‘We remained stationary as the bull elephant charged at speed’

Your tales of animal encounters in Africa reveal plenty of magical – and highly dramatic – moments

There is something mesmerising about watching a pool of hippos. Great mounds of pinkish-grey flesh were dotted around and every now and again we were rewarded with the moment we all awaited: a hippo lifting its giant head from the depths and opening its cavernous jaw for a yawn. Engrossed in chatter with my safari companion, we wandered closer to get a better photo, not realising how far we had strayed from the jeep. Suddenly our guide spotted how far away we were and called us sharply to come back. We turned and headed back – noticing at the last moment what no one had spotted earlier – a huge crocodile just a few feet from our route. Mary Drury, Dorset

LION IN WAIT

It was 2006, and we were in Botswana for our honeymoon. We got to our camp and went straight out on a game drive. It was just us and our wonderful driver KB. We approached a group of trees and KB looked thunderstruck. He pointed out a lion halfway up a tree. He said lionesses, but not lions, climbed trees in this part of Africa. He had never seen one do this before.

Then the lion got up and climbed even higher. It was incredible just sitting and watching him. When it came to returning he looked very nervous and gingerly started to descend and then literally just slid down the last part of the trunk and disappeared. We just sat there in silence.

Julie Grindal, Gloucestershire

LESSER SPOTTED

Our safari truck was heading to our overnight camp in the Serengeti when walking alongside the track I saw a cheetah. As we drew next to her, she threw herself on her side, in much the same way as I throw myself into a comfy chair after a hard day’s work. We stopped to watch and I was amazed to see three cubs coming out of the undergrowth to join her. They spent a few moments greeting each other before she stood up and led her family to the shade of a tree. We watched as they played in the shade. It was a privilege to watch these graceful animals, my favourites, but we had to tear ourselves away to continue the journey and set up camp before dark.

Sarah Lawrence, Devon

LEAPING LEOPARDS

On a night drive on a Tanzanian safari, we came upon a leopard crouched by the side of the road. An unsuspecting impala walked out of the thick trees directly in front of it. The leopard leapt on its back, there was a tussle and they went into the thick trees on our right. Out they came again and the impala stood, a foreleg broken, its huge terrified eyes in our headlights. It then tried to get into our vehicle with our driver. I was directly behind and became rather concerned when the leopard joined in. Unsuccessful, they both crashed into the trees. We spent long minutes scanning the area and eventually a bloody head looked up. Not our leopard but a hyena who’d stolen the kill. Our driver was a hero in the guides’ hut that night. Carol Parkin, Dorset

DANCE WITH DEATH

We’d plunged bonnet-deep into the Okavango river, with our driver – accustomed to the crossing – using a broom to depress the accelerator while standing on his seat. Now, alone on an island, we joined a dozen lions, lazing on a ridge. Eventually one restive female licked her sisters, and they advanced towards a herd of cape buffalo. They separated, skulked behind bushes, then sprang into view, telepathically corralling the herd. A wall of horns faced them as old bulls formed a defensive phalanx, and as each lion advanced, out charged a bull intent on tossing his foe. This choreographed interaction settled into stalemate, but the lions craftily left an escape route and when the herd panicked, a couple of calves lagged behind, and were seized. A brave mother returned, charged heroically to rescue one. The other became dinner for the pride.

Ian Johnson, Suffolk

SNAKE CHARMING

My wife and I headed to Madikwe, South Africa, in search of wild dogs. At the lodge we heard rumours of a guest being bitten by a Mozambique spitting cobra in one of the rooms earlier in the week. We subsequently discovered it had in fact happened in our room and the snake had not been found! After a fitful night’s sleep and no sign of any snakes, we proceeded with the day’s game drives. It wasn’t until we returned to our room after dinner that we found our entrance barred by the housekeeper. The snake had been discovered on our bed during turn down and three members of staff were now trying to coax it out without success. We spent the night in the staff accommodation and a snake handler was summoned to dispose of our unwanted guest the next day. We have a picture of the snake, but sadly none of any wild dogs.