It was the 4th day of our safari in Botswana and we had not yet seen any of the big cats. Everything up to that point had been wonderful - lots of animals, delicious food, and the sweet company of family not seen in ages. I think we all tried not to concentrate on the disappointment that would come if we didn't come across a lion or leopard.
Our guide at Savuti Safari Lodge was a Botswanan guy named Energy. When we asked if Energy was his real name he said no, that his real name was at least 4 blocks long and very complicated. To make it easier on the tourists, his colleagues had baptized him Energy, because he tirelessly went through the duties of each day, motivating the others and setting an example of youth and vigor.
Energy, true to his name, became intent on finding us a big cat. Each morning we'd set out before dawn in hope of tracking down a lion or leopard. After all, the Chobe National Park is famous for its large populations of feline predators. Energy would stick his head out the side of the Land Crusier and stare intently at the sand path, looking for telltale tracks of a lion stalking its prey or a leopard retreating into the bush after a long night's hunt.
The last morning we were at Savuti Safari Lodge, Energy was hot on the trail of a lion. We followed these tracks for at least an hour, periodically stopping for the guide to get out of the vehicle and have a close-up look at the prints in the sand, trying to determine which way the lion had gone.
We drove for what seemed like centuries. We were tired and cold and frustrated. Until suddenly Energy became very quiet and intense and told us in a whisper, "The lions are here. Just here. Very close." We drove around a curve and came across a sun lit field with the following magnificent sight right not 3 meters from our vehicle.
A beautiful male lion, basking in the morning light and waiting for his lady to kill something tasty for breakfast. Male lions are notoriously lazy, leaving all the stalking and hunting to the females.
We watched in awe as he gave a good yawn and then slowly sauntered over to his friend.
Yes, we were in the presence of not one but two big male lions!
...whose photos you will have to see in another post because Blogger won't let me upload anymore onto this one!
Detail of gears on a gun mount at the old Fortaleza - Maputo, Mozambique
Ancient reef now exposed - near Cape Town, South Africa
Church gate with luminarias and snow - Las Trampas, New Mexico
The lone leopard (and only one we ever saw over the course of multiple safaris) - Moremi, Botswana
Elephant damage on a 1,000-year-old baobab tree - Seba Camp, Botswana
Kahlua, one of our three ridgebacks while living in Chimoio.
Antique door at K and Z's house - Ilha de Moçambique
Freshly roasted cashews purchased on the roadside - Nampula, Mozambique
Our bedroom in Maputo.
"A Artesã" painted by Mozambican artist Matine. He has incredible talent for capturing light in his paintings.
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