Whether you arrive by plane or travel along the road to Londolozi, you’re welcomed with genuine warmth and smiles. After a delicious lunch and a refreshing drink, you have a chance to settle into your room and unwind before the anticipation of your first afternoon drive begins to build.
Before heading out on a drive, there is often one thing I say to my guests. As guides and trackers, we want to show you anything and everything, although it is not always possible due to the unpredictability of nature. As much as you want to see it, so do we, and we will always try our very best to find what interests you most.
One morning, you may drive out of camp and, within two minutes, find what you have dreamt of seeing. Other times, it may take a few drives, and that specific sighting has not yet materialised.
The morning I want to talk about was one spent searching for a pride of lions. We headed out bright and early, hoping to find some tracks to get the search underway. About 30 minutes in, we found tracks and began tracking.
Fresh lion tracks in the soft sand help us to determine the direction and intent of the pride as we begin our early morning game drive.
The thrill of tracking is often the most exciting part of the experience. We tracked these lions for well over two hours, only to realise they were always about 10 minutes ahead of us and constantly on the move. The time came when we had followed their tracks for roughly 8 kilometres (5 miles), only to discover they had moved into a section of the river that was inaccessible to us.
Enjoy the truly African taste of Amarula in your coffee after a successful morning in the bush
We eventually had to call off the search, and by then it was time for a cup of coffee on a crisp summer morning. We made our way back to camp so our guests could enjoy some delicious food and continue the morning at leisure.
Just as we reached the deck, excitement erupted. A pack of 15 wild dogs were chasing approximately 50 impala across the open hillside opposite the Varty Deck. It was absolute pandemonium. In the chaos, the impala managed to escape, but a scrub hare was not so lucky. The wild dogs then turned their attention to a lone hyena that had been lingering nearby, hoping to snatch the remains of a potential kill.
It was a powerful reminder that you don’t always need to drive far and fast to find something extraordinary. Sometimes, the wildlife and excitement unfold right in front of you.
It was incredibly special to witness a pack of wild dogs running riot in front of the Varty Deck, a first for me, and a moment I will never forget.
I’ll never forget heading out one morning when, just outside the camp entrance, our tracker “V” motioned for us to stop. His practiced eye had spotted a female leopard under a bush which the rest of us, particularly at 05.30, would have driven right past. Yes the Amarula and hot chocolate is lovely, but it’s the skill and intuition of the Londo staff that make the experience so special. And thanks Ximungwe – you were, as always, absolutely beautiful.
Hi Dean. It is always a treat to see the wild dogs in persuit of a kill. It is a pity you could not see the lions that day, but the wild dogs chase makes up for it.
Dean, thanks for a great story and some great images! You are right that you never know what you will find on any game drive!
Every morning there is that anticipation of what one might see and find out in the bush. A wonderful feeling, especially if something really great and exciting materialises like the wild dogs you described.
Looking forward to all this soon..
It is amazing how sometimes you travel large distances and what you want to see is right at hand.
I speak from experience and a very large missed opportunity