Moremi Game Reserve - Day 4

The Xini pride was on our list for this trip. 

It was dark when we left after a night of few sounds except the scops owl and distant lion and hyena. Our plan was to head to 2nd bridge to check out the flood damage before heading back to the gate and then driving to Khwai. 

Moremi Game Reserve - Day 3

Crocodile camp Maun. Small individual campsite. 

Breakfast of muesli and coffee was had just after 5 am and we were out the Crocodile Camp gate at 6 am in the dark. A potholed road to Shorobe marked the end of the tarmac and after dropping the tyres we started the corrugated sand road to the park entrance gate. It's a 50km slog that should take an hour depending on the road conditions and of course, if you see anything as this is wild game country. 

Moremi Game Reserve - Day 2

The Thamalakane flowing thought Maun. 

Up early at 5 am but it took a while to get breakfast and the last of the packing done before we got on the road just before 6.30. We'd chosen the longer route - via Lobatse and Ghanzi - rather than travel on the busy Palapye road, but it was an uneventful drive to Maun. 

Moremi Game Reserve - Day 1

130 liters of diesel, 50 liters water, firewood, lots to fit in. 

It's time to pack the car again and head to northern Botswana. We had a 9 trip, 2 days to travel, and the rest of time in Moremi Game Reserve. The big difference compared to our trip the same time last year was the water levels. 

Braving the cold in Nxai Pan - day 4

White Headed Vulture is an uncommon sighting. 

A warmer night by about 5 degrees thanks to the cloud that had developed overnight. We were up and gone by 6 am to try and catch the aardwolf again, hoping he'd be at the nearby waterhole. Nothing at the water we made a quick stop at the main waterhole just in case before heading south to where we thought he may be denning.

Braving the cold in Nxai Pan - day 3

Pale-Chanting Goshawk is the the common bird of prey in Nxai Pan 

Despite the cold we were up and going even earlier than the previous day, heading to the nearby waterhole before driving to the main one. Nothing to be seen at either, we started our drive around the pan. Plenty of springbok and we also found some zebra but again the cats eluded us.

Braving the cold in Nxai Pan - day 2

The resident bull of Nxai are a feature of the park

A freezing cold morning that definitely dipped below zero overnight, it took a while for us to get going but nevertheless we were on our morning game drive just after opening time still in the dark. We were hoping for a night time creature but there was nothing to be seen. In fact, it was pretty quiet with no sign of cats.

Braving the cold in Nxai Pan - day 1

The road to Nxai pan

A public holiday on Tuesday had us thinking about how to make into a long weekend and go up north. We got a booking for Nxai Pan, but only Saturday and Sunday. It wasn't worth spending 11 hours driving to the park and only staying there 2 nights so we tagged on the Friday as well with a vague plan of working out what to do on the Monday when we were there.

Mabuasehube NP - Day 5

A soggy Mabua gate

The rain started about 2am and was still going steadily when the alarm went off at 5am. Wi the this much rain around our expectations to see cats was extremely low so our plan was just to head to the gate and get home as early as possible.

Mabusehube NP - Day 4

A campsite full of wildflowers

A good nights sleep with no roaring heard, and we were out again at 5.30am. Straight to the waterhole but there was no sign of the lions. After the storm of last evening, it would be understandable if they had run a mile. We checked the old scout camp where the youngsters had come from last time but also no tracks to be seen.