Chobe National Park, Botswana

February 4

Leaving Zimbabwe and the Falls behind us, we drove a short 2-3 hour drive to Chobe National Park in Botswana. It is also Botswana’s first national park and is famous for its high concentration of elephants, which can often be seen swimming in the Chobe River. 

Chobe’s icon, the elephant, can be spotted swimming in the water or graze on land.

We pitched our tents close to banks of the river and also the town of Kasane. This area is known as Africa’s Four Corners” where four countries, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, almost meet. 

I have found a quiet spot for my tent and was delighted by bird sounds, my portable home for the next twenty days.

With a boat ride on the river and an early morning tour through the park, we got close to the wildlife any many species of birds. 

Baboons seem to find the best places to sit and compete for the best branch with kingfishers, eagles and marabou stork.

Throughout my travels, I have discovered the loss of the individual artists’ work, which mostly, nowadays are replaced with mass produced pieces.  You can spot the Indonesian imports that have infiltrated the tourist shops discussed, as local crafts. In the past, the Zimbabwean where known for their beautiful intricate and unique hand carved wood items. They too have left and moved south of the border where some of their pieces can still be found. The better souvenir items are imports from South Africa where there are still some creative artists around with some specializing in Graphic Design.  I found this bench in a comfortable shaded area with its cool polished cement floors. It was inviting and called for a cold beer. Cheers.

  It was another great day in Africa and ending with a spectacular sunset.