In the Okawango Delta

The safari started in the Okawango Delta in Botswana. The Okawango River rises in Angola and forms a delta in Botswana. It is 250 km long and has a difference in altitude of only 60 m. The lower reaches of the delta are marshy. Here reaches of the delta, the water supplied by Angola seeps into the Kalahari sand. It is therefore understandable that peripheral arms of the delta sometimes have no water during the dry season. The Okawango Delta is very rich in wildlife and therefore good for observing mammals and birds. The government in Botswana is very tough and protects the animals.

2 cheetahs (brothers) in the Okawango Delta

Cheetahs are on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List. Living in southern Africa, they are listed as "endangered" to "critically endangered". The reason for this is that humans are taking away more and more of their habitat. In Zimbabwe, therefore, there are only very few left, as Dr Lovemore Simbanda told us in a conversation. In Botswana, however, we were able to see some. Most of them live in Namibia.

The cheetahs that are still alive are genetically so closely related that organ transplants can be carried out like identical twins. The male cheetahs live mainly in associations (mostly litter brothers, as in the picture), while the females usually live alone after rearing their young.

Cheetahs are the fastest mammals in the world. They are thought to be able to run at speeds of up to about 120 km/h for short periods of time (just a few seconds).

There are still numerous lions in both Botswana and Zimbabwe. Especially in Zimbabwe, like all other wild animals, they are endangered in the long term due to increasing habitat loss.

Crowding of the lion cubs while suckling

Wilhelm Busch would have said about the crowd at the breakfast table: "And Papa looks silently, all around the table."

For the good meal there is a kiss for the mum.

After that, the cub can rest a bit and watch the world.