Lions

...from pervious.
We were starting to get anxious. We'd been here four days & heard of a number of sightings, yet we kept coming up snake-eyes.
On Mary's birthday, after a long day of driving from hole to hole searching, and searching we stopped one last time at Chudop waterhole; a number of people had said here is where they had seen them. So we took a shot, and waited and waited, the breeze had died and the car was hot. Every other sort of animal came and left but still not the one we sought.
I was just ready to start the car and head back to camp when from behind Mary saw him one lone lion coming to drink.

We should have known something was up because it wasn't till he sauntered up the waters edge that I noticed there wasn't another animal in sight, for he owned the oasis. The next morning we were rewarded again whe we headed north along the west edge of the pan and practically drove into a small "pride" of three lion "chillaxing" in the shade.

Finally we had what we came for, all of the big five that live in this pan Lion, Leopard, Rhino, & Elephant. The only one missing is the water buffalo and it lives in Caprivi.
Tomorrow we head back to Windhoek and then along flight home.
If you've not been here it may be hard to fathom, or perhaps it's just me, but Africa untangles the soul and I find it hard to leave. I will miss the star filled nights, the vast horizons, the somber sad stare of the elephant and the many good people of this land. This trip will be long remember and I will yearn to return.
MH Holden PLS
[email protected]
Tacoma WA
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Comments

[Robin Ramsey]

Once Africa is in your soul it's hard to dispel. The raw yet refined lifecycles within lifecycles, It's hard to explain unless you've seen it first hand. Brutal, hostile yet elegant and efficient. For those who have yet to experience what living in the 'moment' can be need a little stroll through the savannah.

Robin & Barb