Saturday 24/06/2017 - Chobe N.P to Victoria Falls

We had a short drive today crossing into Zimbabwe. It was a slow boarder crossing but we had no problems all the same. We were all happy the truck made it.

After lunch we changed into light clothes and headed to Victoria Falls. We had to dodge many people trying to sell us stuff we didn't want or need. This is the first time of the trip we were experiencing this. 

We started viewing the Falls from Devils Cataract. Amazing amount of water from the Zambezi river spilling through the small gorge. Rainbows were forming from the spray of the Falls.

We then walked passing Cataract View then to the Main Falls. This time of the year the Falls have the highest volume of water flowing and it was very loud.

As we walked towards Danger Point we had to put on our rain jackets and we got a good drenching from the mist, it was heavy in patches when the wind blew, it felt just like it was raining making it difficult to take photo.

Victoria Falls bridge that was built in 1905. It is the border crossing between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Cars, trucks, trains cross here. People even bungy jump from it. 

After our walk around the Falls we dried off while having a drink at the lookout cafe then walked to the stately Victoria Falls Hotel that was built in 1904.

We finished off the day walking back to Victoria Falls Restcamp & Lodges passing a Zambia Diesel train.

  

Friday 23/06/2017 - Chobe National Park

Very early start to the day as we had a dawn game drive. We had a quick hot drink and cereal before meeting at reception at 5:45am.
We had 3 to 4 layers of clothes as it was a very cold morning. Once in the game vehicle we were given blankets to help keep us warm. The vehicles are open and it was freezing as we drove along.

We spotted some birds but not too much big game. David and some others were a little disappointed but not when we stopped for morning tea and coffee where we had great views of the Chobe River and National Park. 

Back at our campsite we relaxed around the beautiful main building complex and were able to link up with Chris and Bernie. 

It was good to chill out with a view lovely view down to the Chobe River. 

Our tent with pumbas casually walking by. 

In the afternoon we set off on another boat cruise. Some really take photographing wild life seriously. 

It was just incredible how close we could get to the elephants, hippos and rhinos.
We saw one elephant swimming across the river. It had to keep its trunk out of the water. Once across our guide said it would feed on the river grass and cross back around midnight. 

At the end of the cruise we saw our best African sunset and were able to snap a couple of photos.

Thursday 22/06/2017 - Rainbow lodge to Chobe National Park

We had a wonderful nights sleep in our accommodation and the others who were camping said it was the coldest night so far, so we had made the right decision to upgrade.

Today was an all day drive as we left Namibia for the last time and reentered Botswana. There was not much to see along the way and Catriona watched Groundhog Day and David listened to music.

We stopped for shopping ant Katima and spent the last of our Namibian currency before the boarder. This boarder crossing was our worst so far. The official was very pedantic making everyone be in a straight line or get out of the office. We had to tread in a tray of disinfectant and get our shoes from the truck and do the same with them. This is to prevent the spread of foot and mouth as Botswana is a big beef exporter. It was here David found he had left his Keens sandals back at Roy's camp after he had washed them.

While we were waiting we were able to get a picture of a huge baobab tree, and a hornbill.

As we entered Chobe national park we also managed to get a picture of the 50 years of Botswana sign at the entrance.

We made it to our campsite for the night at Chobe safari lodge and set up our tents. We had the afternoon/ evening free so went down to the bar beside the river to enjoy the sunset.

Wednesday 21/06/2017 - Okavango delta to Rainbow Lodge

We left the Okavango Delta and travelled back today to Rainbow Lodge. Half way on the journey we stopped to meet another Intrepid tour. They were doing the same trip as us but in the reverse (Vic falls to Cape Town). It was good to ask them what to expect for the rest of the trip and we let them know what we had experienced.

We decided to upgrade to a thatched cottage. The beds were soft and comfortable and the whole experience was fantastic.

In the afternoon 10 from the group set out on a sunset river cruise.
We saw a couple of crocs, this one on a rock in the middle if the Kavango River getting the last of the days sun.

We also saw many hippos up close. When they surface the water they flick their little ears which is cute to see.

Bob took over having a go at driving the boat.

Another glorious sunset.

Photo of Darren after he nearly feel overboard. He leaned on the gate and the latch broke making the gate swing open. With a beer in his right hand he just managed to somehow grab onto the railing with his left hand and pull himself back into the boat.
We all had a good laugh about the incident but luckily he didn't fall in as there were many hippos and crocs in the water near the boat.

Tuesday 20/06/2017 - Umvuvu Camp

We survived the night and didn't need to make any calls overnight. We had breakfast beside the campfire which was still going from the previous night. We think it was for the person who kept guard overnight.

After breakfast we split into 2 groups to go an a 3 hour nature walk in the delta. We had to walk single file about 1 metre apart with a local guide in front and one behind. It was interesting that when we were in Kruger for the night game drive the driver had a rifle, but here e were on foot in the wild and all our guides had was a book on animals and a pair of binoculars, not even a stick.

We walked through thick high grass, the perfect spot for a lion to hide. Then stopped at a sandy clearing to read the Okavango daily news - foot prints of the animals that had passed through. our guides pointed out the lion, elephant and hippo prints.

We saw many birds and heard hippos in the distance. Our guide explained about the different vegetation and the trees including the Amarula tree that they harvest fruit from to make the liqueur. Elephants also eat the fruit. We came across a lone male elephant eating the trees. It was fascinating to watch especially when it turned around to face us with its trunk in the air. We were down wind and our guide told us it would not have realised we were there even though we were only about 100m away.

We came across a kill site where a buffalo and a lion had been killed. Our guide had never seen anything like this before. He told us it had happened a week ago and most probably there had been a group of lions and the young male had been injured and that is why both the lion and the buffalo were dead. 

We had another lovely mokoro ride to the next camp site that had hot showers and flush toilets.

In the afternoon we had a go at steering the mokoros. It was hard work as the wind was up and they were empty. Catriona is out in the middle near the guide.

This part of Botswana is full of pretty birds and we were lucky enough to get a picture of the golden oriole and the crested barbet.

We finished with a group photo with all the polers, we had such a wonderful 2 days in the Delta.