Mashatu Game Reserve Watering hole Botswana    September 2023

These were taken from inside the  photo hide at the  watering hole at the Mashatu Game Reserve.  A shipping container was sunk into the ground, with rocks on top to keep the elephants off,  and you are eye level with the water.  The animals can't see you so they come by to drink.  We saw very shy animals  like Elands that are rare to see so close. 

The night we arrived  to Mashatu, we drove by the watering hold and could see that people were still inside , it was getting dark , but a pride of Lions were just hanging out, so the people couldn't leave and get to their jeeps.

They next day we spent the morning inside the hide.  The Elephants do know you are there and sometimes spray mud inside.   We drove by very early the next morning and saw the lion cubs all running around and playing keep away with something...it was the mop.  The previous afternoon the Elephants sprayed mud  inside and when the guide mopped up , he left the mop out to dry and the lion cubs stole it before he could bring it in.

They had a ball, it was really so fun and funny watching them chase each other and play keep away.