This might be the best place to see big cats in Africa: Photos
I didn’t expect to see all three of the top big cats in Africa in one day.
But there they were.
Lions basking in the early rays of the sun amongst the sage bushes.
A leopard panting because her belly was too full.
And the rarest sighting of all – – a family of cheetahs.
Indeed, my African safari week at the Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana continued to be like heaven for cat ladies. Astonishingly so.
Why Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve is one of the best places to spot big cats in Africa
It has a lot to do with Botswana’s low population and strong conservation practices.
The country, which is just to the north of South Africa, has set aside almost 40% of its land for conservation. And it does not tolerate poaching – – it recruits members of the armed forces to deal with poachers.
As a result, Botswana has the highest density of wildlife in Africa. It’s one of the main reasons why I wanted to visit.
Why Mashatu for your African safari?
This private game reserve has 42,000 hectares of privately-owned land in the corner where Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe come together. It has diverse landscapes – – open areas for cheetahs to run, tall trees for leopards to climb and plenty of grasses and sage brush for lions to hide and sleep.
It was more than enough to keep my camera clicking on a week-long safari in Africa.
Here are just some of the highlights:
Leopards in Botswana
Leopard courtship.
The endangered cheetahs of Africa
Although cheetahs are built for speed, you can see that their bodies are actually quite frail. They don’t fare well in unexpected attacks.
The black tear marks on a cheetah’s face reduce glare when it spots its prey — the same strategy used by football players!
Lions in Botswana: Still kings of the big cats in Africa
Lions enjoy resting among the sage bushes at Mashatu. Their prey unwittingly stumble within reach because they don’t smell the lions amidst the sage.
More Information:
Get more details on the Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana Check reviews and availability here.
Tourism Information: Botswana Tourism Organization
Photography Equipment: Nikon D5300 (Yes, it’s an old, basic camera), Sigma 150 – 600mm Telephoto Lens for Nikon (It’s the lens that makes a difference).
Suggested Reading: Botswana Safari Guide
Pin it:
You may also like:
Why Namibia’s Etosha National Park Should Be on Your Dream Safari List
Seeing the Big Five on Safari in South Africa with Elvis
Amazing Wildlife Watching on a Canadian Safari
