Next Stop, Namibia
Monday, August 22nd: We caught our transfer at 10:00am back to the Chobe Safari Lodge in Botswana. Once we arrived, we secured a campsite and went in search of someone to book a game drive in Chobe National Park. Since Chobe is strictly 4WD, we had to book a game drive with a private company with a game truck. There were several places in town that organized game drives in Chobe that were more affordable than booking something through one of the hotels. Even though we booked a game drive from a guy in a tin shed (seriously), our game drive left out of one of the large hotels. It was from 3p-6:30p and there was only one other couple on the truck. Once we started talking to the couple, we learned that the woman was an attorney in Dubai and grew up in England, as well as lived in London for a few years. Her husband was an American. We had a good time chatting with them during our game drive. Since Chobe is all 4WD, it was interesting driving through the sandy tracks.
Chobe had a large amount of elephants, giraffe, antelope and we heard some rumors of a male lion who killed an adult giraffe and was guarding it, as well as leopards somewhere in the park. We went in search of the lion and found it in the shade guarding his kill. Since lions usually hunt at night in packs and relax during the day, the lion was guarding the kill until the rest of the pride arrived to feast. He looked quite full. It was a sad scene because there were two other giraffes (one looked like an adolescent and the other an adult) standing there just staring at the dead giraffe. Apparently they had been there most of the day "mourning". I thought it was interesting that they were willing to be that close to the lion. I guess they figured he was too full to move too far away his spot.
While viewing the lion kill scene, our driver got a call about some other trucks seeing two leopards. Since we had to be out of the park by sunset, our driver set off in quite a hurry to find us the leopards. We were holding on for dear life while our driver skidded and swerved around other trucks, animals, bushes, etc. to get us to those leopards. We made it in time and were able to see a mother and her adolescent cub perched up in the tree. They were in plain sight and it was interesting to watch them interact. We watched them as long as possible, and we even saw the cub climb down the tree, but eventually we had to head out of the park. It was worth the trip to see those leopards and lion.
We stayed the night at the Chobe Safari Lodge, which was right by the river, and we heard hippos eating in the night.
Travel Tidbits: It might be worth it to check out some of the places in town, in regards to booking games drives and cruises. It is cheaper and you are usually on the same boats and trucks as people who paid full price with a hotel.
Tuesday, August 23rd: We left Kasane at 8am to make our way to Ngepi Camp in Divundu, Namibia. It took almost 45 minutes to get to the border of Botswana/Namibia (via Ngoma Bridge). It took a total of 30 minutes to get through both borders. From there we were on the road. We had to stop in Katima to pay the road tax at a gas station (Total), because the Namibian border didn't have a pay station. The roads were good the whole way and there was little traffic traveling on them. We stopped at a roadside picnic bench for lunch and then kept driving. Once in Divundu, we stopped to fill up on gas and groceries. The next challenge was getting to the Ngepi Camp. They said that it is mainly 4WD but 2WD vehicles make it all the time. We crossed our fingers and went for it. It was slow going the whole way, and is more like 5 km from the road, instead of the 4km they told us. There were some rocky areas and a lot of bumps, but we made it there with little stress or damage to the car. We had a nice large campsite by the river and they had a sundeck, as well as the restaurant area on the river. There was complimentary tea & coffee and areas to sit and lounge. The bathrooms & showers were interesting. They were out in the open with about 8 ft sticks as the walls. The "door" was a stick you put across the opening to the showers and bathrooms that had a plaque that said "door" on it. The hot water was solar powered so it was more like lukewarm. It was interesting taking a shower with trees above you. Since we were by another river, we heard the hippos all night. It was a peaceful night!
Travel Tidbits: Make sure you stop at the gas station inside of Namibia (Total?) to pay the road tax. Also, if you are staying at Ngepi Camp, it is accessible by 2WD in the dry season. If our car could make it, so can your's. However, the rainy season might be a challenge.
Chobe had a large amount of elephants, giraffe, antelope and we heard some rumors of a male lion who killed an adult giraffe and was guarding it, as well as leopards somewhere in the park. We went in search of the lion and found it in the shade guarding his kill. Since lions usually hunt at night in packs and relax during the day, the lion was guarding the kill until the rest of the pride arrived to feast. He looked quite full. It was a sad scene because there were two other giraffes (one looked like an adolescent and the other an adult) standing there just staring at the dead giraffe. Apparently they had been there most of the day "mourning". I thought it was interesting that they were willing to be that close to the lion. I guess they figured he was too full to move too far away his spot.
While viewing the lion kill scene, our driver got a call about some other trucks seeing two leopards. Since we had to be out of the park by sunset, our driver set off in quite a hurry to find us the leopards. We were holding on for dear life while our driver skidded and swerved around other trucks, animals, bushes, etc. to get us to those leopards. We made it in time and were able to see a mother and her adolescent cub perched up in the tree. They were in plain sight and it was interesting to watch them interact. We watched them as long as possible, and we even saw the cub climb down the tree, but eventually we had to head out of the park. It was worth the trip to see those leopards and lion.
We stayed the night at the Chobe Safari Lodge, which was right by the river, and we heard hippos eating in the night.
Travel Tidbits: It might be worth it to check out some of the places in town, in regards to booking games drives and cruises. It is cheaper and you are usually on the same boats and trucks as people who paid full price with a hotel.
Tuesday, August 23rd: We left Kasane at 8am to make our way to Ngepi Camp in Divundu, Namibia. It took almost 45 minutes to get to the border of Botswana/Namibia (via Ngoma Bridge). It took a total of 30 minutes to get through both borders. From there we were on the road. We had to stop in Katima to pay the road tax at a gas station (Total), because the Namibian border didn't have a pay station. The roads were good the whole way and there was little traffic traveling on them. We stopped at a roadside picnic bench for lunch and then kept driving. Once in Divundu, we stopped to fill up on gas and groceries. The next challenge was getting to the Ngepi Camp. They said that it is mainly 4WD but 2WD vehicles make it all the time. We crossed our fingers and went for it. It was slow going the whole way, and is more like 5 km from the road, instead of the 4km they told us. There were some rocky areas and a lot of bumps, but we made it there with little stress or damage to the car. We had a nice large campsite by the river and they had a sundeck, as well as the restaurant area on the river. There was complimentary tea & coffee and areas to sit and lounge. The bathrooms & showers were interesting. They were out in the open with about 8 ft sticks as the walls. The "door" was a stick you put across the opening to the showers and bathrooms that had a plaque that said "door" on it. The hot water was solar powered so it was more like lukewarm. It was interesting taking a shower with trees above you. Since we were by another river, we heard the hippos all night. It was a peaceful night!
Travel Tidbits: Make sure you stop at the gas station inside of Namibia (Total?) to pay the road tax. Also, if you are staying at Ngepi Camp, it is accessible by 2WD in the dry season. If our car could make it, so can your's. However, the rainy season might be a challenge.
Comments
Post a Comment