Botswana Okavango Delta Machaba Camp

Dramatic Tug-Of-War

In the first week of the month, a female leopard was observed in the morning, stealthily stalking three waterbucks along the river banks on the Moremi side. Unfortunately, the unsuspecting waterbucks failed to detect the imminent danger. While one waterbuck lay low in the tall grass, the leopard swiftly pounced on another.

In the middle of all this action, a massive crocodile, vigilant and swift, rushed in like a bullet, seizing the waterbuck by its hind leg and initiating a tug-of-war. Another crocodile joined the struggle, intensifying the competition. Eventually, the leopard had to concede defeat and retreat into the bush underneath a sickle bush tree. There, it curled up, licking its paws in the aftermath of this intense encounter.

Snake For Breakfast

One morning, one of our guides set out on a game drive, and as he traversed the landscape, he noticed a brown snake eagle gracefully soaring around an acacia tree. As he approached the tree, a fight erupted between the eagle and the snake that looked like a black mamba.

The fight didn’t take long and the eagle was seen flying off with the snake in its talons. The eagle kept flying around until it landed on a tree with a big nest in it. In the nest were two eagle chicks, awaiting their breakfast.

As the eagle fed its chicks, three fork-tailed drongos perched on a nearby branch, began screeching their characteristic amusing sounds. They managed to irritate the eagle to the point that she snatched one of the drongos and added it to the chick's breakfast menu. 

Youth Wins The Battle… This Time

It was a bright sunny morning. Guests were having their breakfast around 06:25 when an alarm call was heard coming from the bush picnic spot. The guides together with their guests jumped on their vehicles to go and investigate.

As they drove past the staff village a growling sound was heard coming from some nearby Kalahari apple bushes. On arrival at the scene, a fierce battle was underway between three young male lions and the two big male lions. 

One of the larger male lions bore the marks of the battle, displaying scars across its body, particularly on the back and belly. As the fight intensified, the two older lions retreated into Moremi. The spectacle left the guests in awe of the unforgiving yet incredible dynamics of nature, where survival of the fittest takes centre stage.

Hyena vs Tortoise

On an early evening game drive a thrilling scene unfolded near Leopard Lagoon. A tortoise, navigating its way across the road, found itself in trouble when suddenly a hungry hyena emerged from the thickets.

The hyena swiftly seized the giant tortoise and began to ruthlessly crack its shell, revealing its voracious appetite and razor-sharp teeth. The onlookers were captivated by the spectacle, their emotions ranging from awe to sympathy for the innocent tortoise that had no way to escape.

Wild Dog Hunt

One afternoon while heading towards Leopard's Lagoon we came across fresh wild dog tracks. Within a brief three-minute drive, the air filled with the alarmed calls of impalas, squirrels, and francolins.

Before the guide could raise his binoculars to survey the scene, impalas were seen leaping through the air, and the wild dogs were in hot pursuit. Some of the impalas, with their young calves, managed to escape the relentless hunting dogs. As the dust settled, it became apparent that two female impalas had succumbed to the predators.

To say this month's wildlife encounters were thrilling would be an understatement. Our guests and guides were both treated to some of the most awe-inspiring moments at Machaba Camp.

Until next time,
Linguist
Machaba Camp