A Lion Stole My Blanket!

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The sub adult cubs were rough housing with each other – biting, snarling and playing.  The two lionesses were gently calling to them and watching from a distance.  I wriggled down to get a better shot and then that’s when it happened…..

But I am getting ahead of the story.  Recently my family came out from Scotland to visit.  Some of them had not been to an &Beyond Lodge and so Kwandwe Private Game Reserve very kindly offered for us to come out and stay at the beautiful private villa, &Beyond Melton Manor (I think I have mentioned before how much I LOVE my job??).

It is amazing how quickly one can get used to the luxury of this home away from home and for three glorious days; we played at being Lairds (my Scottish is not bad hey?) of our own Manor.  Private game drives, butlers, chefs – one could certainly get used to this – not to mention the FOOD!
The game at Kwandwe is amazing – the diversity is astounding.  Not only do you see the Big 5, but due to its bio diversity, you also get to see species found in drier areas such as Oryx and Springbok in addition to the usual antelope and general game that one sees at other lodges.  Black and White Rhino are abundant as well giraffe, buffalo, warthog (the lions favourite prey), kudu etc – lots and lots of animals.

And then we started our quest to find the lions…
Alfie, our ranger and Sibo our tracker put their skills into action on our second morning game drive and after tracking spoor for about an hour, we came upon two lionesses and three sub adult cubs.  They had just killed and eaten a massive warthog and the one lioness sported an injury to her eye from the formidable tusks of the tough warthog who must have put up a good fight.

The cubs were entertaining us with their playful antics and I was trying to get a good shot.  However, I could not seem to get low enough and my photos were less than satisfactory and that is when I hunkered down and OOPPS – my blanket slipped off the vehicle onto the ground next to me.  For one split second moment of stupidity I considered quickly retrieving it, but better judgement kicked into gear when I saw the reaction!
We are always told that lions see the vehicles as a solid object and that they take no notice of those of us inside clicking away with our cameras.  It is only when you break the shape of the vehicle by standing up, making sudden movements or in my case throwing something off the vehicle that you attract attention.   And boy, did I attract some attention…
The cubs were playing a good 50 – 60 metres away and seemed totally engrossed in each other’s company.  Yet when the blanket slid noiselessly to the ground, it was if a bomb went off! Immediately, one cub turned around and made a beeline straight towards the vehicle.   Within seconds it was a few centimetres away from me, put out its paw, snapped the blanket up and sped away.

Now, this is not ALLOWED (so please don’t any of you go throwing your blankets off vehicles next time you are on safari)!   I am rather a  bossy boots on a game vehicle with family – trying to keep everyone in line with what is allowed and not allowed and here I go, the person who should know better, throwing a blanket off a vehicle (well not really throwing, rather butt sliding it off my under me!!).

The cubs were really taken with their new toy.  Fighting broke out amongst them as to the rightful owner and of course you can imagine the state that that blanket ended up in!  We left them to continue to pull it to shreds and headed home.  The blanket was retrieved the next day in tatters – a bit like my reputation – the ribbing did not stop for quite some time and I think that this will come back to haunt me next time I am a bossy britches around my family again!
Bottom line folks – even the lions need blankets at Kwandwe!

Our last afternoon at Kwandwe was one of the best!  We wanted to do something a little different.  The Great Fish River runs through the reserve, so Alfie, a keen fisherman took us down to the river for a spot of fishing and an afternoon picnic.    Within minutes, we were all catching fish (well except me who caught a rock instead) – the river seems alive with them.  Poor Alfie ran around to each of us in turn taking fish off hooks and measuring and weighing them before letting them go.  Even 84 year old Granny caught two fish – her first ever!  Alfie  is doing a project on the fish in the river, so while we were having fun, we were also providing data for his project.

We finished off with some champagne sundowners, yummy snacks and then back to the lodge for our final meal – you do eat a lot!
The next morning after a game drive and breakfast we left Kwandwe with heavy hearts – it was over so quickly – three days went by in a flash.  I can highly recommend a visit to Kwandwe Private Game Reserve – it is ideal for honeymooners and holiday makers with lodges such as Ecca Lodge and Great Fish River Lodge, but also excellent for families.  Families can have their own villas in the bush at  Melton Manor and Uplands Homestead.   We really loved the fact that our family could all be together, reconnect and do things at our own pace.
I am off to Botswana next week – I did say I love my job didn’t I?   My family bought me a monopod for my camera so hopefully there will be less Butt Wriggling in Botswana (sounds like a title of the next blog?) and I will return having not done anything else as dumb as I did at Kwandwe!
Watch this space……