Kings Pool

Kings Pool

Linyanti, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Wilderness Safaris

I have stayed in two Wilderness camps so far; Vumbura North, and Kings Pool. At Vumbura I stayed in the pilot room, but at Kings Pool I was fortunate enough to stay in a guest room, and I was blown away. But my favourite thing about the camp wasn’t the room (which is kitted out with a massive shower, small pool, and outside bed), but the hide...

View of the camp from the hide

A crocodile silently slips into the water and makes its way across to the opposite bank, barely causing a ripple.
Birds sing their tune and lizards rustle in the reeds. 
Clouds and blue skies are reflected in the still water.

The peace is broken by hippos waking up on the far side of the river, their call, somewhat reminiscent of a laugh, carrying over the water. I can't see them from the hide, but I can hear them surfacing and spraying water everywhere.

Cumulonimbus clouds build in the distance towards Kasane. Great fluffy towers of cloud rising into a crisp blue sky.

Fish eagles call from nearby trees, and insects dance on the water.

With the slow descent of the setting of the sun comes cooler temperatures, and animals of all shapes and sizes start to wake.

And here I sit, in a hide about 200m from the main camp, sipping on coffee, camera beside me, taking it all in. And I wonder what I did to deserve the opportunity to gaze upon this phenomenal world, and witness nature at its best.

Later that evening I lay on my outside bed and watched the hippos. It was the closest I have ever been to hippo, and I lost track of time as I watched them in the water, sinking down and bobbing up for air, running along the riverbed, and interacting with one another.

Here I am, where I'm supposed to be.

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