Safari Updates

Wim Reports: We went straight to the vantage point that overlooks Paradise Island this morning to see if the buffalo would be returning to this side of the wide water channel. When we reached the vantage point the first morning sun rays were beginning to pierce the sky. We started to take photos of the beautiful scene ... and as it became lighter we saw the buffalo.   And not only the buffalo!A pride of lions was using the shadowy light to stalk the buffalo, and the lions had created a semi-circle around their unaware prey.And chaos reigned for the next two hours! The buffalo were chased left and right, back and forth. They regrouped to chase the lions, but the lions were wily, and as the buffalo charged some of the pride members, others attacked from the other side.   The commotion was compounded by the bellows and snorts, and water and...

Andrew's News:Lions were roaring close to the Lodge as we enjoyed our early morning coffee and when we found their tracks we were convinced that our luck was in. Then, seeing dozens of different vultures (White-backed, Hooded, Lappet faced) in a tree we circled around and around, but saw no lions. The vultures flapped from tree to tree but kept returning to the same area, convincing us even more that there was something there. While taking photos of the vultures against the bright blue morning sky         we heard that Shadow, a young female leopard was close by.Shadow was hunting some impala, but when they sensed her presence they disappeared quickly, and Shadow headed off with us following her. A few meters away she met up with her two young cubs and after a joyful greeting the three cats played together for the next hour or more. Photography...

Brendon's News:On the way to the buffalo herd this morning we encountered the pride of lions from last night. We stopped for a few seconds only to capture some photographs against the first signs of the dawn.   After an even shorter stop for an elephant we raced on to catch up with the buffalo before they started to move. As we arrived the sun was rising, creating that magical, diffuse, liquid light and when we could see, there was one of the lionesses from Silver - Eye's pride. Looking around, we saw the other lions also emerge from the lightening duskiness - including the dominant male and one of the subadult males that had been chased by him yesterday. The buffalo stood up and seeing the lions nearby started to move away from the area. The lions followed close on their heels, but made no attempt to hunt. Through water...

The final morning at phinda proved to be exciting and eventful for the ODP Safari Group. Heading out early to enjoy as much of the final day as possible, the group arrived at the marsh area. The whole area was covered in a beautiful, ethereal mist and the vehicles stopped to allow the photographers to capture some of the breathtaking landscapes. Then, off to the large pride of lions who were found again with the cubs enjoying much fun in the early dawn. Wet cubs gamboled around and tried to get the adults to join their frolicking. As the sun started to peep through, magical moments were captured on the busy cameras. Uh oh! It was time to move on! Try! Engines roared, wheels spun! Try again – uh oh – No movement! The wheels continued to spin … One of the vehicles was well and truly stuck and only...

Finding lions in the bush can be challenging and all too often, it is a matter of chance.In some areas there are certain clues which need to be linked together to enable those who know how to track them.Because today was the last day of the current safari, everyone wanted (again) to experience every moment, and before sunrise, they were in the Plains in search of the lions and buffalo who had been so very close together yesterday.There was a thick mist again, making magical photography. Now, how to find the lions and buffalo on those vast Plains. The first clue is to watch out for the Cattle Egrets. They return to the buffalo in the very early dawn from their overnight roosting places. So, follow the egrets, and there are the buffalo.Now, knowing that the lions are close by, it is simply a matter of circling the herd if buffalo...

No one wanted to miss a moment of their last drive this morning ... Would the final morning be as exhilarating and bring opportunities to equal the previous days?Setting out really early, the first great excitement was the huge herd of buffalo who had moved almost up to the lodge and were therefore encountered within moments.As the sun rose, glorious landscapes unfolded, this time with the buffalo in the foreground.Having filled memory cards with these beautiful images, it was time to move on, and less than a kilometre away ... another pride of lions. A large male, three females and two biggish cubs were on the move. All could see that this was a group on the hunt, and the ODP safari group stuck close by. (They anxiously looked at their watches - not too long before they would have to leave to catch the flight back home ... uh oh!)...

Duba Plains  is like no other place on this planet. Located in the northern segment of the renowned Okavango Delta,  inaccessible for 11 months of the year by any other means other than flying, this private 30 000 hectare game reserve is truly set in the heart of wildest Africa. You are overcome by the power of true natural beauty and remoteness from the second you arrive on the Island. The camp is set on the banks of one of the many permanent waterways that complement this unique wilderness. On our recent photographic safari to Duba Plains our guests had the opportunity to experience this fantastic paradise. We landed at Duba in the early afternoon in time for a late lunch after all had settled into their rooms. After lunch we headed out on our first excursion to explore the surrounding area and go in search of the lions and...

Once again, everyone on the ODP Safari was awake and ready to leave the camp by 4:30am ... No-one wanted to miss a moment of the final day of the safari. The group went straight to the pride of lions with the buffalo kill to follow up on the action. On arrival, the lions had just finished eating, and were meandering away, with the cubs playing, stalking, running and jumping and then, because of their ultra-full little tummies, they would flop on the ground, legs in the air. As with all youngsters, however, they were soon back on their feet, starting the cycle again ... And again. The pride wandered over to a stream for a long drink, and then decided to retire for the day under some leafy bushes. The ODP Safari group bade them farewell, and proceeded to the main island. A troop of baboons provided hilarious entertainment with...

Yesterday, the ODP Safari group left one of the prides of lions very hungry and only about 500m from a herd of buffalo. Knowing that today would be a day of action, everyone was keen to leave the lodge extra early to follow and capture the promised action. Wim van den Heever, Hilton Kotze, Brendan Cremer and the safari guests were up and ready to go by 04:30. When they arrived at the site where they had last seen these lions, they had disappeared - and so had the buffalo. However, they managed to find the cat tracks, which they then followed. The lions had followed the buffalo onto Nyoka island. The dozing lions and sleeping buffalo were found quite quickly. All was peaceful, tranquil and serene ... For a while. Then the buffalo began to wake up and this heralded the end of the peaceful dawn. Cameras clicked as stand-off...

Duba Plains Safari Diary