The green waterways of Khwai

We feel like we have landed in a green water filled paradise arriving at Mbudi Camp set on the banks of the Mbudi river in Khwai.

We take some time off here to relax enjoying the ever changing scene in front of our campsite, like a natural TV where elephant come peacefully to drink in the knee deep channels and hippo grunt with the ever present cry of the fish eagle.

Matt has lessons on how to cook a potjie and we all enjoy a delicious dinner around our campfire complete with Pete’s warm home baked bread which is rapidly becoming an addition.

We take a mekoro trip one morning which is so peaceful gliding so close to the water we become part of its very essence and can study the Painted reed frogs undisturbed at eye level clinging to the reeds. We pass through a passage of water lilies filling the water in an abundance of pale pinks and whites which is absolutely breathtaking. A brightly colored Malachite Kingfisher perches so close to us we could reach out and touch him.
As we retrace our route back to camp we come across an elephant bull drinking from the channel directly in our path. He slowly dips his trunk in the water sucking like a giant straw and then fills his mouth water cascading down in droplets of morning light. We have such a unique perspective from water level.

From Mbudi Camp we drive to Magotho Camp for a night arriving in the afternoon to our whole campsite filled with feeding elephants ( those Winterthorn trees with their juicy pods are just everywhere at this time of the year ). We take one look and retire to a picnic spot higher up the river for lunch and thankfully when we return later we have the space to ourselves with just the owls and the cutest Lesser bush baby nearby. We spend a noisy night with the calls of hyenas jackals owls and the chomping of a hippo in front of our tent. Just another day in Africa !Read more