Nata to Chobe

Leaving Nata, our amazing guide Vincent told us we would have some opportunities to see more wildlife along the way. We would be travelling another 300km and almost straight North to Chobe.  We made guesses as to what would be the first creature we would see. Dad said a vulture because he figured it would be feeding on something that had been hit on the road the previous night. I said elephants... Only because I wanted to see them up close!! So mine was more of a wish than a prediction :) So... What did it end up being???? Warthogs! Ha ha ha!! The first thing we saw was warthogs.. Neither of us was right :)

However, we did see a whole bunch of elephants after that!! Dad and Vincent saw 2 moving through the trees, while Mom and I hadn't even seen a hint of them!! Dad then commented that they move like the shadows. It couldn't have been a more perfect statement. These giants do in fact, move like shadows sometimes because downtowns it's as if they are not even there!

We were able to see more elephants after the initial spotting, along with a tower of giraffes (what they're called when they're standing, a journey when they're walking, and a stride when they're running!), and some Common Ground Hornbills, which are actually endangered in Botswana. 

At times the road widened and it becomes a runway.  Yep that's right, a runway! The markings are on the side of the road for the planes to be able to land,  no stopping is allowed and you'd better pay attention :)  

As well, along our travels we have had to stop at foot and mouth disease control stops. You have to step into this solution of stuff to get anything you might be carrying off of your shoes and then you have to do the same with another pair of shoes. If you only have the shoes out that you're wearing, they might go through your bags as they know you have more than one pair. So it's important to just have another pair out. The solution isn't bad at first, but later stinks and is caked onto your shoes! Then they will check your coolers and you will hopefully be given the go ahead to drive your vehicle through a much bigger area filled with the same solution. We've only encountered 3 of these so far and only had to stop at 2. We were very thankful for our guide's experience with this and in getting us through with no issues!

Chobe is built all along the river and is a fairly busy place with game drive vehicles heading into the park, people shopping in the town and then you have all the activity on the river too!

At our lodge we were welcomed with the wonderful hospitality and warmth we have come to know and love, from the people of Botswana. We enjoyed a lazy afternoon overlooking the river as everything at our lodge overlooks the very busy Chobe River. There is always a bird or a mammal to watch!!

What an beautiful place this is!

Rest stops have disclaimers on this highway and no outhouses. You just have to find a bush and squat. 

This is the vehicle we've been traveling in .. A 4 door Ford Ranger.  I prefer the 4 door Toyoto Hilux they have here, like in Australia and aure wish we had them in North America!

Scenes along the drive

Dad and Vincent walking up from the jetty of our lunch spot in Chobe, as we were a bit early for our rooms to be ready. 

Enjoying our welcome drinks at Chobe Safari Lodge!

The warning sign at our hotel's jetty. 

There are monkeys and warthogs all over the property grounds. We even saw a type of mongoose one day! They're fun too watch but the monkeys are a real pest!

This warthog was sleeping below where we were. So ugly they're cute :)

Then it's little one came along.. Pretty darn cute for sure!

Maun to Nata

Before leaving Maun, one of the staff at our lodge told me we would see elephants on our way. I couldn't quite understand what she was saying... Elephants, like on the road? I wasn't grasping this, but it sounded exciting to me!!

As we drove with Vincent, we saw 2 dazzles of zebras. That was pretty cool! Did you know that's what a group of zebras is called? I didn't! We continued on and he all of a sudden said "Giraffe." What? Where? Right there, not far from the side of the road was in fact a journey of giraffes! Ha ha! A "journey" of giraffes! This was our first giraffe sighting so I was pretty mesmerized! Then Vincent whispered, "Do you want to see the elephants crossing the road behind you?" What? Where? Sure enough, I turned around and a herd of elephants was in fact crossing the road! Here they were acting just like the deer do back home! Just eating at the side of the road and acting just like our wildlife! It was so weird and incredible all at the same time! At that moment, the reality of us being in Africa  couldn't have hit me more!

We stopped along the way, as it's more than 300km between Maun and Nata. The halfway point was this awesome little lodge surrounded by the Boabab trees, or upside down trees. They are known as the tree of life and are iconic symbols of the African Savannah. 

Arriving in Nata, as at all of the lodges, you are greeted with a welcome drink of usually mango juice! So refreshing and welcome after a long journey. Our welcome here was amazing and so organized after our welcome to Maun. One of the staff welcomed us and told us everything we'd be doing and at what time, took us to our rooms, while Vincent drove our suitcases, and showed us where everything was. Walking into our cabins/cottages was jaw dropping - see pictures below. 

Part of the reason for stopping at Nata is it is halfway between Maun and Chobe National Park. The other reason is to visit Nata Sanctuary where the largest salt pan deposits in the world can be found, along with diverse bird life.  This is what we did while visiting here when we met our guide, KK, who took us into the sanctuary and onto the salt pans.

We were able to see Pelicans landing on the inland lake and sea and saw many herds of Blue Gnu Wildebeest! The salt pans were cool but the sunset was truly amazing! 

We have arrived in Africa!!

Today is officially the end of our second day in Africa!!  Right now, we are in Maun, Botswana... The gate to the Okavango. 

We arrived yesterday in Johannesburg, for a short layover, before proceeding on to Maun. We took a smaller airplane on the 2 hour journey and spent hours waiting to get through security and then waiting for a mix up with our hotel pick up. In the end, we learned about just how wonderful people can be when you look sad, tired and ask for help :) The kindness of the locals has continued to impress us and we eventually made it to our lodge for yesterday and today. 

Last night we settled in and enjoyed dinner around a Boma, a meeting place (for us, a fire) meeting Poka our wonderful and attentive waiter! The food is delicious, lots of chicken and beef, with some western influence.

 Today, we traveled in an open air vehicle at 7:30 in the morning. It was only 9C, so we were bundled up in blankets provided and realized quickly we were not dressed appropriately for our first outing! We will learn for tomorrow! Here, we met Sage, our driver for the day! He is a local man, who had so many wonderful things to share with us and teach us. We immediately enjoyed him and appreciated that we could trust him and ask him many questions!

Sage took us out to the Okavango Delta, to a small village to meet our local guides who would take us out in the mokoro(dugout wooden canoes) for the day. Sage shared that to make it fair for the local guides in the village, there is like a roster that they go through so that everyone gets fair treatment and everyone will get to take out the tourists, not one more than another. This is how they make their living and Sage said without them, we would not be able to go into the delta. They are trained to be local guides and they are part of the system that protects the delta. They must have a special license to go into the delta. So, everyone supports each other and protects the delta in turn. 

So, we met Dutchmen and Makabu and they took us for the day! It was truly chaos at the "station" with tourists all around and the local people everywhere and the guides! Phew! It was busy!! But as soon as we "paddled" away, the peacefulness of the delta surrounded us! All around us there was nothing but water, birds, mokoro and the delta. 

The Okavango delta covers 18,000 square kilometres. It is a unesco world heritage site and is one of Africa's seven natural wonders.  It is one of the few interior deltas that does not flow into a sea or ocean. It is also home to some of the worlds most endangered species of large mammals. 

For us, it was just a special experience to be a part of. While there were a lot of tourists, they fissile out as you depart the station. Many people stay over night but we just wanted a day trip experience. So we headed for an island where we parked the mokoro for a rest and went walking in the search of animals. We had seen many birds on the water trip over, especially this incredible Fishing Eagle, but we were in the search for large mammals now! 

As we kept walking and walking, seeing tracks and poop from hippos, hyenas, giraffe, elephants, zebra, anteaters and Buffalo, I just really wanted to see the actual animals! I was also thinking that a walking game drive was very tiring and not quite what I had signed up for! Walking across the African land, in the now 26C heat... Hmmm?!?! But then we spotted some zebra and I was on a mission!

As we got closer and closer, we could see over 200 zebras!!! In the wild! No fence, no cage, just right there and had to stay up wind from them! Then... A wildebeest in the middle of them! And then something spooked them and some ostriches came running from behind and they all starting running and the dust was flying! I turned to Dutchmen and I said "If they're running, should we start going away too? Because if they're spooked??..." Ha ha he laughed!

What an experience!! So we made the long trek back to the boats to have our lunch and then we began our trip back. Our guides took us to a common area for hippos... And right there in front of us...Were 15 hippos!!! Wow! It was really cool! I know they're super dangerous but those ears fluttering every time they come up for air! So cute!!! As we were leaving they gave some snorts that we were close enough so it was a good thing we were leaving ha ha!! 

The whole paddle back was almost silence... Birds, water, bugs, some wild horses, more zebras... And honestly, nothing but the delta all around us. 

I will be honest, I wasn't overly excited about this part of the trip. This was Mom's part! Her doctor recommended it and we were kind of along for the ride. It sounded cool the more I read but I was more excited about South Africa. Wow, is all I can say. This was an incredible day!! 

We are off to Nata in the morning... And a visit to the largest salt pan deposits in the world. We have met our tour guide, Vincent, and look forward to hanging out with him for a few days!

For now, here are some photos! I'm doing the best I can with photos on my iPod as I didn't bring my laptop... So I hope you enjoy! 

A display of Nelson Mandela at a store in the Johannesburg airport.

Our plane from Jo-Berg to Maun, Botswana 

It's not real!! But it's a really good replica :) This is the building we are staying in at Maun Lodge

On the delta, Mom and Dad with Makabu, in the mokoro 

My view for a lot of the day!

Mom and Dad with Dutchmen, out on our walking game drive :) 

Dad with elephant dung! He picked it up so you could know how "big" it was!

An anteater home!!! This is for all of my students who have read the animal adaptations book and learn about anteaters! I had no idea they lived here or lived in this type of a home!

Hippos!!!

The mokoro - traditional made from wood and new made from fiberglass 

 Dad and Sage

The African sunsets are spectacular, but they go down too fast to be able to find a vantage point! Lots of more days to find a better one :)

London is Calling!

We have arrived safely in London after an amazing flight!!

I'm not going to lie.. For some reason, I was a mess leading up to this flight! Usually I'm ok. I'm busy, and not always so organized, but I'm not usually nervous. However, this time around, my stomach was in knots, I was on the verge of tears at times, and I was just a mess; all the way up until we checked in at the airport. 

I guess there could be a few reasons for this nervousness... Worrying about getting sick from our malaria pills we have to take to help us from getting sick from malaria, the uncertainty of flying into what will be new and very different, for me, countries, the uncertainty of political stability and safety.. And really so much more. So, I guess it was just a lot of uncertainty and a lot of unknown factors. But along with all of that, there has also been so much EXCITEMENT!!

I feel blessed and grateful to be sharing this opportunity with my parents and I really do look forward to all of the wonderful adventures that lie ahead!!

Now that we are in London, the nervousness has given way to tiredness. Mom and Dad are asleep near me in Heathrow, as I keep an eye on the bags, and they get some rest.  So, while they do that, I'll update the blog and post some photos for everyone :)

Be safe, be well and enjoy your

 summer!