Hippos are not usually preyed upon by lions – not only are they a fearsome opponent, but they spend much of the day submerged and hidden from sight in pools and rivers.

This particular hippo had clearly been in a territorial fight with another hippo, and was badly wounded. His injuries were serious enough for him to remain out of the water, and this is what led to his ultimate demise.

Two hungry male lions discovered the hippo standing next to Teal Pan, and as the opportunists they are, decided they were more than a match for the injured animal. However, the hippo was still extremely strong and put up a good fight against the two lions. Some five hours after they first spotted the hippo, and after a truly exhausting battle, the lions finally brought the hippo down and were rewarded with a meal fit for the king of the bush.

Based at Shinde’s Footsteps Camp, the children, in groups of six, were put through their paces amongst the diverse animals of the concession. Fantastic sightings of lion and wild dogs combined with hands on practical camp skills such as learning how to make a fire and fire arm safety to make this an unforgettable experience. The ‘fun’ element was ever present with spotting competitions and sundowner football. At the end of camp all received caps, T-shirts and certificates to prove that they are true ‘Young Explorers’.

Bana Ba Letsatsi (which means ‘children of the sun’) cares for over 240 vulnerable and orphaned children in Maun. Their mission is to keep children at risk in Maun off the streets and away from negative influences by empowering them through education and support. The children are at risk because they suffer either a lack of parental care; have never been to or have dropped out of school, suffer abuse at home or in the neighbourhood or they abuse drugs and/or alcohol.