By Leigh Kemp
'I heard elephants trumpeting in the direction of the river so drove to get a look. The herd of buffalo were moving off the floodplain and behind them four elephant were trumpeting and chasing something behind the buffalo herd. The buffalo were kicking up much dust which made a dramatic picture in the sunrise.
Behind the herd a young buffalo calf was lagging, obviously hurt or sick. The others were leaving it behind and as the last of the herd were crossing the road, a big male lion ran out of the bushes and stopped on the floodplain.
It heard the cry of the young calf and headed in that direction. Whilst looking for the calf, another male lion came out the bushes. The first male found the calf and quickly killed it and then dragged the kill to the second male and they started eating. Vultures were very quick to arrive on the scene.
During the dry season the dust kicked up by the huge herds of buffalo can be seen from a great distance away and it can hang in the air for a long time after the herd has passed by. The early mornings and evenings are when this occurs; kicked up by herds sometimes 1000 strong as they move onto the night time safety of the floodplain and then move off in the morning.
The sunrises and sunsets through the dust are spectacular, with the sun coming up or setting as a huge red ball, a classic image of Chobe.
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