V - experience The following morning, just after sunrise, as I walked to the mess tent for coffee and a light
headed off in search of whatever else the Okavango had waiting for us.
breakfast, I almost had my feet taken out from
Over the next few days we spent time riding
under me as a pack of wild dogs came tearing along
the remarkable horses of Macatoo as we tracked
the camp pathway in hot pursuit of an even more
lion and leopard, galloped alongside giraffe and
surprised (and rather fast-moving) bush buck. They
approached
were gone in an instant, and once my heart rate
invisible cloak that being downwind provides.
elephant
bulls
from
behind
had returned to non-fatal levels, I decided to skip
Even the most experienced riders cannot fully
coffee and waste no time before getting into the
prepare for the thrill of riding great horses through
saddle to head out in pursuit of one of Africa’s
the wilderness. Galloping as a group over one of
most endangered and endearing predators.
the many floodplains of the Okavango must surely
Our guide Sekongo Katsotso lead the way as we
rate as one of life’s greatest experiences. Thundering
followed the tracks of the hungry wild dogs. After
hooves, the wind in your hair, the sun on your back
an hour or so, we realised that because the dogs
and water splashing all around you all make any
were hunting, they were moving at a significantly
traditional safari pretty mundane in comparison.
faster pace – so, reluctantly, we left the trail and
There is nothing quite like it.
val de vie
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the
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2014/11/27 5:02 PM