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Published: November 7th 2014
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This May, at the suggestion of a friend of mine who himself had already experienced an African safari, I visited the African nation of Botswana on a wildlife and cultural tourism jaunt into the Kalahari desert. By going in May, I enjoyed more mild temperatures, avoided the wet season, and was able to see the species-rich Okavango delta before it hit flood stage. I visited not only Botswana's Okavango Delta Park but also Moremi and Chobe Park. The picturesque terrain, the interactions with traditional San hunters, and the sightings of countless native plants and animals have convinced me this must be the best holiday destination in Africa.The arid, sand-swept plains of
Botswana lie just north of the nation of South Africa and have been the desert home of the ancient San tribesmen for time untold. Only 3,000 of the 95,000 San still hold to the traditional lifestyle, but I was able to schedule a hunting excursion with them at Kalahari Plains Camp. I hear that there are jump-off points for this same kind of journey at Jack's Camp and other locations
as well. Once out and about, I walked with the hunter-gatherers on their foot-paths and viewed numerous lions prowling the area, but my experienced tour guides knew how to keep us all safe. Zebra herds sped by in search of precious water, some of the largest elephants in all Africa (some say the absolute largest) were seen charging over the plains, and we even caught a glimpse of a rare pangolin. A pangolin is hard to describe, but it was rolled up in a ball while lion cubs bounced it around like a soccer ball. Its hard scales kept it safe, and at the suggestion of the tour guide, we left before it had a chance to let loose its famed skunk-like defensive odor. During other events on the trip, I viewed numerous specimens of San rock art- cave paintings of their ancient hunting way of life. I collected tubers and herbs, joined in traditional songs and dance, saw elephants
bathing in the mud, chased a pack of wild African dogs at high speed on four-wheel drive jeeps, and admired the amazing giraffe as they fed off the branches that no other species can reach. I beheld also the Okavango river delta which was full of bird life, crocodile life, and playful hippos. I saw the "Big Five:" lions, leopards, elephants, cape buffalo, and rhinos. I saw the "Little Five:" antlions, leopard tortoises, elephant shrews, buffalo weavers (a bird specie), and rhinoceros beetles. The rhino beetle really does look like a miniature rhino, horn and all. The antlion, known in the U.S. as the "doodlebug," digs cone-shaped sand traps to catch ants. It is the larval stage of a flying insect. These creatures were of immense interest to encounter first-hand in their own home environment.Bostwana is perhaps the best holiday destination in Africa. Its wildlife parks are un-fenced, and the animals freely roam between them. Much of the touring is
remote and private, offering exclusive peeks into a little-known world that will never be forgotten once experienced. I can hardly wait to get started on my next African adventure. There are so many parks to choose from in
South Africa ,
Kenya ,
Tanzania , and all across the sub-Saharan region that it is hard to make up one's mind as to where to tour next. I think, however, that South Africa's "Big Seven" safari which includes up-close views of Great Whites and of Southern Right Whales (besides the land animals) sounds rather tempting. Then again, the mountain gorillas of central Africa would make an excellent centerpiece to a safari excursion. No matter which site one chooses, they can't go wrong. Africa was long called by Europeans the "Dark Continent" due to its interior being long unexplored and un-mapped. Going on safari in Africa's wilds unlocks the secrets of that amazing continent and brings its natural treasures out of the dark
and into the blazing light. They will forever be etched onto your memory.
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