Safari & Company - Safari Adventures Custom Designed

Green Season Safari in Botswana with private guide Matt Copham

Matt's trip report:

KINGS POOL

The trip started with some great viewing whilst driving from Chobe airstrip to Kings Pool, this included good general game, raptor viewing and elephants. Due to the flooded banks of the Linyanti River, the elephants had found it unnecessary to move deep in to the Mopane woodland belt. Every drive consisted of excellent elephant viewing, fantastic as this is the defined highlight of what the Linyanti Concession is about.

The Kings Pool team set up a beautiful private lunch at the hide for the guests, not to forget the good laughs around the dinner table. The rains did arrive on the last day, cutting our boat ride short.

JAO

We arrived at Jao soaked, but the Jao team was waiting for us, The managers had set up a station consisting of Amarula Cream, hot chocolate, tea & coffee - perfect for warming up the insides! Again we were the only guests in the camp, totally spoilt!

The concession had begun to flood, providing us with some great birding and scenery though out our stay. Our first afternoon we sighted two lions, a large male who roared inear the vehicle and a lioness we observed hunting red lechwe, she was unsuccessful.

The following morning we left the camp late due to the heavy rains in the morning, we got a little wet but were rewarded with a hunting leopard. She took advantage of the wet grass which cloaked her movements, the impala sighted her just before she was about to pounce.

At midday we all headed out fishing, unfortunately only one fish was caught, by Shane. The guests returned for massages. That night we dined in the Jao Library!!

MOMBO

Again and again Mombo rocked! The highlight was that of two male lions that killed a buffalo close to camp. The following morning two more lions displaced the previous males, calling repetitively and laying claim to their land. Strangely; they did not touch the half eaten caracas and left it to the Hyaenas.

To add more we observed at leopard feeding on a civet cat, spent two drives watching lions hunting buffalo and got blocked from tea by some elephants and had bush sundowners whilst watching lions, giraffe and zebras.

Our last night we dined privately at the Mombo lounge where I presented a slide show on the Okavango Delta and C.I.T.W. The presentation was cut short when A Pel's Fishing lounge landed on a exposed tree close to the fire place, amazing!

Matthew Copham
Wilderness Safaris

Guest's comments: Mike we had a great time - - Matt, the camps , the game ,service etc. were as good as it gets! No question, but we'll return someday and add on Namibia and Victoria Falls.