We Finally Saw a Lion!

When you hear or read the word Africa, what pops into your mind first?  Animals is mine, and, I think, for most people it is animals, maybe a specific one, like elephants.  When I got the chance to go to Africa in 1990, I went to see the animals, which I did see in Tanzania and Kenya.  One of the things about that trip that I still say today is, "I did not see enough elephants."  So when Jim gave me a two-day trip to a pricey fly-in safari to see more animals, it was like a dream come true, except that he did not go along, too.  And he had not gone on that earlier trip either.

Experiencing the Okavango Delta on an all-inclusive fly-in safari is one of the highlights of this trip to Africa for me.  This is what it was to be: two nights at Vumbra Plains North Safari Camp that included flights to and from, two daily guided game drives (four total), room accommodations, and all food and beverages.  That sounds like a lot, and it was, but it was so much more.

We finally saw a lion!

SF

But let me start at the beginning.  Our single engine plane was piloted by Kristy for about 45 minutes with one stop before reaching Vumbura Plains Safari Camp's landing strip, close to our home for the next two days.  Flying over the delta shows you how much water there is.  Apparently, the water had just started rising and would rise even more as the water from the Angola Highlands in the north seeped southward.

Four of us transferred to a safari game drive vehicle equipped to traverse dusty roads, deep sand, and (even) high water because it had a snorkel.

Lastie, our guide, asked if we wanted to go directly to the lodge or go on a game drive.  Of course, we all opted for the game drive.  The first animal we saw was a Spur-winged Goose.

Every late afternoon, a 'Sundowner' is held for the guests out in the bush.  Our Sundowner just included the four of us who had flown in, but there was enough food and beverages for many guests.  One woman headed straight for the champagne.  I saw Pimm's, and I asked for it.  Almost immediately, I was handed the most delicious Pimm's Cup.  To me it is the British equivalent to sangria, except it is gin-based.  A washing up table was nearby...such civility, such luxury.

SF

Water was sometimes the roadway.  Notice the snorkel the car had to use to navigate through the water?

Another antelope, the Red Lechwe was prevalent at Vumbra Plains.

An injured Blue Wildebeest made us wonder if he would make it through the night.

Blacksmith Lapwing birds were common here.

Baboons enjoyed the late afternoon, too.

The sun was lowering, but we could still see the White-headed Vultures.

The guides use their radios to communicate the whereabouts of the animals.  Lastie got a message about a male lion resting after a big gorging meal close to the road that led to our lodge.  The lion was gorgeous, and he was not very far from our vehicle.  All the animals seemed to take the vehicles in stride...not a problem, not a concern for them.  In fact, they seemed to get bored by them and would soon wander off for more interesting vistas.

Can you see why this is called a sausage tree?

We were greeted and welcomed at the lodge entrance with warm wash-cloths, hugs, name exchanges, and an invitation for a cooling refreshment on the lodge veranda where we went over formalities then were escorted to our rooms.

Before dinner there were cocktails and tidbits while meeting our fellow travelers on safari.  Our view of the lake included hearing hippos calling out to one another.

It had been a long day, and I knew I would be asleep as soon as my head hit my pillow.