Where We Went
Our itinerary for these safaris is a pre-selected group of camps that fit well together. We begin with two nights at the River Club, then Linyanti Discoverer Camp for 3 nights, then Savuti Bush Camp for 2 nights, then Jacana Camp for 2 nights, followed by 3 nights at Tubu Tree Camp.
About The Trip
We met our group of guests in Livingstone, Zambia, and then based ourselves at the River Club . During our time there we undertook a cultural visit to a local village, walked and helicoptered around Victoria Falls, tand ook a boat ride on the Zambezi. Our group were keen on photography, so we maximized our photo opportunities, especially at the Falls.
Whilst on our transfer into Botswana, we spent half a morning on the Chobe River, on a boat cruise. Swimming elephants, hippos, big crocodiles up close and African skimmers were memorable sightings. Later that same day we flew to Wilderness Safaris Linyanti Concession, in the north-east of the country, for three nights. Here lion and elephant sightings were exceptional. The Linyanti pride of two lionesses showed off their two playful ten-week old cubs to us, whilst their older cousin, a two year old young male whose father is one of the famous Border Boy lions, watched with interest. We also saw the Border girls, two females whose range overlaps the Linyanti pride, and who had only ten days previously lost two cubs to a leopard. The mother was still walking all around the area searching for her missing offspring. Hopefully the Linyanti lions are luckier with their cubs. On our last morning we tracked two male lions by their spoor on the road, but couldn’t quite locate them. I was hoping it was the Border Boys, who have not been seen in their territory for some time now. A bull elephant right in camp for half the day at Linyanti also kept everybody very entertained. We also saw a very well-hidden leopard late one afternoon, tucked under some thick bushes and watched a group of marabou storks feeding on frogs in a shrinking pool.
We then drove to Savuti camp for two nights, and had a good view of the two male cheetah that frequent the area. Wildebeest, zebra, impala and elephants also put in an appearance, as did good numbers of carmine bee-eaters, just arrived for our summer. Undoubtedly the highlight of our Savuti stay took place on our last morning when 18 wild dogs spent their morning alternately resting, playing and socializing just a stone’s throw from camp. They gave us lots of practice at action photography with their antics.
We flew to Jacana camp for two nights, in the Okavango Delta, and spent lots of time boating, in search of brightly coloured kingfishers and other birds. On a game drive across the open floodplains, we also came across the resident male lion, who has been in the area since December. We also enjoyed a sundowner drink on an island with a trio of massive baobab trees on it. We boated to Tubu Tree camp for our last three nights. This is a great time of year to be at Tubu, as there are herds of zebra, wildebeest and impala about. We also saw a female leopard twice, spotted hyenas, and three rather shy cheetah from a distance. Elephant herds, giraffe and many interesting birds including a spectacular grouping of pelicans, storks, spoonbills and other waterbirds at a drying waterhole. Brightly coloured swallow-tailed bee-eaters and big flocks of openbilled storks also added to our photo opportunities.
Once again it was hard to say goodbye to everybody when we reached Maun.
