African Expedition #8

After the delayed Soweto Challenger, which saw him miss his flight to Botswana and lose two semi-final matches on the extended Sunday of play, it was a frustrated Greg who got delayed a further three hours at Gaberones, after catching a 7am flight to Botswana on Monday. He eventually arrived in Kasane at 2pm to join the family at the Chobe Safari Lodge.

He was whisked off on a leisurely cruise on the swollen but wonderfully blue Chobe River to spend the afternoon with Emily, sipping on drinks and viewing the plentiful wildlife on the banks and in the river.  
Sunset drinks after the cruise, was followed by a great dinner, featuring dancing African singers and a buffet to match, with buffalo stew, impala chops and warthog roast complementing the normal vast selection of excellent food. After a few wines, much catching up with cousins and family not previously met, and then some great dessert, it was a chilled out Greg who retired early to bed, eagerly awaiting what the next day offered.

An early start, well rugged up against the chilly morning in an open covered jeep, saw Greg, Emily and family keenly spotting the plentiful game.

Unfortunately none of the big cats were spotted but they did have a rare sighting of a jackal, a leopard tortoise and a yawning hippo, as well as plenty of graceful impala, elephants of all sizes and ages including the cutest baby elephant,

huge buffalo, kudus with majestic horns,

warthog, giraffe, puku deer, and birds of all types including maribou, storks and fish eagles.
A hearty breakfast back at the Chobe Safari Lodge finished off a great bush drive.
The drive was repeated in the afternoon, this time in the family vehicle with Leanne and cousin Joshua providing experienced game spotting.
All the usual animals were spotted, with lots of giraffe and elephants and a very skittish black sable antelope, playful baboons, industrious dung beetles and many more herds of buffalo and elephants.
Sunset drinks were enjoyed at the river side bar, which is built over the river, accompanied by a rather large hippo cavorting in the reeds alongside the bar, making the evening special and everyone nervous.

The buffet dinner was a wonderful repeat of the previous evening.
 Up early again the next morning, this time it was off on a speedboat on the Chobe River for a spot of tiger fish fishing.  On a crisp, clear morning, accompanied by river birdlife and snorting hippos, the tiger fish were nibbling but not too hungry. Greg and Emily did have some excitement when the boat's engine failed to start and the river current carried them backwards through a bush and then a tree, with branches, spider and worms dropping down on them.
Luckily they held on to the tree and did not capsize. The fishing guide was able to start the engine and extricate them , unharmed but shaken, from the tree to continue their fishing.

In the early afternoon Greg, Emily and family bade farewell to all and boarded the plane to return to Johannesburg after a fantastic few days in the African Bush at Kasane.

Thanks to Duncan and Leanne and all the wonderful staff at Chobe Safari Lodge for an unforgettable trip.

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