18/02/2022
A night to remember by our founder, Ok Dirang.
"Savuti is part of Chobe National Park in northern Botswana and is known for predator sightings.
In 2007, we were camping along the dry Savuti Channel with Italian guests. Whilst on an afternoon game-drive, the guests insisted that they wanted to see lions as that was what they came to Africa for. As a guide and knowing the area very well, I explained that we still had a chance to see the them. We returned to camp after sunset that evening and the chef had prepared a delicious dinner. Unbeknown to us, at about 8pm, a pride of 17 lions had moved silently along the Savuti Channel and lay down by the shower and toilet tents. After dinner, one guest on his way to the toilet, heard light movement up ahead, stopped and called me because in my safety briefing, I tell guests that if they hear light or heavy movements they should not continue and instead call the expert of the bush, Ookeditse Dirang. I accompanied him to the toilet and when I shone my torch, I saw two lion cubs playing with the tent bags. Once they moved away, the guest used the toilet while I kept watch but while we were walking back to the camp fire, I saw a lioness walking up the channel ridge towards our camp. As calmly as possible, I told the guests that there are lions in camp and they should quietly get into the vehicle. The two pride males started roaring in camp and the lionesses joined the roar. That was the beautiful, African call of the night. We sat in the vehicle and as the lions didn’t want to leave the camp, we all watched the cubs playing and the males kept roaring to announce their presence in their territory. Luckily the lions heard hyenas nearby and they all got up and followed the sounds. I then escorted my excited guests to their tents. They had had a great experience and the following morning, on our game drive and we did not see the lions again.
Moral of the story - leave everything to nature and always follow your guides rules "
