It was in November 2018 that I first visited the Okavango Delta in Botswana. I was fascinated by the allure of its people, the landscape, and the promise of seeing wild animals in their natural habitat for the very first time.

When organizing the trip, I leaned heavily on the experience and wisdom of my guides. They assured me that the games would have a lot of emotion — and they were right.

At Okavango, I’m transported first thing in the morning on a “Maroko” (little canoe) through breathtaking wetlands. There, I’m met with families of hippos and elephants that stare at us passing by.

Lions are my favorite animal — especially lionesses, with their beauty and elegance. The protection and love they shower their cubs with leave you breathless.

The first time I spotted a Cheetah, I was captivated by its beauty. These magnificent and tireless predators allowed me to get closer, even when the hunt was about to start.

Hyenas are always wandering around. They prefer the coolness of the evenings and nighttime to hunt or steal food from lions when they’re full.

Wild dogs are a very special pack of predators to observe. They have a strong bond with the entire group, and you can sometimes see more than 20. Once they stop kissing and playing around, they immediately start coordinating the future hunt. They flee the scene straight away, sprinting as fast as they can to catch the prey. The catch itself is awful to witness, and all it takes is a few minutes to share the prey. A shocking and graphic moment — but it’s nature that decides the fate of these creatures. When the feast is over, the entire group celebrates their success before it’s back to the hunt again.

It’s not difficult to spot herds of zebras. Though normally shy, their magnificent grace embellishes the landscape. Zebras are not easy to approach, especially with a vehicle. They’re used to moving with the seasons and the rainfall, on a continuous journey to find grazing land.

The rhinos we found were in the Kalahari Desert, enduring temperatures above 43 degrees. This extraordinary specimen seemed to be lingering for quite a while, and I later discovered that he was protecting his little cub behind the bushes. Later that afternoon, I found them both in an artificial pond built by locals to keep the animals hydrated.

My encounter with the African Rock Python was particularly memorable. It came from the river bank, captivated by the shape of the car (or maybe exploring out of curiosity). I silently stood still, hypnotized by its movements and the beautiful colours of its skin. I was warned by my guide Oaitse that they can asphyxiate antelopes — or any similar-sized livestock — until they die of cardiovascular shock. The average length of an African Rock Python is 3-5 meters, with some growing up to 7 meters, and can weigh up to 55 kg.

I had the opportunity to meet other iconic animals in the Okavango Delta, including leopards, giraffes, steenbok, kudus, buffalos, bat-eared foxes, fish eagles, wildebeests, ostriches, Painted Red Frogs, many more fascinating and unique animals that led to countless unforgettable moments.

I would like to thank Gee a good friend of mine and all of the staff at Selinda Explorer Camp, their manager and friend Bujos Moabi, and her beautiful wife Ceci.

My most sincere thanks to my friends and guides Oaitse Nawa and Tshenolo Mahongo, with whom I have shared most of my fascinating games. Additionally, I am very thankful to all helicopter pilots for our amazing flights.