On the topic of missed details. Celebrated Botswana Day on Sept 30th. My first Botswana Day - was a terrific evening. Traditional Botswana meal and had the entire camp staff at dinner - We were at the table with Mr.Moe and his team. Good times!

Welcome back, Hari.
Glad you saw the cheetah and enjoyed.
Sounds like the Selinda pack wondered off again from Selinda - we saw 8 very healthy dogs as well. One female was pregnant. BB thought she wasn't that far along - don't know what the gestation time is. Is the Selinda pack now 2 sub packs?

Glad you also saw the pangolin. It was such a highlight for us, as well.

Hi Hari,

Good gameviewing and good guiding, is no surprise to me. Kwando is so superior to its neighbours, some think otherwise No accounting for taste is there!

Hari, I totally agree with your statement about how constantly things change in terms of predator (or other animal) dynamics. Mombo as you probably know, for example, used to be THE place for wild dogs. Now there are too many lions for the dogs to thrive there. I guess that's why Africa enthralls us all.

When I was at Lebala in late August, I did not see a single hyena. Also, flying into the Selinda concession, I was struck by how much water the mopane pans still held. I had flown over the mopane forests in northern Botswana twice before (both times in late August as well), and the pans were dry. As expected, I saw very few elephants in the Kwando concession this time.

Great report

Botswana Day, pangolin, all that exceptional cheetah action, and a civet on the roof! You are outdoing us all!

Thanks all for your continued comments - some answers.

Hi Sherry,

The Selinda pack have been pretty dynamic over the years and have been constantly having some break away members every year. This past year they lost their alpha female to old age. With this the pack did split up.

That's a different pack of 8. The Selinda guides mentioned this pack to the Kwando guides during one the airstrip pick ups last week.

The current denning pack at Lagoon (Selinda pack members) are currently 5 dogs (4 male and 1 female) with 4 puppies.

safaridude,

We saw Hyenas for sure. But, going back the last couple of years they were all over the place with those clans being very strong.

Ken,

I think it's probably the mixed woodland areas that are being productive. We weren't doing too many drives down South to Twin Pools etc etc., Driving more towards Baobab road, Kubu pan, Nari pan etc etc., as that area seems to be more rewarding at the moment

But there were lots of Elephants apparently at Twin Pools in the evenings.

Cheers
Hari

PS: One group saw an Elephant giving birth etc etc., I was with the cheetah as usual not too far away and declined the sighting.

While you were outdoing us all your safari-mates in another vehicle were watching an elephant being born?!

Kwando is pretty incredible!

Looking forward to the pics.

Hari

Great safari and great report. I was in Bots for Botswana day, last year - great time.

Matt

Thanks, Napamatt. Yes, Botswana Day was a lot of fun and this time of the year was very good for gameviewing - yet the light conditions were pretty challenging.

Regards,
Hari

Hi Hari,

I'm just back from Switzerland and

France, watching Bath Rugby lose to

Toulouse,alas. Great trip though.

I've just read about your

adventures at Lebala and can't wait

to get there. I leave London on

Tuesday and arrive at Lebala and

meet Spencer on Wednesday. It all

sounds very promising, and I'll try

to give you the latest news about

your cheetahs.

I hope you put your photos up

before I leave.

I get back from Botswana on

6th November.

Jan

Hi Jan,

Here are a few pictures to begin with. Sorry, it's taking me awhile to get to the pictures. Will upload more over the weekend.


http://www.pbase.com/haris_7/lebala_october_2008


You will have a great time with Spencer that's for sure. Yes, please give me an update of the cheetah and cub. That will be much appreciated.

I will make an update, once more pictures are posted.

Hari

Thankyou, Hari,

You've certainly whetted my appetite. I'll tell Spencer that I have instructions from you!

Jan

Hahaha. Please say hello and my Best regards.

I shall be pleased to do that.

Hari you are a cheetah magnet!! You have captured their spirit well. Not sure which lens you are using, but its very sharp at its long end.

Hari,

Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures. It looks like the female cheetah is still in very good condition.

Best regards,

Johan

Thanks a lot Fred and Johan. I promise to have more pictures during the weekend.

That's right, Johan - She's in great condition. You'd remember that I narrowly missed her in June last year when you saw her at the spillway.

Regards,
Hari

i've seen several comments about the NEW TENTS at lebala but no pictures. not even on their site which seems odd.

we're planning a trip in Nov 09 and trying to decide between a few camps in botswana (in additon to little bush in SA)

does anyone have pictures they'd care to share

jeff