Botswana Safari

Brad Horn and Ian Johnson have just completed a fantastic safari guiding an extended family of clients to Vumbura Plains and Mombo Camps in the Okavango Delta (Botswana). These are two of THE most sought after camps in Africa; the game-viewing is second to none and the camps themselves the epitomy of luxury in the wilderness. On top of that the camps are located in private concessions enabling an exclusive experience.

A vast array of game was encountered, ranging from lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, rhino, hippo, giraffe and a host of other plainsgame species. In all they saw in excess of 60 different lions throughout their stay, the bulk being at Mombo where three sizeable prides reside in the area. One of these, the Western Pride, took up residence close to camp for the duration of the stay. They watched it in action on a number of occasions hunting zebra and impala. On the second night the pride was actually resident in camp. Brad and Ian could see the eyes of the lions reflecting from their torches while walking to their tent after dinner. The lions then proceeded to harrass a herd of buffalo in between the main area and tent one. Although unsuccessful in their endeavours the presence of the lions made for an action packed night. On dawn they took up a chorus to notate their territory in front of tent two. Needless to say a wake-up call was not required that morning!

The other highlight of the trip was seeing a mother leopard and her two cubs on a number of occasions just north of camp. The mother, known as Lagadema, has been the subject of a National Geographic documentary "The Eye of the Leopard" shot by noted wildlife filmakers Deryck and Beverly Joubert. On the last day Lagadema killed an impala and hoisted it in a tree. She and her cubs then proceded to feed throughout the afternoon.

Below are a few photos that Ian took. Enjoy!

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Tanzanian Family Adventure

Ian Johnson, prior to joining Brad in Botswana, completed a safari to Tanzania with a family of Bostonians. This trip touched on all the icons including Lake Natron, Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, the Selous Game Reserve and the idyllic island of Mnemba off Zanzibar. It provided a wonderful mix of habitats, game and culture. An undoubted highlight, amongst the many, was the Maasai experience in the Natron area. Here we visited a Maasai manyatta way off the beaten track. This experience is a far cry from the normal contrived encounter that the ordinary tourist undertakes. Another obvious highlight was the migration in the Serengeti. The luxury mobile camp was expertly situated amidst the central body of the migrating wildebeest.

See below a selection of Ian's photos.

Kokoda Trail

In April, Brad Horn undertook a crossing of the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea. A superb trek into the heartland of New Guinea, the trail holds a very special place in Australian military history. This is where the Japanese drive south was halted in 1942 and the myth of Japanese invincibility obliterated. Covering 96 kilometres of pristine rainforest, the track covers arguably some of the most rugged and wild jungle in the world. It is a demanding endeavour with, in excess of, 10,000 metres of uphill. The group covered the track in quicker than usual time taking five and a half days, as opposed to the normal eight. What struck Brad most, apart from the military significance, was the pristine nature of the rainforest and the incredible culture encountered. New Guinea of course is a treasure trove of ancient culture. The natives that inhabit the track are living the subsistence existence of their forebears. The location of some of the villages on the track is incredible. Perched high on hillsides they offer magnificent views over deep re-entrants and valleys below.

Kokoda is very much recommended for those wanting to experience something totally different and test their physical limits at the same time.