April 28

 Runde to  Etosha NP

We began our day on the shore of the Okavango River, watching mist rising over the river.  The river is warm but the early more air is chilly, hence the mist.   While Charlotte and Devon went for a morning run in the cool air Al and I sat on the floating section of the lodge, looking for crocs and hippos.  The rainy season has just ended so the river is still high, and flowing swiftly.  This is not the ideal season to see hippos as they prefer to linger in shallower water.  Still, the birdlife was impressive. 

After a leisurely breakfast we packed up and set off for the Etosha NP.  En route we stopped briefly at Grootfontein and Tsumeb, where we picked up more provisions.  Our vehicle has a 12V fridge, which is handy but rather small for the amount of fresh food we want to carry along.  So, provisioning frequently is our routine. 

Around 1500 we arrived at our next campsite in the Onguma Game Reserve just at the edge of Etosha NP.   I had prebooked, which was essential in the best places, especially in NPs.   To reach the lodge we first went through a large, guarded  entrance gate.   Then we drove along a bush road, where we were not allowed out of our vehicle, to another large gate.  Once inside the second gate we were near the lodge and campsite, and in the safe area where we could walk freely.  

What a beautiful lodge!   We sipped G&Ts by the pool (Charlotte also went for a swim), then sat on the observation deck overlooking a water hole and the game reserve.   We love this place, and highly recommend it.   

We lingered on the observation deck  until dark, then walked back to our campsite.  This campsite is spacious, and includes our own, private toilet/shower hut as well as an outdoor kitchen area.  All campsites include a private braii (BBQ) pit area as well.   Our large, private camping area here at Onguma has a nice grassy area too, so Charlotte and Devon were able to pitch their tent a distance from our dining area, braii and our vehicle, where Al and I set up our roof tent.  

After another delicious dinner by chefs Charlotte and Devon, we walked back for some night viewing of the water hole.  Unfortunately, no large mammals wandered by....

One perk at Onguma for us is WIFI.  We hope you enjoy the up-dates, and that you will revisit the blog later to see more photos.  

Sent from my ipad....Oops, did auto - complete create strange words?

April 27

Caprivi  Strip, Namibia

Nunda River Lodge is beautifully set up, with a lovely main lodge right on the Okavango River.  The campsite is large, showers are hot, the river environment is beautiful, the swimming pool area inviting, and our hosts were very welcoming.  We recommend this place. 

We got up at dawn, as usual, which arrives at 6 am and lasts only a short time before it is suddenly full-on daytime.  Charlotte and Devon went for a run at 6 am (they are training for a marathon) while the air was still cool.  Then we all had  breakfast and packed up.  

Our morning adventure was a safari drive along the river's edge in the nearby Mahango NP.  We stopped to watch a plethora of animals including zebras, giraffes, warthogs, baboons and a number of antelopes including kudu, gemsbok, lechwe, and impala. Hippos were milling around just across the river. 

Bird sightings included -among others - kingfishers, herons, egrets, geese, lilac-breasted rollers, red-billed hornbills, cinnamon bee-eaters, and something called a go-away bird.  It was an amazing environment for us!  

We followed the river track for about 10km, stopping often to view birds and mammals very close to our vehicle.  We are not allowed to get out of the vehicle in most NP,  except at designated picnic areas.   One of the two designated picnic locations in Mahango NP was by a giant baobab tree, the other on the edge of the river.  

Driving along the sandy single track we noticed some large elephant scat and soon afterwards we saw four elephants lingering in the shade of some bushes. 

After a morning in the park it was time to drive west.  The main roads are good, paved with just one lane each direction and very little traffic.  We drove as far as Runde, stopped for provisions, then another 10 km to our next camp at the Hakuseme Lodge.   

Hakuseme has lovely round cabins and a beautifully landscaped garden plus a main lodge (and restaurant) on the edge of the river, including a floating section for being right out on the river.  The campsite was an open grassy area, not as special as some of the other campsites, but it was quiet and served us well.  

Charlotte and Devon created another delicious meal..

Sent from my ipad....Oops, did auto - complete create strange words?

Giraffes in Chobe NP

Curious aren't they?

Elephants in Chobe NP

Chefs Charlotte and Devon

Creating another delicious dinner, this one at our campsite on the river in Chobe NP

April 26

We rose early and packed up promptly so we could go on safari before the heat of the day.  Driving back along the river tracks in Chobe NP we found some impalla "harems" and herds of buffalo, then we found a lion under a tree, chewing on his kill (a buffalo) ! 

Satisfied with our early morning sightings we stopped at the designated picnic spot by the  river where Charlotte and Devon created us a most delicious brunch.  . 

Around mid-day we left the park and headed for the border crossing.  The balance of the afternoon was spent driving west. We stopped for a late lunch at Catima Mulilo, where we sampled a local meal with fresh fish served up at a tiny eatery in the local  market. 

At sunset we arrived at Nunda campsite, a most appealing river front site I had prebooked,  where we relaxed with G&Ts on the deck over the river.  Our host told us he was offering  a prize for the first person to swim across the river and back again.   Of course we knew no one could ever win that prize because crocodiles would get them first? 

It was another amazing day, with a most amazing camp for overnight. 

Take a look at the web page for our camp:  Nunda River Lodge

April 25

 River, Chobe  NP 

Our most ideal safari day so far!

We left Thebe River Camp rather late (9am) and drove into Kasane for provisions.  Then we began driving west through the northern section of Chobe NP.   

Our general idea was to cross the border from Botswana to Namibia, but first  we decided to turn north down a sandy single track that we thought might led to the Chobe River.   Little did we realize we were about to an entire day "on safari" in an incredible river habitat. 

At first we saw only a few birds, most notably a colourful Woodland kingfisher.  Al expressed an interest in seeing giraffes and soon after we noticed three giraffes lingering behind some trees!  

The sandy track went down, but we still could not see the river for several km.  Then it suddenly appeared below us and we got out for a short walk on the shore.  

Then our animal sightings became more frequent, and exciting!  We saw  a buffalo, with two ox pecker birds on his back.  These birds eat tics that land on the buffalo, and on little mammals too.  We read that one of these birds was found with 200 tics in its stomach!  We saw impala too, some also sporting ox peckers on their backs. 

As we continued down the river track we found more giraffes among the trees,  and walking across right across our track in front of our vehicle.   Groups of impala, with dominate males aggressively chasing away intruders, hovered nearby.  Warthogs were feeding on low vegetation.  More giraffes, their long necks stretched out, were chewing on high branches.  We watched as their tongues - which can be 18 inches long - reached out to snatch branches.  

We stopped to watch some dung beatles at work.  In the distance we observed some hippos.  Colorful birds were everywhere.  This environment supports over 400 bird species!  

Our safari went on for over 5 hours, until we finally stopped at the Ihaha NP campsite on the river bank.   We had to chase away the vervet monkeys who were scrambling around, keen to steal anything we might leave unattended.  

Sunset comes early here, and the sky turns a brilliant red.  Our camp on the river was large and very private.  Devon and Charlotte created a delicious braii (BBQ) feast and we relaxed together over a game of Scrabble while listening to animal sounds. 

An amazing day!