Wildlife Extremes Sedia Style

Many of our guests go on safari during part of there stay. The majority want to see and shoot photos of the 'Big 5.' They are in search of Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhino. In particular people seem to want to see the big cats. What about the 'Small 5?'

For people who like the contrarian view, humour or just something different - think about the Small 5 the next time you are on safari. Check with your guides, reference books and fellow guests. Make sure these Small 5 are not missed:

1. The Ant Lion is an insect wit four wings and looks like a dragon fly. They create funnel shaped traps to catch their ant prey.



2. The Leopard Tourtoise is the biggest land tortoise in Southern Africa at ever 20kg. We can see the shell pattern in the photo.



3. The Buffalo Weaver nests high in trees where the branch forks and makes it nest from twigs and course grasses.



4. The Rock Elephant Shrew can weigh in at over 50 grams and up to 250mm in length.



5. The Rhino Beetle has a horn in it's head, much like the Rhinoceros.

You will probably have to get closer to the Small 5 to get good pictures. Regardless, it provides good diverion during tea breaks, meals or around the campfire at night. If you get a good photo, I would be happy to show it here.

Home Made Chef = Home Made Cooking

Here we have "Captain" surrounded by his staff. Starting from the left, we have Mary Kgwathisi, Moitsholi "Dollars" Ngore, "Captain" and Dievenge "Dicks". Together they make the kitchen hummm.

Born and bred in Sedia Ward, Maun, Botswana Mompoloki "Captain" Bakwadi is the Sedia Riverside Hotel Chef. Cooking is a family tradition. His father has been a Chef with well known lodges and safari operation in Ngamiland.

Soon after joining Sedia in 2001, Captain was moved to the kitchen and trained under Edward Jakie - a chef of regional renown. The following year he was sent to the famous Victoria Falls Hotel for two weeks of on the job training. Shaka, Mary, Dollars and Dicks back up and support Captain in the modern and spacious kitchen.

Captain's favourite meal to present to guests is prawns - stir fried with butter, garlic and other secret herbs. Most visitors believe his best dish is fillet steak. For my tastes, he has taken the preparation of pizza in Maun to a new level - his 'Quattro' is hard to beat.

Traditional food is most often eaten by visitors from the bordering countries of Namibia, Zinbabwe and South Africa. Listen to Captain when he says to those who travel, "When you visit Botswana, I would really like to prepare a traditional African meal for you!"