Having guests returning to visit us is an incredible feeling, not only do we become friends, but we become a family. Hosting my return guests at Little Bush Camp a few weeks ago was humbling, a sense of belonging and love.

The experience we had on safari last time was all brought alive and the expectations were even higher and that is what makes it exciting.

Our grand finale as we call it, referring to the last drive before departing, was cut short because of changes in weather these are unforeseen circumstances on safari and sometimes it does happen. Even though the schedule was changed, my guests did not want to lose any safari time. Every minute counts on the safari and my guests understood that.

We only had one hour to spare, and our safari began on a high with some elephants very close to the lodge, and we thought that was a great start!

A few moments later, my tracker Mike, found some tracks for lions. We spent the early morning tracking lions... At one point I got out of the vehicle to check the tracks, keeping my eyes focused on the ground so I don’t lose the tracks, one of my guests was looking forward and saw the lions right in front of me, but on the side of the road. Too close for comfort, yes but it was a celebration as we found what we were looking for.

Once back in the vehicle, we approached the lions and found them to be finishing off their impala kill with only the thicker bones left, which the lions did not manage to chew.

Just when we thought that was our lot for safari, just around another corner was one of our fellow guides and his guests, in a leopard sighting. This was very exciting for my guests as this was the first proper leopard sighting of their trip.

It is not always a guarantee what one will see while on safari, but one thing we always tell our guests – never miss the opportunity to go out on every safari because just when you think something can’t get better, it does! My guests got to see what they wanted, right until the last minute of their final safari. Every minute counts!