Fourteen-Lion Parade
Parking this here so I can find it easily. In 2007 earthquakes reopened the Savuti Channel from the Okavango Delta—where the Cuando/Okavango River flows into the Kalahari Desert and dries up—to the Mababe Depression. What had been a November-March estival wetland then became, once again, a year-round wetland…
Dawn…
The ten lions from the previous evening led by their matriarch—on the road, to move fast and silently, without rustle, looking for breakfast. They are trailed by the three three year-old cat-boys from the previous morning, and by the five year-old zebra kill-hogging Fred from the previous evening.
And so we have the fourteen-lion parade:
They will turn right and start hunting upwind…
Now heading upwind and about to go belly-to-dirt. In a minute, even with our monkey eyes, it would be very difficult to tell by sight if there were any lions—let alone fourteen—within fifty yards, crawling slowly upwind through the grass.
We were extraordinarily, extraordinarily privileged to have the world-class Jonah Seboko as our guide…
References:
Alexander, Lesly. 2025. “Savuti Botswana: The Ultimate Guide.” SKL Group of Camps, February 27. https://sklcamps.com/savuti-botswana.
Carter-Manning, Julian. 2024. “Raw & Wild at Mokete in the Mababe Depression”. Wilderness Destinations. March 7. https://www.wildernessdestinations.com/journal/our-collective/raw-and-wild-at-the-new-wilderness-mokete
Keakabetse, Boniface. 2023. “Mababe - where people and wildlife live side by side.” Independent, March 20. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/campaigns/giantsclub/mababe-where-people-and-wildlife-live-side-by-side-b2304391.html
Kemp, Leigh. n.d. “Savuti Changing Ecosystem.” Siyabona Africa. https://www.botswana.co.za/Botswana_Travel_Articles-travel/savuti-seasons-botswana.html
Vincent, Jessica. 2025. “How Northern Botswana’s Evolving Landscape Became a Haven for Wildlife”. Travel + Leisure, February 9. https://www.travelandleisure.com/wilderness-camps-botswana-safari-8773592
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