‘It is advised to use the high-way south’ the Bush-Telegraph noted the following morning.

‘The low-tracks through the swamps had become increasingly difficult to navigate.

Yesterday’s heavy downpour saw a young couple, believed to be from Germany, gotten stuck in mud. Their attempt to get out of the rudd resulted in a burnt-out clutch and most likely burnt-out visitors’.

I was considering taking the lowland track south towards the Savuti Channel this morning, but yesterday’s showers were considerably heavy.

The Savuti area is often highly recommended for wildlife viewing. Lions in particular.

One zebra already lost its tail, but not its life.

I clearly remember watching a documentary by Sir David Attenborough about this area, where the Savuti lion pride specialized in hunting and bringing down elephants.

A special night vision camera filmed the coordinated attack in pinpoint detail. Not today.

The land is hot, the land is dry. A lone bull succumbed to overheating.

Even though only skin and bone (and tusks!?) were left, friends and family still wish them farewell. Elephants are extremely compassionate.

A few afternoon showers may kept water in the holes, but even the Savuti channel was completely dry. Zimba and I enjoyed the soft sand rally through the riverbed immensely. Vroom vroom.

A flowering Baobab was the perfect spot for an early dinner.

No doubt this magnificent tree had seen many people cooking by his side in the early days.

That’s how the bush telegraph originated.

‘Let’s meet under the baobab tree for sunset.’

It was another stunning sight as I was joined by a few Safari vehicles, taking their customers for a sundowner view for a few. Good for them.

I eventually had a nice cuppa tea as the last light faded away. Precious.

Of course, I revisited this ol’ mate for sunrise. The very early morning hours usually indulge some more privacy.

‘Good morning Botswana’ let’s see what’s on the menu for today.

I passed Leopard Rock, an elevated hillside covered in huge boulders. The loop road didn’t show any of these elusive cats as I expected but hoped for.

The marsh road south saw a few waterholes right and left to the sand track.

It wasn’t long before I spotted a small herd of elephants.

They were engulfing a few greens that desperately tried to grow on barren land.

It was breakfast time and I watched these temperate giants watching me.

Just like that, I heard a shot fired not far from here. I saw some elephants running off in panic. And that was it. No second bang, no vehicle noise, no human chatter. Because it was so quiet afterward, it appeared increasingly dodgy.

I noted my experience to the rangers as I left the park later. No immediate actions were taken. No one seemed overly surprised. Maybe more so that ‘someone’ heard the shot. So much for being a National Park.

Back to my elephant pool. A little bit further south was an elephant magnet.

A water park that included a few slip-and-slides as well as a larger pool to quench your thirst.

Caravans of elephants made their way over to this giant Disney Park.

I couldn’t believe it. And I couldn’t go anywhere.

I wedged Zimba into a green bushy corner as the elephants paraded only a few meters away.

They stood even too close for my lens. It was amazing.

One dehydrated old mate quenched his thirst right at the edge of this pool. He was wearing a decent soil mask.

Elephants lose a glass of water every minute if they overheat. Sun and skin prevention is the key to survival in these conditions.

Two youngsters felt overly energized foraging tussle. It was cute to watch them as it was obvious they had a fabulous time.

Although, they appeared to be two oversized octopuses getting undone. Their trunks explored each corner, so cute.

At halftime, both of them dropped into the mud for respite and relief. The whole scenario reminded me of the elephantastic mud bath in the Nxai Salt-pans 6 years ago.

More and more elephants came from near and far. It was an amazing and a little anxious experience. The way Zimba was tucked away startled a few elephants as they couldn’t see the zebra from afar.

Some elephants lifted their ears a few meters away from the bonnet realizing that Zimba wasn’t a grazing zebra.

Keeping calm was a priority even with a slightly raised heartbeat. However, this gentle giant waterpark is a lifesaver and a funsaver.