One of our guide’s, KG, shared one of his most memorable safari experiences with us:
The bush was silent. It was that kind of stillness that makes you hold your breath without even realising it, as we left the lodge in the pre-dawn darkness. About 30 minutes into our drive, a new scent cut through the cool, crisp air; the scent of hyenas.
We stopped the vehicle for a few moments, and with the help of a spotlight, we located a pair of eyes reflecting back at us from the thick vegetation. Two spotted hyenas were approaching the safari vehicle, their gaze fixed on us. My guests were silent, their focus fully on the two creatures in front of us, when I picked up an even more potent scent. Lion.
I informed the guests, and for a few moments, no one said a word as the hyenas disappeared into the shadows. We drove on for a few minutes as the sun began to rise, its light painting the landscape in shades of gold and amber. And then we saw them: two lionesses and their two small cubs. Their bellies were full, a clear sign that a recent kill was nearby.
With their bellies full, the pride went mobile, and as we followed them in our vehicle, we came across the remains of an adult Kudu bull; the feast they had just finished. The lions then disappeared into the bushes, leaving us in awe of the moment. It was just then, a powerful reminder of what makes a morning game drive so special. You never know what’s waiting around the corner; sometimes, we’re lucky enough to witness something that stays with us forever.
The unexpected, the thrilling, the beautiful. These are the moments that truly define a safari.
