Steph's Adventures Near and Far: 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!