That’s what friends are for.

It’s like that one time at Bandcamp. You meet someone and have an instant connection. One only met 10 minutes ago, but it feels like you have been friends for 10 years. You are in the same place, have the same interests, and live your life similarly in different ways. One doesn’t need to say or explain much because it is understood. Certain places attract certain people. It’s a neo-magnetic playground for those willing to share.

Experiences like these with humankind are increasingly irregular nowadays. But not all is lost. My fun-loving foto frenzy brought me fate not only once, but twice. Right here within the shire of the Khwai.

Three adventurers, three different origins, three different backgrounds, and three different vroom-vrooms in the same vicinity for the very same reasons.

Matteu spotted this lion couple as I pulled up beside him. ‘They have been mating over the past 3 days’ he said. ‘I have been following them since. They are in uncharted territory as another pride rules this area.’

‘No wonder they are exhausted!’

Wow, so much info as an introduction. Mateo is very dedicated to these cats. African cats. Big cats are Matteu’s passion as he volunteered with cheetahs in Namibia a few years back. A visit to the Okavango Delta is an annual holiday for this Cypress.

‘We are not French and we are not Italian’ he pronounced proudly. ‘We have our own lingo and national pride’ he detailed furthermore. Don’t suppress the Cypress.

Marcel joined us at the accommodation office the following day in a very un-German manner; flexible and relaxed!

‘They double booked my camp spot, just like they did last year’ notioned a sense of irony and a big smile on his dial. ‘They are consistent with certain things, no doubt about it’. It was an introduction we all could rely upon as seasonal travellers. Matteu was the ‘other one’ on that exact camp, who meanwhile camped somewhere else’.

Gotta love Africa, as frustrating and complicated as it can be.

All three of us were here on our own little adventure. Camping under the stars whilst listening to the lions duel their territories throughout the night.

Cruising along an unmatched natural beauty and spot wildlife to capture on film.

All of us knew that we didn’t have to pay national park fees here. This stretches a holiday financially further.

The Khwai River Region is the annual holiday destination for both, Mateo and Marcel. Yet, they never crossed paths before. ‘I find everything I need right here’ Matteu said. ‘It’s exciting and relaxing at the very same time. Look around you. Why would you want to visit anywhere else?

‘Just like a kinder surprise’ Marcel added quick-witted. ‘Three in one; Fun, Foto, and Fate.

‘Ja, Ja. Kinderüberaschung!’

And so the three of us voyaged together over the next few days.

The Khwai River area became our playground and we even gave tips to the locals.

We exchanged experiences and shared suggestions on places to go to and just had a good laugh.

Fantastic.

A German couple I met in Linyanti had their own box of chocolate as they watched the sunset from the highest, safest, and best viewing point. Hail to the queen.