A Botswanan Adventure.

[drron]

My last photos-

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But even on the highway back to camp you are not finished,a chameleon-

And now to the last from mrsdrron-

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And back to the camp after our last game drive in Botswana-

We do however still have an afternoon and a night here and then 2 nights in Zambia so not over yet.
We got back early so time to freshen up before lunch.Whilst having lunch one of the Aussie couples who we met at Cheifs arrived.They stayed an extra day at Cheifs before spending a night at Baines.After we left Cheifs they had seen a leopard close up and at Baines a leopard and cub which had been seen ever since we left.The luck of the draw.

After lunch instead of another game drive we decided to go into the town of Kasane.That next.

 

[drron]

We went to one of the lodges in town.It looked good-

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We did see some wildlife-

I thought of offering my services-

but the modern world is encroaching-

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I decided not to find out what this tasted like-

 

[drron]

We saw the well guarded resort where Bill Clinton stayed and played golf.

Outside was a 2000 year old Boab tree-

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They have cut a trench alongside it to put in new pipes.Hope it doesn't harm the tree.
Then the rapids that stopped Livingstone on the Chobe river-

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Then a comparison of drron and a boab-

It was sunday so most of the shops were shut though some were open and mrsdrron picked up a few mementoes.The place was clean,the roads good and infrastructure being built such as the new bus and taxi terminal.You can catch busses to Zambia,Zimbabwe and Namibia as well as Botswanan towns.

Back to the camp for the last time.A pair of birds in the tree alongside our room-

Time for a lemonade before a nanny nap.Dinner again with our friends from Cheifs.And after the odd glass of Amarula we retired at midnight.

 

[drron]

So a little interlude to show you the food we had.It was of a good standard.Meat and food generally cooked as ordered,nice tastes.Certainly not of Michelin hat standard but excellent seeing you were basically in the wilderness.So first cheif's camp and afternoon tea-

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And this was all I took here.The wildlife were the stars and i kept forgetting to take my camera to meals.
But then we moved to Chobe and although there were great animal sightings it was not as exciting as Baines and Cheifs.The National Park was a lot more crowded and there was no off road allowed.So I took a lot more shots of the meals so here we go-

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[drron]

At both Cheifs and Chobe they have a pizza oven so at lunch there can be make your own pizzas.Well you put everything on the base and they cook it to you.First is Mrsdrrons and then mine with a generous helping of chilli-

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Then the regular meals-

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[drron]

And the last shot from Chobe-

The rest are from Sussi and Chuma in Zambia where we went next-

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Next will be our journey to Zambia.

 

[drron]

So Monday and time to leave Botswana.A sleep in to 0700,breakfast and off to the airport at 1045.Met by the Mack Air ground staff who does everything for you.He takes your luggage,puts it through the scanner,takes it outside,takes your tickets,escorts you through security,fills out your Immigration forms,calls the Immigration officer to stamp your passport and then takes the can of DEET that mrsdrron forgot to put into the luggage and says dont worry it will be on your bag outside-

Now that is what I call premium service!
But not only that he goes out to meet the plane,brings back the incoming luggage then takes yours out and packs it into the plane-

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and here is the lounge at Kasane International-

After you go through Immigration the officer goes back to the lounge to watch TV.Two Mack Air planes arrive-1 small,1 large.Naturally we are on the smaller one.A Cessna 210 with pilot Toby.Only a 15 minute flight but a bit bumpy.
As you taxi out the aircon is on-

For takeoff the window is closed.We take off to the south so we see the camp and Chobe river again-

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Then you see the junction of the Chobe and Zambezi.Four countries are visible-Botswana,Namibia,Zambia and Zimbabwe.you also see the World's shortest International Border.150 metres between Zambia and Botswana.

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And you can see the ferry between Kasane and Kazungula in Zambia and the long lines on the Zambian side waiting to cross.

 

[drron]

The straight line at the bottom left is the Botswana,Zimbabwe border-

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Now some shots of the Zambezi-

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Some large scale agriculture in Zambia-

Then our first view of Victoria Falls-

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And then we arrive at Livinstone airport's old international terminal-

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[drron]

Entry to Zambia is easy especially as only the two of us.Basically pay our $US50 and through we go.
We are met by the Sanctuary driver and off to Sussi and Chuma-named after the two African companions of Dr.Livingstone.We drive through Livingstone and then head north following the Zambezi.The camp is not in town but only a short drive-

The reason for coming here was to see Victoria Falls.We were not holding out hope of serious animal viewing.The brochures say there are no leopard or rhino here.The camp is in a National Park but a train line and highway run through it.Only 25 minutes from the airport to the camp.We arrive just in time for lunch and it is very nice.We are the only guests at lunch.So the views-

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And our room-

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And our view to the river and to the back-

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And at my feet when taking shots a totally unconcerned bushbuck-

 

[drron]

As soon as we unpacked our guide wanted us to go for a drive.We went downriver-

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And as we waited at an army hut I saw a hippo-

And a large water monitor walked behind me-

We then drove over the highway and further into the National Park and met two more soldiers-

We then walked up over a hill and told to keep very quiet.Over the crest and possibly the highlight of the trip-

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Yes we are walking with rhinos.

 

[jetlagger]

I'm enjoying the fabulous journey.
The abundance of a gorgeous pictorial with your background narration presents this region of Africa in a beautiful & harmonious wilderness.
It is so very pleasant to view the animals in their natural surroundings.
Thank you for your time & sharing of another lovely TR.

 

[drron]

Rhinos were basically extinct in Zambia.The Government released 6 white rhinos into this park.Each is guarded by a soldier with an AK47 around the clock.There are now 8 with two calves being born.We were walking with a mother and her calf.So a few more pictures-

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As a bonus we saw this large bull elephant on our way back to camp-

This really rounded off my safari perfectly.
We got back to the camp in time for a sunset river cruise.That next.

 

[drron]

There are 5 of us on the boat-the others had been out on other excursions.The currents are incredible.Many small islands with the water swirling around with a constant noise.So to the pictures-

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And a view back to camp-

Came across a flock of the small bee eaters.Apparently it is where they nest later in the year.

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[drron]

And now mrsdrron's pictures of the sunset cruise-

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[drron]

We then stopped in a quiet backwater for our sundowner-wine and snacks.Then headed back passing some hippo-

A hammer hawks nest-

and a Zimbabwean picnic island-

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As we motored back the sun began to set-

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We passed the bee eaters nesting site but now a bush buck was grazing-

But back to the sunset.I just loved the African sunset and with the Zambezi river this one was really impressive so get ready to be bored-

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[drron]

And more of the sunset-

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[drron]

I just loved this sunset so more to come-

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[drron]

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And we approach camp-

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[drron]

So my last pictures of the sunset-

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[drron]

Of course mrsdrron also took some pictures so here are hers-

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When we got back to camp we enjoyed a few drinks around the fire.A quick freshen up and back to dinner.A lovely oxtail stew.
Next-Victoria Falls.