Botswana

The blog label is Botswana, but it also includes experiences along the Caprivi Strip, which is a finger of Namibian land that pokes between Angola and Botswana toward Zimbabwe and Zambia.  Here is the entry to the local Namibia immigration office, which is generally accessed by boat and is just past the chickens on the other side of the fence.  

This poster about voluntary circumcision, along with a free condom dispenser, is in the Botswana immigration office.  AIDS/HIV is still a prevalent problem here, and extensive   public relations campaigns are in place to educate about prevention and treatment.

None of which has anything to do with the fact that Henry’s son Cliff and wife Laura have joined us here for this part of the adventure.  We spent the first day or two together next to the Chobe game park, which has the densest elephant population of anywhere in Africa.

Then – the crown jewel of this part of Africa, the Okavango Delta – an oasis of precious water that flows through rivers down from Angola into this otherwise arid part of the world.  The small-plane flights over the area were breath-taking… a truly extraordinary landscape.  Note the animal trails that criss-cross the wet and dry terrain.

Many lodges are located through-out the delta, but seem to be situated so that you have an intimate relationship with animals and unspoiled surroundings.

Sometimes, the elephants visit!

Food has been excellent and plentiful.

Although as Laura knows, it doesn’t hurt to have some familiar items from home, both to sustain one on safari, and to share with new friends on the road.

It’s difficult to exaggerate the beauty and peace of a mekoro (canoe) trip through this scenery.

And now for a few of a great many animal photos.  We are amazed at how comfortable they are with humans….. the only explanation for their lack of fear is that they are not hunted here by man.   Incredible.  

(Thanks to Laura for many of these wonderful photos.)

Warning – aftermath of one of nature’s laws to follow.  (Although we have very rarely seen active animal predation.)   Laura and Cliff witnessed in person a duo of male lions taking down a cape buffalo…. Quite a special sighting!  Here is one of the boys enjoying the meal……

…and both resting comfortably with the remains of the carcass post-prandially.  (They look like frat brothers after a party!)

After a week in and around the delta, we spent several days on the Zambezi Queen houseboat on the Chobe River.

Cliff and Laura are off for a day or two at Victoria Falls, then through Johannesburg and on toward home, while Henry and Robbie will spend some very enlightening time in Zimbabwe…….