South Africa to Zimbabwe Day 14

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Crusin' down the Chobe

Sunday, August 29. Today we drive to Choble National Park in Botswana which means we have to exit Zim and enter Botswana. My passport is brimming with African entrance and exit stamps.

Elbow room

We drive to a small wharf and catch a boat for a ride down the Chobe river. Most of the tour group opt to ride on top in the very warm sun, which makes it lovely on the bottom deck, shaded and quiet. Besides the pilot, seven of us have the whole space to ourselves. Lots of room to run around and take pics and just see the scenery. The boat steers right up to the land so we have close-up views of crocodiles and huge monitor lizards. We don’t steer right up to the hippos or elephants, of course. That could be a disaster.

Could you speak up?

After awhile the sun starts to bake the top deck and half the upper-deck crowd descends. Not as quiet, but everyone is excited about sharing the sightings. And it's a friendly group.

You've got to be kidding?!

There are some amazing sights. A hippo suddenly charges across a small piece of land towards a crocodile which dives for the water, the hippo hot on its tail. The hippo dives right in after the croc and they both disappear under the water. A breath-holding moment. I don’t think anyone has the chance to snap a picture. We are stunned. It is the crowning moment of a lovely river cruise.

This can't be happening

Just before I left the US for this adventure, I bought a new Tamron lens with an 18mm to 270mm zoom. It's been great not to have to switch lenses. But this morning my Nikon D40x is failing me. I click the shutter and over half the time nothing happens. And when the shutter releases and snaps a pic there's often a delay overexposing the shots. So disappointing.

Safari along the river

After lunch we load back into our safari vehicles and drive through the park. But it is hot and for the cats it’s nap time. The pleasure of Chobe, whether from land or water, is seeing a vista populated with a variety of animals: impalas, zebras, and elephants mark the landscape in all directions. The highlight of the afternoon is a herd of elephants wallowing in the mud. They aren’t happy we’re there as evidenced from an occasional warning bellow. At one point a baby clambers up on top of a larger elephant, which is lying on its side, and plops across it. So cute. The herd of about 30 animals takes its time covering itself in mud, which acts both to insulate their skin from the sun and to discourage insects.

And the last of the safaris comes to an end

Some of us are somewhat let down by Chobe. It is wonderful seeing the mix of animals on the river and the elephants rolling in the mud hole. But we had been led to believe that Chobe was teeming with animals. Herds of a couple hundred are supposed to be common. And the huge herds just aren’t visible today. One of the problems is the timing of the tours. It makes more sense that the land tour would have been conducted in the morning when it’s cool. At least there would have been a chance of seeing cats. But the overall day is hardly a disappointment; it is another wonderful adventure.

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Photos

Monitor lizard
Lots of them on the river bank

Hornbill
Chobe in the afternoon from a safari vehicle.

Ahren packing to go home.
Last night in Africa

Comments

[Maria]

Susan, I am amazed at the spoonbills--we have a state park in Sanibel that is home to them. I particularly enjoyed your series of the baby elephant. Those creatures do understand family. Thanks for sharing, Maria