Almost every night, Tuskers Bush Camp resident photographer, Daniel Dugmore, has heard lions calling around camp. The deep, resonating sound has penetrated the still, dark atmosphere, and with there being no fences around the camp, the powerful roar can be heard loud and clear. Guests enjoying the evening skies from around the campfire are treated to the iconic call of Africa, enhancing their experience of the wild world of Botswana even more. This king of the jungle has kept to the shadows when we’ve been out following up on his vocalisations, and we’ve only managed to peer at him from about 20m. The beauty of camera traps, however, is that it gives us an eye into the wilderness without the wildlife knowing we are there, and we have been astonished at the density of predators that live around the camp! Take a look at our shy male lion and mate looking ultra-relaxed in the early hours of the morning at a pan in front of the camp…
The small pan located about 100m in front of Tent 6 is one of the closest sources of water to Tuskers, and it has proven an absolute hit among the plethora of wild animals that reside in this unadulterated wilderness. The concession is a vast 365 000 hectares of unexplored land, and Tuskers is the only lodge in the area, meaning that much of the concession remains entirely private, and an undisturbed area. Bordering Nxai Pan in the east and Moremi Game Reserve in the west, while Chobe is located not far north of the concession, there are famous wildlife areas circling Tuskers, and with the lack of fences in much of Botswana, animals roam free.
With the blissful privacy of the area, comes the reality of truly wild animals, which might not be used to the presence of vehicles. This could explain why these incredible lions prefer to watch us from the shadows, and really come out of their shells at night when they think no one is watching. It is a real privilege to solely occupy this spot in the wild bushveld and to get to know the lions no one else sees. After two years of extreme drought in Botswana, the natural water sources in the area dried up, and the wildlife would naturally have moved away to find more reliable water. Now, as Tuskers attempts to return water to the area and bring balance back to the concession, we have witnessed the presence of lions – the pioneer predator species. Exciting times lie ahead for safaris in this incredible private concession!
One night, Dan went out in the direction of the lion’s roar to see if he could catch a glimpse of this king of beasts as it sent its call out every night. The lion fell silent, and Dan patiently waited to hear him again. An hour or so went by before that ‘goosebumps’ moment arrived once again, and the lion bellowed into the darkness, sending vibrations through the air and warming the soul. Not only that, but on this post-dinner game drive, Dan saw a leopard crossing the dry pan right in front of the Tuskers camp main area, and after that bumped into a lioness lying silently in the sand road. She was relaxed, and happy in the presence of the vehicle, giving Dan the opportunity to snap a quick photograph through the shrubbery.
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