Chobe

"The only river in Africa that connects 4 countries."
Peace, the guide running the Chobe river boat trip, informed us, as we drifted away from the riverside jetty. The boat trip had been advised by Rupert at Nata. A great recommendation.
The day had started at 6.45 that morning as I arrived at reception for a scheduled game drive inside the Chobe park. Everyone else was already on the safari vehicle so I jumped on and our guide Lots gave me the short briefing before getting us on the road. I'd joined on to a German tour group who were nearing the end of their time in Africa. The chilly morning air welcome comfort after a very warm night. Chobe was one of the must do parks and was certainly that. In Kruger I'd been in a more standard SUV rather than the open sided safari vehicle. Most of these are the venerable Landcruiser chassis with a standard 4x3 rear seating capsule.
Through the Sedudu Gate onto pretty sandy track, which the favoured Goodrich tyres handle without difficulty. This was a great couple of hours observing fish eagles, kudu, hippos, elephants, Impala and a distant pair of lions. I'd been disappointed not to see lions in Kruger. It was great to see them here, if only fleetingly. Coffee and biscuits were served at a stop that gave views across the park, and was the designated safe disembarcation point. Free of wildlife.
On the boat trip later that day it was quite a different experience as buffalo and elephants swam across the river, crossing the border into Namibia in the process. The crocs were mainly on the banks basking in the late afternoon sun. It was the hippos who seemed to remain in the water with their submarine like behaviour as their nostrils, ears and eyes variously dissappear to later reappear as they move around. I organised to get dropped in town for a meal. I'd been invited by a group of South African overlanders to dine with them at the Lodge buffet the previous night, but didn't feel like either eating by myself surrounded by larger groups, or the prospect of being the novel guest which comes with a stream of questions. Theyd also very unexpectedly picked up my dinner and drinks bill. Dinner was a really friendly moment I hadn't expected to experience. With the South Africans being overlanders as well, it was easy to lean on common themes which made it a more relaxed experience. The tour groups are less similar. Pleasant but just different enough to need more effort to deal with language, some cultural differences and the challenges that my limited german posed when other conversations became dominant.Read more