Remarkable 24 hours at Tubu Tree Camp

Location: Tubu Tree Camp, NG25, Botswana

Date: 3 July 2010

Observers: Justin Stevens, Jackie Collett, Johnny Mowanje & Anthony Mochoni

Photos: Michelle Collett & Mardus Potgieter

July 3rd 2010 – What a day!

Our guests woke up and were collected for breakfast by their guide. On the way, they saw two fresh sets of male lion tracks on the pathway leading to the main area. With adrenalin surging, the guests had a quick breakfast and headed out to track the lions. Instead they came across the big male that dominates the far side of the Jao Concession.

The game drive followed the lion and after a short while, his attention was arrested by some activity in a thicket nearby. He ran towards a thicket and three leopard (the Tubu female and her two cubs) exploded up into various trees. They watched, helpless, as the lion devoured the remains of an impala they had been breakfasting on. At the same time, a big elephant bull came wandering past.

On the way back to camp, they were interrupted by fighting kudu and an enormous buffalo bull. They arrived for brunch to find the camp inundated with elephants which prevented any return to the rooms.

The afternoon was also spectacular. The guests went fishing and were rewarded with a number of good catches. They were also lucky to see hippo breaching and two elephant swimming quite close to the boat. On the way back to camp, they saw yet another leopard.

It wasn’t over yet.

We had to collect the guests from their rooms in a Land Rover because there was a lioness chasing red lechwe in front of Tent 1 and her companion was spotted on the walkway outside Tent 3. The next morning, the big male was back, this time in camp. The game drives followed him out via the workshop and staff village.

What a remarkable 24 hours!