Traveling with friends and family from the remote Kalahari to the green Okavango in our trusty 4x4s Read more
  • Adele Sinisterra
  • Peter Eastwood

List of countries

  • Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
  • Botswana Botswana
  • South Africa South Africa
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  • 6.6kkilometers traveled
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  • Flight1,266kilometers
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  • 15footprints
  • 37days
  • 221photos
  • 21likes
  • The green waterways of Khwai

    April 22, 2023 in Botswana ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    We feel like we have landed in a green water filled paradise arriving at Mbudi Camp set on the banks of the Mbudi river in Khwai.

    We take some time off here to relax enjoying the ever changing scene in front of our campsite, like a natural TV where elephant come peacefully to drink in the knee deep channels and hippo grunt with the ever present cry of the fish eagle.

    Matt has lessons on how to cook a potjie and we all enjoy a delicious dinner around our campfire complete with Pete’s warm home baked bread which is rapidly becoming an addition.

    We take a mekoro trip one morning which is so peaceful gliding so close to the water we become part of its very essence and can study the Painted reed frogs undisturbed at eye level clinging to the reeds. We pass through a passage of water lilies filling the water in an abundance of pale pinks and whites which is absolutely breathtaking. A brightly colored Malachite Kingfisher perches so close to us we could reach out and touch him.
    As we retrace our route back to camp we come across an elephant bull drinking from the channel directly in our path. He slowly dips his trunk in the water sucking like a giant straw and then fills his mouth water cascading down in droplets of morning light. We have such a unique perspective from water level.

    From Mbudi Camp we drive to Magotho Camp for a night arriving in the afternoon to our whole campsite filled with feeding elephants ( those Winterthorn trees with their juicy pods are just everywhere at this time of the year ). We take one look and retire to a picnic spot higher up the river for lunch and thankfully when we return later we have the space to ourselves with just the owls and the cutest Lesser bush baby nearby. We spend a noisy night with the calls of hyenas jackals owls and the chomping of a hippo in front of our tent. Just another day in Africa !
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  • Savuti Chobe Game Reserve

    April 26, 2023 in Botswana ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    The landscape of Savuti is wild and impressive with giant Camelthorn trees lining the dry river beds ancient rocky hilltops painted in lichen yellows and greens and magical marshlands with billowing golden grasses.

    When we arrive we are told there is a lioness with her young cubs at the Bushman rockart painting hill and we visit this area a few times to try spot her. One morning while waiting silently near the cave entrance in our vehicle we hear a loud squawking and out of the bush to our left races a red billed spurfowl for his life followed by a group of banded mongooses on the chase. He manages to jump onto a branch in a tree by a feathers breath and thereafter follows his frantic alarm calls echoed by his mate still in hiding. The mongoose gang of 17 sprint in a precise co ordinated unit to try and get him out the tree and then branch out to forage on the riverbed nearby totally unconcerned by our presence. In another minute they spy another potential target and are off again sprinting with such speed and focus altogether we are amazed.

    Our unfenced camp is located on the banks of a dry riverbed where a peaceful bull elephant likes to visit every evening to feast on the Camelthorn pods. One night we hear him shaking the tree and our tent is showered with pods. He carefully and quietly vacuums them all up and then moves on to the next camp.

    One afternoon we explore the famous Savuti marshes where the huge black maned lions roam and we spend time with a large group of giraffes two males sparring with their weighty necks swinging like clubs towards each other. Once it’s over they all serenely walk off through the grasslands their silhouettes gliding into the distance.

    The next afternoon we get a tip from one of the rangers and set off to search for some male lions seen near Twin Peaks hills. We spot one beautiful Lion resting in the shade of a tree close to the road and as the sun begins to set he starts roaring searching for his brothers. The sound of a male Lion roaring is like no other sound on Earth. We are close enough to feel the vibrations rumbling through our bodies ! Words that spring to mind are absolute awe, great respect and restoration of the natural balance on Earth….
    And then just when we are counting our blessings on our drive back to camp in the last after light of the sunset we see his brother lying in the road and he is roaring in response.
    Savuti we love you !
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  • Cruising Chobe River

    May 1, 2023 in Zimbabwe ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We love staying on the Chobe River. It’s is such a life force in this part of Africa for both people and animals.

    We spend time here relaxing and taking some time off from traveling in the vehicles and on the road. There is a beautiful pool right on the banks of the river at Chobe Safari Lodge.

    The best way to appreciate this magnificent river is by taking a boat cruise which we enjoy both in the early morning and again in the late afternoon until sunset. We are incredibly lucky to come close to a herd of buffalos grazing on the fresh grasses whilst wading through the water. One of them makes us laugh so much with his rasta styled grass headdress called complete with an egret sitting in his back enjoying the ride.

    In the afternoon our expert guide takes us close to a breeding herd of elephants with three tiny babies all playing and swimming in the water. An elephant’s body holds a large amount of air which keeps them buoyant whilst they bounce swim in the water. These babies are having such fun and soon the adults join in until there is a jumble of trunks tails and feet bobbing and roly polying around in the water close by. Then one after the other the adults start swimming across the river to the mainland bank from the island they are currently on and we get to watch the special site of elephants swimming trunks used like snorkels leading the way across the river !
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  • Hwange a place of great peace

    May 3, 2023 in Zimbabwe ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    From Kasane we decide to travel south to cross the border into Zimbabwe at Pandamatenga a tiny border post where it’s easy and quick. After having long chats to the border police who have all the time of day with the last people crossing 3 days ago and paying 50 pula for him to open the gate we are in Zimbabwe and on our way to Hwange National Park, the largest reserve in the country.

    We settle into the homely historic Robins Camp with its quaint pub and insanely high watch tower which was used back in the day by the owner J Robins to detect fires started by poachers. The camp is dotted with old photos and artifacts lending a sense of place and time in its history. Apparently the original owner of this wild part of Zimbabwe gave up on cattle farming and started to protect his land and the wildlife he was surrounded with from hunters and poachers building roads so that people could come stay and be taken around to see the wild animals. The start of Hwange Game Reserve.

    We love the peace and beauty in Hwange and spend our time at the lovely hides overlooking the nearby waterholes bird watching and one incredible end of day at Deteema Dam watching a huge herd of elephants line the far bank drinking water.
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  • The start and end in Vic Falls

    May 6, 2023 in Zimbabwe ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Victoria Falls. Majestic. Iconic. The heartbeat of Africa vibrating it’s energy through the Earth.

    There are no words that can really describe the experience of being in the presence of Mosi- o- Tunya the smoke that thunders when it is at its fullest and mightiest.

    We can simply say that we were blessed and baptized which was the perfect end to our time together and the beginning of the next adventure.
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