Call of Africa - Cape Town, Babylonstoren and Okavango

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We went by Caravan to the Chobe airstrip. Generally Wilderness prefers to use 4 seaters for this run, but were flying the bigger plane that day. On arrival we were met by Goms who said we would be sharing the vehicle with another couple who had just flown in. They were from the USA and he had hired a light plane in South Africa and was flying them around - she had a lot of luggage! No 20 kg restrictions there. She was also a total disaster for me - before I knew it I was drinking sparkling wine constantly - even stopping at the bar on the way in from a morning drive to take a glass back to the room to have while I showered Fortunately they were only there for 2 nights, so I was able to dry out on the last day.

They were a delightful couple and we really enjoyed the two days with them.

Some photos of our "room" - once again didn't get to use the day bed or plunge pool, but they did look pretty.

 

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Of course we had to spend as much time as we could with the wild dogs and followed them a number of times. The Kings Pool pack is in a bit of trouble, as a pack from another area came in and killed a number of them, as well as the Alpha female, so no puppies this year. There are only 7 left in the pack.

 

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Driving from the airport was so dry and as many of the trees (e.g. Mopane) are deciduous, it really looked like a fire had swept through. It was greener closer to the river. Blossoms were just starting and I would love to see it in another month as the rains start and everything turns green. Of course it would be harder to see the animals then!

 

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In the Okavango Mr FM had been very excited to get a photo of a Carmine Bee eater

 

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But then we came to Kings Pool which is a major breeding area for them

 

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Goms showed us a Hippo and a giraffe skull. The Hippo had died fighting another Hippo.

 

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There are huge numbers of elephants here. They move freely across into Namibia. I found them a little less placid than other elephants I had seen and Goms felt that could be due to bad experiences in Namibia where hunting is allowed.

OneElephant that wandered into Camp was minus a tail. Apparently the hyenas in the area tear the tail and trunk of baby elephants. Wilderness is looking to do some research into this.

 

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Plenty of giraffe and ox peckers as well

 

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Warthogs are favourites as well. They actually walk on their knees, when they are hunting through the soil.

 

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Baboons abound as well. I love watching them playing and grooming and fell in love with the cute baby

 

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Of course the sinister crocodile

 

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The bird life is abundant and apparently the migratory birds have only just started coming back.

 

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Some of Mr FM's favourites

 

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dinner first night - quite a lot of spicy dishes which I love, but plenty of alternates

 

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Lunch second day - all you do on safari is look at animals and eat!

 

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The second night we went for a sunset cruise on the Queen Sylvia - a small double decker boat that Kings Pool has. They seem to stagger it, so that there are only 8 to 10 guests on it and of course you are the only boat on the river.

 

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One of the other guests taught Mr FM to lie on the bottom deck to get the best hippo photos

 

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Sunsets of course

 

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After the boat trip it was back to camp for singing and dancing. Guests join in too, but no photos as for once Mr FM was participating, rather than photographing.

 

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Then dinner in the Boma - I had a delicious oxtail.