Okavango: Moremi Game Reserve - Lions, Wild Dogs, Elephants

Breakfast is taken around the fire this morning. As my lungs are not keen on the smoke, and I hate the way in lingers in my clothes, so I stay in the mess tent (despite the cold).

Other guests gathering around the fire

This morning I am wearing two pairs of trousers, 2 jumpers, and a wind-proof jacket to protect myself from the cold. The lodge offers capes for the guests, but I find it too claustrophobic around my neck, [plus it would not be that easy to take photos while wearing it), so I decline. I am happy with my blanket and bushbaby (hot water bottle provided by the lodge)

Moremi Game Reserve

It is still dark outside when we head across the river to Moremi, across a seasonal bridge.

The gate to Moremi Game Reserve

The first thing we see is a leopard print on the sandy track. Moscow tells us it is from the previous day, so the leopard could be anywhere (they are generally nocturnal hunters).

Lions

Apparently, these are the same two males we saw yesterday in Khwai Concession, sleeping under a tree after having killed a buffalo. Today they are sitting up, but they are still not doing a lot.

This one seems to have a few battle scars - he is the older of the two, and not in a good condition

Great Egret

Red Lechwe

Pied Kingfisher

Wattled Cranes

Here you can clearly see the wattle

Saddle Billed Stork

Sacred Ibis and Squacco Heron

Burchell's Zebra, a subspecies of the more common Plains Zebra

This one has been recently wounded, probably as a result of a lion attack

A few Wildebeest join the Zebra

Mr and Mrs Double Banded Sandgrouse

Lions

We see a mother with three sub-adult cubs resting in the shade. Only one of the cubs is hers, the other two belong to a female who was killed by the two males we saw earlier. I am glad the cubs have family to look after them.

There are so many similarities between domestic cats and lions.

While watching the lions, we have kept a respectful distance, along with another vehicle from our lodge, but the lioness is taking no notice of that whatsoever.

This really is not the time, nor the place, to get a flat tyre! It is not us this time (this must be the only safari we have ever been on where we have not had a puncture – yet, anyway). Thankfully, we are not right by the lions any more, but they are still just a few hundred yards away.

One of the other drivers from Sango Safari Lodge

Moscow (our driver) helps out

All done

Wild Dogs

My main target species for this trip was always the Wild Dogs. I knew that Moremi was a good place to see them, but they are still pretty rare, so we are extremely excited to spot seven of them this morning.

Tea Break

After all this excitement, we stop for a little breather with a cup of tea and some very nice fresh muffins.

Moscow - our trusted driver-guide

The aforementioned yummy muffins

After a welcome stretch of legs, we set off to see what else nature has to offer us.

The tracks in the park are 'interesting'

Waterbuck

Goliath Heron

Red Lechwe

Elephants

We see a large herd of elephants in the distance, and Moscow makes his way to a place that he anticipates that they will pass. He is right. With the engine switched off, we sit and wait for the elephants to make their way to us.

What always amazes me about elephants is how many of these huge animals can manage to walk by in complete silence.

The herd includes several babies of varying ages

The whole experience is totally magical, and I feel incredibly privileged to be able to experience being amongst these wild animals in their own habitat.

Hippo out of water

Blue Waxbill

Crocodile

Sacred Ibis

Kudu

Impala

We cross another bridge where there is still some water under / around it. Stopping your vehicle on the bridge is not permitted, but Moscow slows down sufficiently that I can do some ‘drive-by-shooting’ (take pictures from a moving car).

Warthogs

Red Lechwe

At the park gate, we have to stop to pay our entrance fee – there was no-one there to collect the money when we came through early this morning. Moscow drives very carefully and gently back to camp, as I hurt my back earlier getting myself into an awkward position for photographing a woodpecker. As fate would have it, I never did get a good picture either.

Thank you Undiscovered Destinations and their local teams for arranging this incredible Great Africa Trip 2024.