We decide to not specifically look for anything today but just see what appears. It is after all my last full day. We heard lions roaring at breakfast from the direction of Splash Camp. George thinks it is worth heading off in that direction – you never know. We found tracks of a male lion but annoyingly they cross over into the adjacent reserve so we cannot follow him.

We then need to drive back to the airstrip for my PCR test which has cost me an arm and a leg. Its’s not surprising really as the nurse has to be flown in to take it. The result will be waiting for me at Maun airport.

We have some super elephant encounters this morning. I enjoy watching a small group eating the mud to get salt and minerals and also dust-bathing.

We spot vultures circling so go to investigate. We very nearly get stuck in a hole again. Due to Covid there have been very few guests in the camps and as a result very few vehicles have been out in the past couple of years. Consequently the tracks have become very overgrown in places and it is easy to find yourself off-piste. We can see no sign of a kill so the vultures must have found something small. This detour makes us very late back to camp and we don’t return until 14.00. As I eat my lunch a watch a couple of warthogs foraging close by. The late lunch doesn’t give much time for a siesta. I skip afternoon tea to give myself an extra 30 minutes so I can at least shower.

There is masses of game around this afternoon. Zebras, impalas, warthogs, baboons chasing vervet monkeys. Great. We go to my favourite pool for a final sundowner. There are loads of hippos there and of course a myriad of birds. There is a particularly cute baby baboon that is poorly co-ordinated and hilarious to watch.

I watch my final sunset at Kwara and we head back to camp. We are about 10 minutes out when the radio bleeps. It is Charles the camp manager. He asks where we are as there is a leopard in camp by the kitchen! I can’t believe it! George asks if it’s OK for him to dive fast. Of course it is!! He really puts his foot down and hurls the vehicle along the bumpy sand track. I wedge my feet on the bar in font and hold on tight. This is fun!

We screech into camp. Miraculously, the leopard is still there. Everyone’s saying ‘Hurry! Hurry! Leave your stuff in the truck.’ I grab the bridge camera and we run through reception and down the path to the rooms. There in the bushes, no more than 10-15 feet away is a female leopard trying to catch a genet. People shine torches and I can see her. I crouch down and peer through the undergrowth. This is so exciting. What a treat on my last night! Remarkably, I even get a half decent photo too.

She disappears into the bushes and we go to the restaurant for dinner. We suddenly spot her again 15 feet away from the decking by the table. Incredible! I whip my iPhone out of my pocket and take some video. Wow! I really did not think I would actually see a leopard on this trip. There is so much vegetation and they are always very elusive.

It turns out that the in camp entertainment is not yet over. I have my starter and I have just put my main course on the table when a young hyena appears. I think he wants to joins us for dinner. He trots back and forth around the decking. At one stage we did think he was going to come up the steps onto the decking. What a fabulous last evening to finish off a truly remarkable safari.