Botswana Wild Day 14 - Oct 11

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Along the Khwai River

We were up at 5:00 AM, had a light breakfast and away at 6:15 for a morning game drive around the Khwai River area. Chris was determined to see Leopard but no luck. However we came close to 2 very large bull elephants, lots of impala and the lilac breasted roller (Botswana's National Bird) was photographed by all our 12 cameras (but alas no video - sniff, sniff). Returning to camp to wait out the hot afternoon, we tried to lie down in the tents but it was simply too hot (40+ C again). So like the lions, we lounged in the shade.

A second game drive started at 4:00 PM and ended at sundown on a beautiful riverside hippo pool on the Khwai River. Four big hippos watched us from close range. Still no Leopards but lots of other wildlife.

Supper included stories by Chris on Botswana elephant over population, culling issues and game hunting restrictions. Botswana has almost 200,000 elephants - more than all other African countries combined. And unlike South Africa, Botswana does not allow culling. There are only about 400 elephants killed each year through legal hunting licenses (outside the parks). So the burgeoning elephant population is starting to concern some people. We saw evidence of that while driving through stunted mopane forests everywhere. It's a wonder the elephants can find enough new leaves to eat each year. Maybe the lack of food will do its thing and reduce the population naturally.

Of course, there is major poaching in neighbouring countries, so any elephant unfortunate enough to cross the border into Zambia or Zimbabwe, is a dead elephant. Most seem to know this, and thus there is quite a population of very smart elephants in Botswana. We tourists were delighted to see so many and very much up close and personal. Also, we never saw aggressive elephants that charged the vehicle. Maybe it's because Chris was a responsible guide, and knew when to keep a safe distance. But the elephants we saw were not aggravated, or even bothered by our presence. They just ambled on as though we were not there. And didn't mind coming very close to our vehicle for good photography. Kayla's 18-200 zoom lens was more than adequate for the whole trip. Except for when we saw the leopard, which is a story for another day.

ABOUT

Impala Reflected in Pool

OUR VEHICLE
Our transportation for the game drives was an 1973 International one ton truck fitted on the flat bed with a bus like affair with 12 cushioned seats, open sides, front and back and covered with a sun roof. We spend many hours in this vehicle rocking and rolling on sandy pot-holed tracks and survived very comfortably, although 4 seats across sometimes made it hard for those in the far seats to see things on the other side. It also gave us a needed feeling of security with elephant and lion close encounters, since we were fairly high off the ground. The vehicle had amazing clearance and ability to go through deep water, and only once did we get into such deep water that it washed the floorboards of our seating area.

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