Dynamic vast land with a lot of Mopane trees. Especially in the green season, which is considered a low season in Botswana safari, but actually, this season is so beautiful with a completely different atmosphere from the dry season.

​It was early April in Mashatu — the start of the season, yet blissfully quiet. It felt as if the whole land belonged to us.  

Luckily, we had a veteran guide in this region. He wasn’t particularly cheerful or friendly, but he knew the area like the back of his hand and had a commanding presence as a guide.

Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t the best. Sometimes it rained, so I was wearing a raincoat and covering my camera with a plastic rubbish bag.

But occasionally, the sun would peek out from behind the moving thick clouds, and at that moment, the sky would turn into a vibrant blue.
To be honest, I love the unpredictable sky in this season more than the constant clear blue sky.

Tracking the Lion Family

The guide took us to a part of the Limpopo River that was dry during our visit.
We drove through the riverbed to the other bank.

His intuition felt like a GPS in his mind. He knew where to find the lion family. The lionesses had small cubs hidden in the thick trees and grasses by the cliff.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t see the tiny cubs from our position, but we appreciated the guide’s effort to keep us in the best possible spot.
Even though we couldn’t see them, we could feel the cubs just behind those trees. The anticipation was so intense.

Face to Face with Giants

The safari continued to the next destination. Since we had another site guide at the back, our luck increased. He was also incredibly skilled at spotting what was happening in the bush.
We were indeed fortunate to have both of them.

They kept showing us elephants in different places and situations. Sometimes, the guide would simply turn off the engine as a big elephant walked towards us.
“Stay quiet,” he reminded us.
We followed his instructions, not moving a muscle.

The moment was tense. But we trusted the guide. The bull elephant stopped, looked at us, and then continued on his way.

What impressed me was that the guide felt confident enough to stop the engine, trusting that we would stay calm and composed. If any of us had said something or acted improperly, we could have been charged by the giant.
I felt that trust, and it made me feel like we were truly part of this place.

A Mother’s Protection

Later, we moved to another area filled with wild sage. Several herds of elephants passed by, one after another, led by large females.
The guide positioned the vehicle perfectly, allowing us to take some amazing photos.

The elephants in the herd each had their own distinct personality. The younger ones wandered off the path, sometimes taking a big pee with no hesitation.
Meanwhile, another elephant leaned one leg to the side, patiently waiting for the young ones to finish, a moment that truly showcased the bond within the group.

A Close Encounter

And then, in a moment that took my breath away, a big female elephant walked straight towards us.
I held my breath, trying not to move even a millimeter.

From between her legs, a curious little calf peeked out, trying to get closer to us. The mother gently tried to push him back with her trunk, but the little one remained intrigued by our presence.

I tried to stay completely still, but the plastic bag between my thighs started fluttering in the wind.
I squeezed my thighs together, desperately hoping it wouldn’t fly away. The mother elephant kept approaching, her trunk raised, sniffing the air.
She was so close – maybe 30 centimeters away. My heart was pounding. I could feel every beat echoing through my body.

After what felt like an eternity, she seemed to decide we weren’t a threat.
Slowly, she turned her gaze away and began walking once more—leading her calf and the rest of the herd in the direction they were meant to go.

I finally exhaled, feeling the tension leave my body. It was such a sacred moment.
I was still shaking, but there was a sense of awe – a feeling of having been accepted as part of this wild, untamed world.

Becoming Part of the Wild

What I want to say is that this place is completely wild. Wild animals always make their own decisions, never controlled by humans or anything else.
That encounter, that moment, made me feel like we were accepted by them as if we posed no threat in their world.

In Botswana, you can experience that – being part of a world where nothing is staged, and nature is completely in control.