As we way goodbye to Xugana Lodge, there’s a small Crocodile on a log in the shade, patiently waiting for the sun to travel across the sky to warm him up.
The flight North in yet another small plane takes about fifty minutes and the landscape quickly turns from aquatic to dry savannah. Our journey from the airstrip in Land Cruisers takes in more Giraffes and Elephants. This park is grassland dotted with water holes, scattered shrubs and trees – a more open landscape.
The Savuti Lodge is also operated by Desert and Delta and after a welcome lunch and getting acquainted with yet another luxury room with thatched roof and canvas walls.
The Lodge overlooks a waterhole where the level is regulated by pumps from underground reservoirs. Impala are drinking – so is an Elephant. A slightly larger swimming pool beckons. I get in six strokes here, the longest pool so far.
It’s off in the Land Cruisers for the evening game drive. Out on the Savana there are Jackels and large Red Beaked Hornbills – almost as large as a turkey A family of Mongooses seem out-of-focus behind the dry grass.
The Wildebeests further on oare plainly visible as they have cropped the grass short. They often share their grazing spaces with Zebra who eat the tops of the larger grasses.
We arrive at a large water hole where a breading hers of Elephants are teaching their young how to drink with their trunks. One little chap hasn’t got it yet and drinks through his mouth – the hard way. Two young larger males are caressing each other with their trunks. This turns into a bit of a play-fight.
At the same time and by contrast a family of Lapwings are feeding and drinking. Each parent Lapwing is supervising one tiny chick about a week old. The parents have a dilemma as the chicks are on opposite sides of the water hole and one of the parents’ files back and forth to avoid the Elephants. Miraculously the chick and the elephants avoid each other.
Elephants consume large amounts of water each day and at this time of the year, supplies are dwindling fast. Many of the water holes are drying up and the water is muddy. They may have to travel far to find fresh water. Pumps, powered by solar energy source underground water but there will still not be enough to cater for so many animals.
Just as suddenly as they arrived, the Elephants leave, prompted by some command that we cannot hear or understand. The Lapwings have the water hole to themselves but they still haven’t managed how to re-unite their family.
Our Guide gets a message via Walkie Talkie and we are also off to another water hole where a Lion is surveying his territory – marking it out with his spray. Everyone has heard the news and there is a crowd. A land Cruiser filled with tourists like us is up close to this big cat. He is only a few metres away from us but does not acknowledge our presence. It’s as if we are not there – the jeep is not perceived as a threat. We are not tempted to get out of the vehicle and our guide tells us a story of having to grab a tourist by the pants and drag them back into the jeep. We have to be cautious and it is an honour to watch all these beautiful and heathy animals up close with no bars.
In the other direction a herd of female Impala are on full alert. They are assessing the situation and gradually relax as they see the Lion is busy and not hunting.
What an end to the day as we find a safe spot for the mandatory sundowner drinks and nibbles.
Back at the lodge there is enough light for a shot at the home waterhole.
