Imagine, what does it take to make some perfect memories? Memories that will keep you warm on reflection and move your soul when you drift back into the moment they were made. A daunting for some, easy for others, but for most of mortals planning a trip of a lifetime needs and takes some creativity and planning. This is where Ryan and the team at Wandering Thru came in. Be warned though, not everything can be planned for and chalked into the itinerary. Expect the unexpected that’s what I say! Those are the best moments, the ones we get the most out of.
An incredible summer storm flooding all the roads, stuck in the mud with an Aardvark in sight, waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of lions roaring on the other side of your canvas tent, or the most amazing gastronomic experience enhanced only by the dimming sun on the African grasslands; warm air and the sound of laughter only punctuated by the stirring of the nocturnal hunters stirring from their slumber.
Get the picture? Well that was my plan, a trip to Botswana to celebrate my birthday and help enhance my photography skills and portfolio. Was I prepared for all that happened in those planned 9 days? Hell no, but for sure I lived and loved every second of it! From the chance encounters with people and wild animals to the logistical challenges the 2 locations 9 day trip demanded, it was all an amazing experience. Some crafted by the professionals who work with you on the itinerary, some crafted by nature, pure and raw.
The Start
My trip started in Lisbon, then onto Paris before taking the night flight to Johannesburg where the adventure really took off. Meeting Ryan, my private guide, for the very first time, in Johannesburg and flying to Maun, Botswana. From there catching a helicopter through two rain storms, a absolute visual feast, to being picked up from the helipad in our private vehicle, an open Land Cruiser, and taking us to our first lodge, Wilderness Mokete. Greeted by the amazing staff at Mokete, who sang and danced for us as we arrived in our vehicle. Just time for a quick refreshment and then off with camera to start the photographic adventure.
Meeting Ryan as well as our guide from Mokete, for the very first time, we were all on our best behavior, however as we got to know and become comfortable with each other, laughter and all things safari and photography filled the conversation. To be fully absorbed, fully immersed in a rich environment is what we all want to make memories, those small intense moments in life when it all comes together. No online course or lecture room can replace the intense experiences of being out in the field with like minded people and some expert advice and knowledge on hand. The results get better each day, and the immersion in the African experience only gets deeper and deeper. Getting the picture now?
Mababe Depression
Whenever I think of my time at Mokete, I think of how beautiful, magical, raw, pure, and unpredictable it was. From a hyena eating a carcass that was about a month old, then driving to our next sighting to see elephants on a beautiful field of Common Devil’s-thorn (Tribulus terrestris). In between those two sightings, a pride of 18 lions, followed by the most beautiful open setting with a cheetah scanning his environment. The night time drive was also surreal! From getting stuck in the mud after seeing an aardvark, having to be rescued by another vehicle, followed by having thousands of cicadas flying into our vehicle. I can still hear us laughing, laughing at the fact that it was surreal these many cicadas were in an open field flying into us, and at their crazy screaming sounds when we tried to pick them up to help put them back out into the field.
Linyanti
After 5 days in Wilderness Mokete, it was time for our next adventure. Picked up by a helicopter to be taken to Wilderness King’s Pool in Linyanti. To be greeted again by such beautiful and incredible staff, you are made feel right away like you are home, like you are family. After drinking our welcome cocktail, a short little siesta and off we went on our first game drive. Sightings were also incredible, from many species of birds, lions, leopards, giraffes, impala with their new born babies, huge pack of African wild dogs hunting, and many more.
On one morning, we woke up at 5am as usual and while having our coffee, we joked and said: today we will find African wild dogs on our way to see lions. Low and behold, while we are driving to where we had spent time with lions the evening before, Ryan spots a herd of impala running across the road. He says: they are only running like that because they are being chased by dogs! He was right! We stopped the vehicle and waited. Dogs came running across just some seconds after. This is when having two amazingly skilled safari guides really made a big difference. Knowing and predicting the behavior of the animal so that we could find them before they made their kill…which we did.
Experience
Being out in the African wild may be a scary thought, it is only a little more than the urban jungles found in the cities we fondly call home. Here we are forced to be more present, digital distractions left behind we become super mindful of the environment that encompasses us and swamps our every sense with new and fresh stimulation.
Visually it is stunning to see all of the wild animals in their natural habitat, chilling one moment then the deep intensity brought on by a herd of impala running from a big pack of African wild dogs. Sitting in our vehicle surrounded by lions, then hearing the powerful roar of a male lion, something that will never leave you and for sure make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, primal, fierce, and commanding. Then the crazed ululations of the hyena as they settle round a fresh kill to feed their bellies, or the motherly mutterings of a mother giraffe as she takes care of her newly born. And to awake at 05:00 to the call of the staff letting us know it’s time for morning coffee, the welcoming smells of breakfast and the promise of more adventure mix into the conversations between staff and guests. You just could not imagine this, but this is some of my memories, deeply etched into my memory.
Priceless. Emotional. Life changing. Humbling. Being in nature always leaves me with a deep sense of wonder, and in the Botswana bush this is magnified by a factor of 1000. All made possible with the amazing professional staff, guides and pilots who make sure every second of ever day is both memorable, safe and to the highest standards possible.
Looking back at some of the amazing and at times absolutely crazy sightings, I wonder and think, maybe some of it was luck. For sure you need luck when you are out in the bush, no sighting is ever guaranteed. But, you have to know that Ryan’s nickname is, “The Madness”, which he absolutely deserves. The nickname comes from the fact that he finds sightings and species that others can’t find. I have Ryan to thank for the aardvark, the aardwolf, the leopard, many of our lion sightings, the big pack of African wild dogs making a kill, and over 200 different bird species. I never really realized the tremendous benefits of having a private guide until now, but especially one like Ryan. He changed my mind in the first hour of our first game drive.
Heraclitus wrote, “No man may stand in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and it is not the same man”. Once you have spent time in the African bush with the amazing professionals at Wandering Thru I can guarantee you will never be the same person again, and the world a totally different place. The power of memories makes sure of that, and every sun rise and set acts as a trigger.
Pictures and words by: Mariela Rassouli
