A pride of Lions and a sunset - perfection!

A Game cruise on the Chobe can last until it is almost dark, tearing oneself away from the excitement in order to get back to the Lodge before it is too dangerous to get there. The sun drops suddenly from the sky over Africa. Not the long twilight hours we have here in the North of the UK - and indeed, I do sometimes like to go to the north coast of Scotland near the summer equinox in order to experience the midnight sun - well if not exactly sun, at least be able to film at midnight without the aid of lights.

One of the many river cruises was particularly memorable for me. We had got close to the Chobe Game Lodge - this is one of the few Lodges actually within the National Game Reserve, and is where (incidentally) Richard Burton re-married Elizabeth Taylor. We had noticed a knot of game vehicles obviously watching something intently. Then, to our dismay, we saw the object of their attention.
It was a pride of 7 lions. Some 2 km distant from us when we first spotted them, Kelvin turned the boat so that we could follow the line they were taking. Across the high bank of the river, we could see the golden heads, then the black tips of their tails.

Closer and closer the approached, but quite slowly at first, whilst we watched. Video camera whirring (yes, well, not quite like a cine camera, but you know what I mean)! Occasionally I would pick up the stills camera in the hope of capturing the sight for you.

We were just 5 people on the boat - myself, Kelvin and 3 guests. As ever, I was at the very bow of the boat, but this time I scarcely dare breath. Closer and closer they came. All the time, we were wondering if they would veer away from the waters edge and we would lose sight of them. The leader wore an electronic collar - essential for the management of the reserve, since only last year there was Anthrax in the Reserve, and at least one pride had been wiped out. Now it is imperative that a watchful eye is kept on the health of the remaining prides.

FINALLY we were rewarded by this wonderful sight. I have lightened this photo so that you can see them more clearly, as the original is rather dark.

It had been an unforgettable experience, and one that I felt privileged to have witnessed. On the same cruise we also came across these elephants playing games. Typical teenagers, pushing and shoving each other trying to each outdo the other in the test of strength.

They played like this for a while, but eventually decided to go off in search of more adventures.
Further along we came across this delightful scene of an elephant family - but the baboons were really bugging them, and the large elephant on the left was warning them to keep away. Eventually he got very cross with them, and was trumpeting at them to clear off. Of course they just held their ground, and the elephants went away instead!
I bet there was a fair amount of muttering under his breath by the Bull on the left!

As we were watching this scene, I was again sitting right in the bows of the boat, and looking to my right, was this baby crocodile. I was more than happy when Kelvin moved the boat, because if there is a baby, so also there must be a mother nearby, because as I have said before, the young are fed by the parents for the first 7 years

The evening was now getting rather humid, and there was quite a storm brewing over to the Namibian side. In fact, it was already happening over that side of the river, and was quite spectacular from where we were sitting.

However, before we got very far, I noticed we were being observed quite closely. This old chap was taking in the scene, sitting in the comfort of his tree.

Time was coming though that we really just had to be moving back towards the Lodge, and this was one of those lovely nights, despite the gathering storm, that we were rewarded with a lovely sunset.

It took a very short while to go from this

through this

And with this magic moment thrown in

and the golden glow of the sunset being shown on the eastern flank

and southern, or Botswanan, bank

all the way to this glorious sight in the matter of about 10 minutes

and finally this moments before darkness decended completely.

Leaving me another game drive to do the following day... and all this time, Phil was adapting the Toyota so that he or Gabi could travel in the back of it, along with a mountain of things they were taking south for their son, as in a couple of days, we would be making that 1000 Km journey back to Gaborone, via, of course, friends in Francistown again.