I spent a week at Chitabe Lediba two years ago, and while the predator...

Toure foluke
@foluketoure8367
24 days ago

I spent a week at Chitabe Lediba two years ago, and while the predator sightings are definitely the headline, what really stood out to me was how the camp's layout works with the landscape. The southern edge of the delta has these winding channels and lagoons that create natural funnels for game movement. I remember sitting on the deck of my tent one afternoon watching a leopard stalk impala along a dry sandbank maybe 50 meters away. The guides there know exactly where to position vehicles in relation to those water features, which is why you get such consistent sightings compared to busier parts of the delta.

One practical tip that made a huge difference for me: request a morning drive with the guide named Tumi if he's still there. He had this quiet way of reading the birds to find predators. We tracked a pride of lions for two hours just by watching vultures circling and then hearing the alarm calls of baboons. He also showed me how to spot wild dog dens, which most people miss because they're just looking for big cats. We found a den with eight pups tucked into an old termite mound.

Also, bring a good pair of compact binoculars and a waterproof pouch for your phone. The mokoro trips (those traditional dugout canoes) are fantastic for getting close to elephants and hippos, but things get wet. I ruined my first camera there. And don't skip the night drives. We saw a serval hunting near the camp's perimeter, which is rare even by delta standards.

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