in Sabie (our Overland truck’s name) and the camera’s was clicking long before their eyes were fully open. We witnessed something that most people only see on discovery or national geographic: 3 cheetahs chasing a springbok across the road right in front of our truck. The mother was busy teaching her cubs how to hunt. The springbok managed to escape and the exhausted cheetahs felt that was an enough work done for the day without their dinner, so they slumped in the warm sun next to our truck to catch their breath. Everyone in the truck was in absolute amazement as the red sun set over the cheetahs.
Looking forward to what our night is going to unfold at the night watering hole. Let’s pray we get to see a Leopard!
Written by Helette Naude – Acacia Crew