After you have seen the "Big 5", you start thinking, well, what is left?
First, congratulations to Botswana, which gained its independence 50 years ago under the first elected President, Seretse Khama. His story was portrayed in the movie, A United Kingdom.
Once one of the poorest countries in the world, Botswana has transformed itself into one of the fastest growing economies in the world. A democracy can work wonders when you don't have despots lining their own pockets at the expense of the people.
Our destination was Chobe National Park and the Chobe River that attracts many species of animals.
I think I spotted the "elusive" wealthy American tourist while there. ("Elusive" was a word we heard often from our trackers.)
While at the Baobab Lodge (named after the tree...more later), we visited Mabele Village where we visited some locals and learned how to weave a basket.
Baobab Lodge overlooked the Chobe river and lo and behold as we were getting checked in, a huge herd of elephants were grazing along the river.
I love elephants and was mesmerized.
Sunset over the Chobe.
Baobabs store large volumes of water in their trunks – which is why
elephants, eland and other animals chew the bark during dry seasons.
5. Baobabs are utilised by humans for many purposes, including shelter, ceremonies, food, medicine, fiber, juices and beer.
6. Animals like baboons and warthogs eat the seedpods, weavers build
their nests in the huge branches and barn owls, mottled spinetails and
ground hornbills roost in the many hollows. The creased trunks and
hollowed interiors also provide homes to countless reptiles, insects and
bats.
Our lodge was named after the omnipresent baobab tree, an important food source for many animals, especially in times of drought.
It is also refereed to as the "upside down tree" during winter when the limbs loose their leaves.
Trying to join us for lunch out in the bush were very skillful (at stealing) cute little monkeys.
Since feeding a wild animal can amount to a death sentence, we kept them away until a brave little dude flung himself on the picnic table and escaped with some bread.
While in Chobe we saw many giraffe, zebra, cape buffalo and a new animal, a warthog.
Warthogs eat in their front elbows since their necks cannot reach the ground.
Although we did see some fishermen in a flimsy looking boat, I can imagine there is no water skiing in the Chobe as it teems with hippo and crocs...
As was going to be a repeating pattern, just as we were getting settled in at Baobab Lodge and Chobe National Park, it was off again to a new park, new lodge, but still in Botswana.
