Safari…the real thing
We awoke to the rising sun on the Namibian flag
One of the reasons we signed on for this trip was go on a real safari to see the wild animals of Africa in their natural habitat…for better or for worse.
Our destination was the Chobe National Park. Our method of transport was an open air Toyota 4 x 4 Land Cruiser.
The tender again took us to Namibian immigration center as we were leaving Namibia for Botswana where the park is located. The process reversed itself when we arrived back.
We had been advised to limit our intake of liquids because once we passed Botswana immigration there were no bathrooms until our lunch spot 4 hours away. Before then it was “bushy-bushy” if you needed to relieve yourself.
Five Land Cruisers took our group to the park. Along the way we passed several ladies setting up shop for the tourists headed to the park.
This is still the dry season so the landscape is fairly bleak.
The park roads were bumpy as the dickens. We were tossed around quite a bit and, when added to the 101 degree temperature and dust flying everywhere, it was a real challenge.
But we came to see the animals and were not disappointed. First were the nests of weaver birds that clung to the trees.
Then one of many termite hills.
This is part of the so-called “elephant highway” that takes the large herds to and from the Chobe River. Not only is it wide, long and heavily traveled the are huge piles of elephant dung all along the way like road signs.
Not sure of this bird’s name but they were everywhere.
It started getting interesting when our guide spotted lion tracks.
We saw our first animals when two giraffes rounded the corner.
Impalas were cooling off the shade.
A family of elephants took the baby for a dip in the river.
Just inland two bachelor lions without a pride. They were sleeping just waiting for the chance to challenge a dominant male for his pride.
A group of impalas were stopping for a drink.
A large herd of elephants stopped by the river to drink and cool off.
An extended family of elephants were cooling in the shade,
The arid part of the park looked like this:
Three Zebra negotiated the wooded areas further inland…
…which led to a usual site: a small herd of elephants had formed a protective circle around the young ones as they slept.
We couldn’t figure out why until a short drive later we had the answer,
An 8-member pride of lions were resting having just made two kills:
A giraffe…
Another side and not for the faint of heart…but nature is nature..
and qa baby elephant.
Our guide told us it takes an entire pride of lions to take down an adult giraffe because of the strength of the giraffe’s legs and hooves.
As we headed to meet the others for lunch we passed a knot hole tree…
…and reminders of an elephant and Cape Buffalo.
When we arrived at the lunch picnic spot we got the bad news the Park bathrooms had no water and were closed. So most everyone utilized the “bushy-bushy” method: find the nearest bush with a bit of privacy and hope for the best.
The picnic lunch spot had a wash up area with ice cold water, soapy water and cool washcloths.
Lunch was cold potato salad, samosas, salads, finished with chocolate cake and apple crumble pie…
…as we sat at long tables…
…as several guards tried to keep a monkey from jumping in to steal our lunch..
Shortly the sound of crashing dishes told us the monkey had sneakily joined our picnic and made his getaway.
The game drive continued with impalas
…giraffes…
..before watching two herds of elephants passing each other, one leaving the river, the other headed to the river..
We spotted an animal skull as the guide asked what animal is was: we had learned a thing or two by that time so it was easy to recognize the skull of an giraffe by the rounded horn on top.
Final a nearly complete skeleton of an elephant
As we headed to the pickup point for the tenders to return us to the ship we kept passing other animals…
Lion tracks…
before arriving back in the ship to see two men poling a boat
Tomorrow- our last full day on the Zambezi Queen—we will visit a local village, talk with the chief and elders, visit their local market of handicrafts, then visit a school.
Barb’s two cents:
I came to Africa to see the wild animals. Today did not disappoint.
Lions, giraffes, elephants, wart hogs, zebras, impalas, gazelle, and more. Up close and personal. But the heat was overwhelming. 101 degrees and no a/c. It gets this hot in Oklahoma but we stay inside. Today I will stay on the boat …….
Our South African Adventure 