After breakfast we headed out by boat to Kasane town. It is the main trading area for Impalila Island. We transferred to the Chobe Bakwena Lodge in the Chobe National Park. It is one of the largest national parks in Botswana at 4,500 square miles. More than 75,000 elephants call this home. This leg of our journey is our last chance for game viewing and our last stop before we start our journey in India.
The women of the lodge welcomed us with singing and dancing. We had a quick briefing and got to go to our round thatched roof huts, the nicest on our trip. We even have an outdoor rain shower. We have a view of the Chobe river right out our door.
After lunch and a break we headed out on our first game drive. This vehicle is the latest Toyota Landcruiser - brand new. We even had seat belts.
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| Cubs after their meal |
After a 20 minute drive to the Chobe National Park, the 2nd largest park in Botswana, we headed for the river trail. The animals come to drink in the evening and are all in this area. We slowly made our way, seeing an African Harrier-hawk, a sacred ibis, and a kori bustard, the largest bird that flies. As we drove we passed other vehicles coming back. We were told that a pride of lions had made a kill further along the road. It was a juvenile elephant. This was our opportunity to see all the lions together, and since they have full bellies, we don't have to worry about approaching them. This news meant that we didn't want to stop and look at every bird or hippo. We were anxious to see the cats.
However we soon saw a hilarious site. A hippo was scratching his back in the mud, all four feet in the air. He looked like a very happy hippo.
Soon after we saw a galloping dazzle of zebras. Usually they are just wandering around swishing their tails and nudging each other looking bored. Then we saw a group of male impala all alert, looking in the direction where the zebras were coming. Then ahead was a family of elephants, the females all in a circle looking out, protecting their young in the center. Something was up. We slowly approached, looking all around to see what had alerted the animals. In the distance, a cheetah crossed the road and went off into the bushes. But we all got a glimpse, even if it wasn't a photo.
We finally came across the lion kill, between the dirt road and the river. There were several other vehicles there all vying for spots. Our guide was able to maneuver to some good viewing spots and also spied the cubs under bushes on the other side of the road. There were three lions having their meal. Other lions were almost passed out on the side of the road. Their bellies were very full. Every once in awhile another lion would move closer and take her place at the table. The kill happened last night.
Thompson said they would probably feed for three days, then let the other scavenger animals move in and the vultures and other carrion birds which were perched in the trees nearby. Everything is eventually eaten. We saw a Cape Buffalo carcass along the road. All but the skull and some dry, tough hide, were left.
about ready to get some minerals from the ground, but very awkward for him.
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