Our Journey from Khwai to Moremi Game Reserve

Today we were back in the vehicle with Nelson and we were moving camp. As we ate breakfast the camp team quickly and efficiently dismantled the tents, folded and packed them. We were then on our last game drive in the Khwai concession before travelling on into the Moremi reserve where our new camp would be set up. The highlight of the morning game drive was a large herd of elephants numbering over fifty crossing the water, spraying themselves with mud and water to cool down. It was really interesting to observe their behaviour and the interaction between them.

Lunch stop

After spending time observing the elephants, we witnessed a Bateleur Eagle feeding its offspring in a sizable and chaotic nest. Following this, we searched for a suitable spot to have lunch and reunited with the other group to share details of our morning expedition. Nelson discovered a picturesque area with a clear view of a tawny eagle resting on a tree branch. Here we enjoyed a tasty meal of spaghetti bolognaise and freshly baked bread. Then we embarked on a challenging drive in the scorching heat along the rolling, sandy path towards the Moremi reserve. The other vehicle was travelling behind us and was soon out of sight.

Enroute we encountered a male lion sleepily resting in the shade. As we watched a female lioness in hunting mode appeared out of the Bush and climbed over a log before resting in a shady patch. She was very alert and was watching us. We spent sometime with them before moving on to the new campsite.

Moremi Game Reserve

Eventually we entered the reserve through an impressive gate which had skulls of various
species propped up against the walls and decorative patterns painted on the walls.
Close to the entrance there was a water hole, containing little water but a lot of mud. It was here that we’d arranged to meet up with Stanley and the other group.

As we waited we watched a family of warthogs in the mud, kneeling down to get a drink. They were shortly joined by two kudu and then a third one came from a different direction. We watched as they locked antlers and pushed each other and then the dominant male would wade through the mud to get a drink.

By now we’d been waiting some considerable time for the other group and were becoming worried. Our vehicle had no radio, a real problem in such a remote area as there were few other vehicles.
At last the other group appeared they’d had a puncture and had problems changing the
tyre. With the two vehicles travelling in tandem we headed off deeper into the reserve
heading for the new campsite. Just before reaching the campsite we stopped to observe a family group of Chacma Baboons with a couple of very young infants.

On arrival at the campsite we discovered that it was still being still being set up and there were no showers as yet. The campsite team had experienced a problem, one of their vehicles had broken down, also they’d managed to spill diesel over all the pillows. Therefore the evening meal was late and everything was a little disorganised.
After such a long and hectic day we were grateful to go to bed and used towels and blankets as pillows.