Arno Watson, our lovely reservations assistant shares his story in an amazing 2 part feature about his adventure and educational tour he did with Acacia Africa. This is his second story as he departs the Chobe for Savuti, Moremi, Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi pans returning back to Victoria Falls. Read more…
After an eventful 1st sleep in the Chobe National Park – having passed the lions so close to camp the day before – we were up bright and early for our adventure to Savuti National Park. Game driving through the rugged, sandy 4×4 tracks – spotting elephants, zebra and numerous antelopes. We arrived to our Savuti campsite only to be welcomed by our first taste of the Botswana rains. Lucky our tents were erected and it was time to have a rest and listen to the rains beating on the canvas – such an amazing relaxing sound!
After a well needed rest, the skies had cleared and it was time for a game drive. Unexpectedly, Nelson (our lovely experience leader/driver) did an emergency stop, turned the vehicle around and headed in a different direction. He has spotted something out of the ordinary under the bushes…. 2 leopard cubs under the watchful eye of their mother. Unfortunately, my camera batteries decided to die at this moment. Missing the photo opportunity gave me a chance to watch their behaviour more intensively – Truly magical!
After spending about thirty minutes watching the leopards, as the sun was setting in the horizon, we returned to camp to find a deliciously prepared dinner by Morgan. After an amazing dinner, I experienced my first hot bush-shower and made my way to my tent to relax and retrace my amazing, eventful day.
Up bright and early, camp packed, we were ready for our game driving day to Moremi Game Reserve. Again, Morgan stopped suddenly as he spotted something. We all know when he stops like that we are in for a real treat – and we were!
My suspicions were correct and about 200m down the road we got to one of those rare animal happenings and a brilliant photo opportunity: A female lion and her two cubs were feeding on an elephant, wow wow wow! After this I have asked myself:Can it get better? The answers is yes… just as we left a bull elephant came so close to our vehicle about 2-3 metres away that I could see the long eyelashes, wrinkles and lines around the eyes. This had to be the best game drive so far!
Arriving at our camp, it was time to relax and unwind and take a much needed nap. Morgan woke us up at 4pm for coffee and rusks (biscuits) before taking us for a stroll down to one of the water channels where he had spotted hippos earlier. The afternoon game drive didn’t bring much due to the rain but we did see our first baboons for the trip, another hyena not too far away, giraffes, elephants, hippos, jackals and plenty of bird life.
Leaving the bush environment behind, we made our way to a small quant town of Maun – the gateway to the Okavango Delta. We stopped off at the local supermarket to refresh our supplies before heading to our camp. After 4 days of travelling in the bush it was a real treat to be in an environment where we could swim, take a normal hot shower and enjoy a cold refreshing drink at the bar.
We left early in the morning as we had a day trip to the Okavango Delta. There is nothing better in life than lying down in a mokoro (dugout canoes) whilst slowly making your way through the lily pads, swaying grasses of the delta’s waterways. We stopped of at a remote island in the central pan for a nature walk led by the very knowledgeable local polers/guides. Having the opportunity to learn about bush medicines used, tracks and droppings was certainly a different experience not to mention get close and personal on foot with the elephants, zebra’s and many antelopes we managed to see on our adventure.
After a well deserved lunch, we had the opportunity to test our mokoro-polling skills before we packed up and made our way back to Maun and our camp.
Saying goodbye to Maun, we head east to Chapman’s Baobab. This brilliant baobab tree is one of Botswana’s best known landmarks and expected to be thousands of years old (can see it by the size of this huge tree).
Our last overnight stop was at the Makgadikgadi Pans and we got there just in time for the most brilliant sunset I have ever seen! Later in the evening, whilst lying in my tent on the last night of this tour, listening to the sounds of nature and jackals not too far away, I realised again how fortunate I was to work for Acacia Africa. To experience a trip like this is once in a life time and we help people experience this wonderful continent every day!
As the sunrise shone in the pans distance, we packed and boarded our 4×4 vehicle for the journey back to Victoria Falls. What and amazing tour with great people and exceptional crew!
I will never forget my amazing experience!
Written by Arno Watson – Acacia Reservations