Il
23 giugno
Chobe
National Park – KasaneForest
Botswana
A
guard knocked on my door at 5:00 am this morning letting me know it
was time to get up. I slept very little last night so I was dressed
and ready, relaxing under the covers on my heated blanket. The group
met up for a quick coffee and then it was into the jeep at 5:30 so
that we could arrive at the park at 6:00 when the gate opened.It was
a cold Botswana morning and we were, once again, dressed in a
multitude of layers which were slowly removed a few hours later as
the sun warmed the air. Initially, we didn't see much activity so
Zambo headed over to the watering hole where yesterday's pride of
lions had camped out. Sure enough, some of them were still there and
enthralled us with their playing.
We
knew there were leopards in the park and had seen the remains of a
“kill” a few days ago; the challenge would be to find just
one...and he could be anywhere. We, fortunately, had a little help as
we met another group on the road that had just found a cat. We headed
over to the area and there, under the thick foliage of a tree,
savoring the impala that he had killed for a hearty meal or two or
three, was our leopard. Zambo had to keep shifting our jeep's
position as the leopard was not making it easy to be seen, but the
binoculars helped and our cameras kept clicking away. When our cat
made it clear, he would not be coming out of his shelter, we headed
out in search of other game. Within moments, Charles shouted “lion”
and there he was, in plain sight, sitting calmly, a short distance
away from a baby elephant that he had killed and already feasted
upon. It was just another day in the life of this big feline, but for
us in the jeep, it was another “wow” moment. After a while some
cape buffalo caught his attention and, leaving the elephant to be
voraciously devoured by vultures within minutes, he set out on a
stalking expedition. Watching an animal stalking its prey is a
fascinating experience; one can learn a lot about patience; of that,
I am certain.
On the way out of the game park, always on the look-out for more animals, we spotted an impala running across the road in front of our jeep. Zambo quickly recognized the look of fear on the impala's face and, sure enough, within moments, a pack of wild dogs crossed our path, hungrily chasing the frightened animal. Zambo turned the jeep around and made a "mad dash" in pursuit and there in the distance, although easily seen, were the dogs who had already brought down the impala and were voraciously eating him...a moment of triumph for the dogs and, yes, the way of the food chain...although I couldn't help but feel that fear of a gentle animal as it fled.
On the way out of the game park, always on the look-out for more animals, we spotted an impala running across the road in front of our jeep. Zambo quickly recognized the look of fear on the impala's face and, sure enough, within moments, a pack of wild dogs crossed our path, hungrily chasing the frightened animal. Zambo turned the jeep around and made a "mad dash" in pursuit and there in the distance, although easily seen, were the dogs who had already brought down the impala and were voraciously eating him...a moment of triumph for the dogs and, yes, the way of the food chain...although I couldn't help but feel that fear of a gentle animal as it fled.
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