Okavango: Khwai - Lions, Elephants, Fighting Lechwe

This afternoon we are doing our first game drive in the Okavango Delta. This whole trip was designed around the Delta, as I have wanted to visit this area for the longest time. Everything else on this trip was just added on to pad it out. I like the fact that this is our last stop on the trip.

Khwai Concession

The Delta is divided into several parks, and this afternoon we are visiting Khwai Concession.

Common Reedbuck

Lions

A couple of lions are taking a serious nap after feasting on a dead buffalo.

As they are not likely to be doing anything other than sleeping for the foreseeable future, we leave the lions be, and continue to see what nature has to offer us today.

Hooded Vulture

Burchell's Zebra

We cross an interesting bridge, very typical of the Okavanga, helping cars and tourists negotiate the area during the wet season.

Elephants

We have a very close encounter with an elephant, so I decide to try and do some creative close-up pictures.

He’s a 50-60-year-old male, and he really isn’t sure what to make of us.

We can tell he's a little agitated by the way he's flapping his ears

Moscow makes sure his engine is on and the car in reverse gear, just in case we have to make a quick getaway. Thankfully he decides that we are not actually a threat and that food is much more interesting.

Fork Tailed Drongo

Red Lechwe

African Jacana

Nile Crocodile

Despite the serious drought going on, there is still some water about in the delta.

Red Lechwe in the distance

African Fish Eagle

Grey Heron in front of a Hippo

Yellow Billed Stork and Water Thick Knee

Egyptian Geese

Black Winged Stilt

Blacksmith Plover

Hammerkop

Hippos

Out on land

Saddle Billed Stork, Red Lechwe, and some Blacksmith Plovers

Sacred Ibis having caught a frog

Grey Heron

Red Lechwe fighting, probably over a female or maybe just dominance

After a while, when there is no winner and no loser, they just give up and go their separate ways.

Sunset

The sun is getting low now, and with some mist hanging over the ground, it is rather pretty.

Buffalo in the sunset

The plan was to stop a while for sundowners, but David is very keen to get back to the lodge to be able to watch England play in the UEFA European Football Championships.

Thankfully, it was worth cutting the game drive short: England won the match against Switzerland.

While David is busy watching the football on the laptop, I set up my tripod to take some photos of the stars. There is very little light pollution in the distance, but the lodge itself lights up the foreground.

I knew this would be the case, so I took a photo earlier of the fire pit with the chairs around it at dusk before anyone sat there.

Once I was back in the UK, I blended the two together in Photoshop.

Dinner

Vegetable and coconut soup - a little bit too salty for me

Chicken with orange and olives served with squash stuffed with sweetcorn and cheddar - the meat falls off the bone of the chicken, and the unusual - and pretty - side dish is very tasty

Pineapple pudding with custard - I can only describe this as "OK".

Goodnight from Sango Safari Camp in the Okavango Delta, and thank you Undiscovered Destinations for making this incredible Great Africa Trip 2024 a reality.