Wild Wild Africa: A River Safari Down Botswana’s Chobe River
10 August 2008, Botswana: From Livingstone, Zambia, we took a day trip to the neighboring country of Botswana.
We went to a travel agency in Livingstone, and booked the river cruise and game drive in Botswana for US$150 per person. Later we learnt that the people who were on the same game drive in Botswana as us paid around US$300 per person for the same itinerary even though they also went from Livingstone. They paid double the price as they booked it through their hotel (Royal Livingstone), while we booked from a travel agent. Hmm…
A driver from the travel agency drove us across the border from Livingstone to the immigration checkpoint bordering Botswana. From there, we took a short speed-boat ride (5 min) across to Botswana. We were so thrilled and excited about seeing Wild Africa.
On Botswana soil
Africans waiting around for their ferry
We could see Namibia (another African country) and Zambia from here.
Grace on the safari jeep in Botswana
Their ferry finally arrived..
A truck of goods being loaded onto the ferry
Immigration post in Botswana
Setting off in the safari jeep, we passed by many trucks waiting to go through immigration.
We were driven to the Chobe Safari Lodge where our river cruise down Chobe National Park was to start.
Our river cruise was just the right size.
Chobe National Park is the third largest park in Botswana (the first national park in Botswana), and it has one of the largest game concentration in Africa continent.
Animals in the distance
We were served biscuits and beverages on the river cruise.
The abundance of wildlife, cool breeze and stunning landscape made this cruise extremely enjoyable! The cruise moved at a leisurely pace, stopping at places where interesting wildlife was spotted.
So many species of birds everywhere!
Looks like a comorant, but it’s a Darter (Anhinga melanogaster).
That black ‘line’ in the distance was a big herd of African buffalos!
Like cormorants, the darter perches with wings outspread to dry.
They catch fish under water by impaling them on their dagger-like bills, surfacing to swallow them.
African buffalos
African buffalos
Being on this cruise allowed us to get so close to the animals that it was an incredible and unforgettable experience.
Seeing all of this for real was surreal. It can’t even be compared to watching animal documentaries on the Discovery Channel.
We were in the middle of Africa, where these wild animals live, in their natural habitat, hearing those noises, smelling them, seeing them roam free in a tiny remaining part of Earth. Priceless.
African antelopes
Hippos!!!
Hippos are the most dangerous animals in Africa, capable of killing humans if they get too close to their territory.
Hippo chewing up grass
Keeping a distance from the hippos
Other bird species
Another bird species
Crocodile!
We got so close to it..
This bird blends in well
A lizard
Antelopes
A colorful bird perched on a small rock
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Kingfisher looking out for prey!
More birds in the river
The waterbuck is an antelope found in Africa
Waterbuck
Waterbuck and crocodile in close proximity
African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)!
It preys extensively on dead and dying fish, but it is quite capable of catching fish swimming near the surface of the water.
You are so..beautiful….
A rare glimpse of warthogs. These wild African pigs are fast runners and tend to run off when humans approach.
Darter on the lookout for fish
Basking in the African sun (it’s colder than it looks).
Elephants moving down to the river for a drink
Some more elephants joined in
We were lucky to see the elephant going for a swim!
Having a good time washing itself
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