Lion Swims Zambezi River - Pg2

At this stage, with all passengers squeezed on one side trying to get a better view, the boat got stuck on a sandbank. For a crazy moment it looked like the lion was heading straight for us and I had visions of the panicky animal trying to board the boat.

Fortunately a rapid shuffling of bodies allowed us to ease off the sandbank and drift slowly away, giving the lion more space.

We watched in awe as the lion swam back to the island before rising from the water, the sun glinting on its wet, golden coat. Within moments it was back on land, apparently none the worse for wear, before disappearing into the reeds.

We returned to camp with mixed feelings - astonished at what we'd seen, but also feeling guilty about meddling with the lion's plans. What now if it was too exhausted to make it to the mainland?

Although I didn't see the lion again, others of our party watched in trepidation later that afternoon as it made a final dash for land. In deep water, against the strong current, a lion would be no match for any of the large crocs that lurk in the Zambezi.

But it reached land safely and, with no worries about passport control or customs formalities, headed into the Zambian bush in search of food and, most likely, the remains of the elephant.

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