Shelley Saunders in Botswana
Greetings from South Africa! I arrived safely last night in Johannesburg without too many delays. As always Menzies is a real treat and the walk over to the Intercontinental very easy. Such a great property, well located, food and staff are top notch. Botswana begins today with a flight from Johannesburg to Kasane on Airlink. A short road transfer of 45 minutes from Kasane to Chobe National Park with a few elephants making a guest appearance en route. As always, the welcome at the camps is delivered by enthusiastic camp staff, along with fragrant towels to refresh after a journey. Camp orientation at Ngoma Safari Lodge included a few baboons, just to keep things interesting!
A late afternoon/evening game drive with guide “Tebby” in Chobe was the perfect way to end an exciting day. The floodplain provides a stunning backdrop for a true African sunset with lots of elephant activity and a very shy leopard!
Today was all about birds! For the birding enthusiast Chobe is perfect. A morning game drive at Chobe provided ample opportunity to enjoy some of the many bird species that flock to the Chobe floodplains. The bird calls are truly uplifting, and any remaining jet lag magically disappears!
Next stop Gomoti Plains Camp, named after the Gomoti River. The camp is accessed by charter flight from Kasane Airport. I was met on arrival at the airstrip by guide “On” followed by a 50-minute road transfer to camp. A super orientation was provided by camp manager and host, Grant and Annemie, a fellow Durbanite. A quick refresh in the very spacious and private tents at Gomoti plains before an afternoon game drive with our very knowledgeable guide “On”.
An eventful day ended with a surprise sundowner experience with stunning views and delicious snacks!
The last few days have been a safari whirlwind! It was very special to have an introduction to Kwando camps by Kate Nelson and the camps exceeded expectations. Visits to Splash, 4 Rivers and Kwara in between game drives, a boat cruise and helicopter transfers with Helicopter Horizons. Each camp has its own individual style, but the personality and warmth of the staff is consistent throughout. It’s like a home away from home!
I highly recommended a helicopter transfer which provides a completely different perspective. Not to mention how thrilling it can be! 5 Stars to the Kwando camp staff and guides. Excellent experience and a very warm welcome at each camp.
The Kwara concession is vast and beautiful, and the flooding has begun. Such an exciting time to be in the Delta!
A 2am wake up at Splash today to much noise and commotion outside my tent which lasted for about an hour. In the light of day this turned out to be a wild dog kill with some hyena activity too. The dogs remained close to camp, so we were able to see them this morning. This was first for me, and I feel privileged to have had this experience. Our guide: “TJ” followed the dogs for some time, before heading out to the airstrip for a flight to Chitabe.
After joining Miles on the scheduled charter flight, we made our way to Chitabe Airstrip where we were greeted by guide; “Goodman”. A game drive to followed by an orientation of the updated and elegant Chitabe camp with “Mama Jo” who has been with Chitabe for many years. We continued to an inspection of the smaller Lediba camp, a truly authentic and beautiful safari camp.
Onwards with Goodman on an evening game drive, which did not disappoint. We were treated to hyena cubs, lion cubs and we ended the day with a leopard sighting. What a day!
So much activity has been packed into the last few days. Being on safari is like meditation with the focus on the here so time seems to stand still. Some excellent sightings at Chitabe with Goodman en route to the airstrip. A stunning male lion on the move and looking for his brother.
After an eventful morning, Chitabe returned us to the airstrip where I headed off on Moremi Air for a charter flight to Lebala for a site inspection with manager: “Lets” who treated me to a delicious lunch followed by a much-needed rest. Late afternoon game drive transfer to Lagoon Camp with guide: “Ike”.
En route we sighted a pride of lion that was very exciting, had a stunning sunset and arrived at camp in time for dinner.
Lion sighting between Lebala and Lagoon.
Camp manager: “Pro” provided a camp orientation of Lagoon, beautifully situated on the Kwando River. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with the sounds of hippos in the background.
An early morning game drive transfer to Lagoon airstrip, gave us one last opportunity for nature to provide us with the best wildlife experience I have ever had, coming on the heels of wild dog, a tough act to follow! I spent Mother’s Day morning for about an hour with a beautiful mama leopard, something I will never forget.
Time seems to stand still in Botswana, the peace and quiet together with the sights and wildlife sounds are a tonic everyone should experience. It is a truly magical and wonderous landscape and hard to say goodbye.
My departure from Lagoon was on a very cool solo flight to Maun where Kate Nelson joined me for a farewell lunch and then I headed off to Cape Town in time to catch the sunset.
I was met by expert guide and wine connoisseur Rob Byram who delivered me safely to the stunning Cape Grace Hotel, a firm favorite! The following day Rob and I joined another expert guide and wine connoisseur; Howie Owen for an incredible coffee at Truth, highly recommended, and spent the day zooming around Cape Town for site inspections and a refresh on the lay of the land. Rob then rushed me off to the airport for a flight to Durban and to begin Indaba.
