Busanga Flood Plains

Our grand plan? A day game drive from Mapunga, the gateway to the Basunga Plains. Rise and shine, you say? More like freeze and regret. Decked out in layers that could rival a mummy's wrapping, even my trusty "Sniper" Jacket couldn't quite fend off the cold. One brave soul from the American contingent couldn't take it anymore and made a beeline for shotgun. I was just a jacket away from doing the same – talk about strategic positioning. 

We reached Basunga by 7 am, a collection of shivering explorers ready to be thawed out. Thank the stars for breakfast, which acted like a magic potion, defrosting us with every sip. But then, like a scene from a wildlife documentary, three young male lions strolled into view, and suddenly, we were all wide awake, adrenaline fuelling our excitement. 

The game drive rolled on, promising us roan antelope sightings. However, these creatures apparently had other plans, making us feel like we were chasing shadows. Basunga Plains, on the other hand, seemed to be throwing a Red Lechwe party – they were everywhere, like the confetti of the savannah. 

While the Basunga scenery was striking, it could use a bit more variety on its guest list – a few more species wouldn't hurt. Thankfully, crocs and a colourful avian cast, including the crowned crane, ensured the plains weren't entirely a deserted stage. 

Lunchtime was a delicious affair, with perfectly grilled hamburgers refuelling us for the journey back to camp – a whopping day of a total14 hours of travel time. If I were orchestrating this expedition, I'd be tempted to cut that down to a more humane 8 hours. By the time we finally rolled into camp, everyone was ready to drop anchor and call it a day. 

So, from Pinkie’s antics to freezing game drives, and from disappearing antelopes to marathon drives, our Mapunga escapade was a mixed bag of Mother Nature's finest surprises. Who knew a pet hippo could steal the show and roan antelopes could be such experts at hide-and-seek?