Christopher Inguanti of West Virginia sends us an excerpt from his journal from a Botswana safari with CC Africa and Aardvark Safaris.

Today was one of the best days I’ve ever had on safari. It started slowly, with a five-hour drive from Serondela to Savuti. Our Land Rover travelled through beautiful landscapes and terrain marked by a sense of wild and seclusion. We made it to our campsite at Savuti at 5pm, and wasted no time in putting our bags in our tents in order to squeeze in an evening game drive. As soon as we turned out of camp, it was elephants, elephants, elephants – they were all around us, as far as the eye could see.

Further along, we happened upon a pair of lions mating. Okwa, our wonderfully knowledgeable guide, noted that lions engage each other every fifteen minutes during this heated period, which lasts 3-4 days. Sceptical, I called Okwa on his assertion. Amazingly, fourteen minutes later the lioness was mounted again – he was off by only 60 seconds!

Next, we spotted three highly agitated, barking jackals. They were running in many different directions, frantically harassing a female leopard. Eventually the leopard, having had enough of the three silly little things, found a comfortable, isolated perch and posed in an accommodating manner for us, before scampering down the hill and sauntering a mere ten feet from us. Of course, all the luck wasn’t going my way – my roll of film had ended. I quickly reloaded and shot what I could. Timing is everything in wildlife photography. The leopard was truly an awesome sight. She was so beautiful that she left our group absolutely giddy with enthusiasm.

All I could think to say was, “This is ridiculous.” Keep in mind, that this elephant-lion mating-jackal-leopard action took place in only twenty minutes time. Okwa and KB, our highly skilled driver, told me that “even for them” this was really great stuff.

Having forgotten to mention this in yesterday’s journal entry, I should state that last evening I heard lions roaring for the first time in the wild. It is exhilarating and surely gets the heart racing. This campsite is radically different from the one in Serondela. It is much more wooded and secluded. Okwa advised us to remain in our tents at all costs once we settled in to bed – lions and elephants abound in Savuti. I will gladly heed this warning! I just showered and dinner is now served. Still pumped up from the game drive, I am already anxiously anticipating the next one. We must find cheetah and wild dogs. Botswana is a jewel indeed. Life in Savuti is good.

Edition 44: Autumn 2008