A Botswanan Adventure.

[drron]

One starts to get a bit blase about the animals.This afternoon was all the usual suspects.but then this giraffe decided it did not want to move.There is still something when you are just a few feet from such a large animal-

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but then another different animal-first we saw this baby steenbuck-

Mum wasn't far away-

Then more birdlife-

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[drron]

The roller flew off but instead of flying away he actually came closer-

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We went a little further and came across a herd of about 40 zebra with quite a few foals-

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Having seen the hyena near the lions that morning Ishmael had a good idea which den they were using.There were 2 females and 3 youngsters of different ages.The little one was cute-

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He was literally at my feet.His older brother couldn't be bothered getting up-

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[drron]

The oldest of the youngsters was not very happy.The two younger ones though were very inquisitive.For some reason they always came up to me.Probably thought i would be a bigger meal.

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[drron]

It was now time for our last sundowner drinks.We went back to the herd of zebras and watched the sun go down-

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I never tired of the African sunsets.

 

[drron]

Back at the ranch Mrsdrron had her massage and had a different view of the days end-

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and got a shot of a leopard-

Well Ok it was a picture in the bar.
I had been trying the local beer-louis.As the President doesn't like alcohol it is limited to 3.5% alcohol.Dinner that night was the dancing and singing performance by the staff.it was awesome.Then a BBQ-not as good as at Baines-meat a little overcooked.But the night was great with us 6 Aussies seated away from the others.The manager had obviously noted the attitude of the Americans.indeed when we decided to call it a night the other 2 women went over to the American group who were sitting around the fire.As they approached the americans all got up and left.

As we walked back to our unit the guides torch picked up some eyes.He said it was a spotted genet.I believed him.When i awoke the next morning-a little later than usual as we were leaving that day I walked out on the balcony,sans camera.So you know to expect something.Sure enough I was watching a francolin in the short grass outside our room.Then I noticed something sticking up in the air.seconds later a large spotted Genet had the francolin for breakfast.
so it was off to breakfast myself.Too late but I took my camera.A troop of baboons were right outside and in the distance giraffe transversed the clearing.The leopard that had appeared the last 2 mornings of course did not put in an appearance.

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A quick pack and time to say goodbye.Simon the sanctuary manager was fantastic.Two of the local staff-Brenda the local manager and Benson a guide had both worked in Disneyworld.They understood customer service.we enjoyed every minute.So into the car and off to the strip.A couple of large herds of impala-

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Then Mrsdrron made a good sighting-

A black backed jackal.Closer to the strip vultures were picking over a kill from the night-

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[drron]

Time now to do a bit of flying.We arrived at the strip and surveyed the air bridge and safety gear-

It was the Cessna 206 piloted by Ryan again.One of the other Aussie couples was flying with us so a full flight!I was the co-pilot this time.

Take off-

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so an aerial view of the country around Cheifs.

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The water was coming in-

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And flew over another camp and it's strip-

 

[drron]

It was an 80 minute flight to Kasane.As we flew north the country changed-

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We passed Legotlhwana.over the water is Namibia-

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Then civilisation-

The A33 leading to Namibia.and now we are over Chobe national park and seeing the Chobe river-

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In the distance our destination-

The river past the strip is the Zambezi-

 

[drron]

Now to land this baby-

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Hard to keep the camera still as you touch down-

And to the modern kasane International airport-

A guide is there to take us to Sanctuary Chobe camp.Bag doesn't take long!just a 10 minute drive and we are there.have lunch before checking in and the views are fantastic-
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fa_auxwO4Ak/UY2FrRG6V0I/AAAAAAABGg8/Mh4b81ddeyo/s400/africa%25205234.JPG.

Yes,that is an elephant heading for Namibia-though none of them now cross to the other side.The grounds here are beautiful-

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A houseboat on the Namibian side of the river-

Then the sight that became common over the next couple of days-elephants at the river-

 

[drron]

At lunch we were treated to a business of banded mongoose coming by eating the large beetles-though only the abdomen leaving lots of heads with legs flailing.

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After we finished lunch we were taken to our room.it certainly was the best of the 4 camps.

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Outside you can just make out the outside shower.

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[drron]

After unpacking and having a nap it was time for afternoon tea.From there you could see more elephants going out in the river-

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The afternoon was a cruise on the Chobe river.Just driving down to the river we saw buffalo and waterbuck.The afternoon was very pleasant.

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Then there were the reptiles,water monitors and crocodiles-

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Next were a few old male buffaloes-

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[drron]

Next comes what this part of the world is famous for,elephants.

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And next to the elephants the baboons were having a drink.

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It was for good reason they were very wary constantly looking out into the river.And just as well.

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But back to the elephants.A couple of the young males were quite disappointed.

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[drron]

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Just a few elephant pictures.

 

[drron]

And now elephants in water.

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[jukebox333]

Great TR drron - so many animals! Thanks for sharing.

 

[drron]

We soon came upon our next encounter-a bloat of hippopotami.

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Passed one of the houseboats-

Then we came across this fellow-

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But close by were much less threatening scenes-

 

[drron]

But out on an island there were more elephants-

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We had our sundowner drinks here.

 

[drron]

So to the last of the elephants for today-

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And a view of the camp from the river-

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And then headed back as the sun set-

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And the town of Kasane-

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But back to the magnificent sunset-

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[jukebox333]

We soon came upon our next encounter-a bloat of hippopotami.
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I bet you were chuffed when you saw there was more than one, knowing you'd be able to use that collective noun!

 

[drron]

So now prepare for lots of sunset pictures-

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[drron]

And now the sunset from mrsdrron-

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And Drron with the crew-