I had not expected one place to shine so much. And perhaps the photographs give out the sparkles more than reality but the actual experience has its own unique dazzle.
We went to Botswana last weekend, although only to Gaborone, the capital city. It is less than 400km away from home and quite a comfortable drive. This reminds me that this procrastinating busy-bee has not shared the most wonderful experience we’ve had in Kasane, northern part of Botswana.
Kasane has Chobe River. Botswana shares the river with Namibia and it meets the Zambezi River somewhere near the border between Zambia and Botswana. The best thing about Chobe River is the amazing boat safari everyone can enjoy. This is what I am sharing with you all today.
Let me start off with the shine.
This post is basically a “brag book” of the most wonderful experience we had on our River Boat Cruise, courtesy of my father, which means I didn’t pay so I don’t know how much is the boat safari per person. I will ask him. 🙂
Majority of the photographs were taken with his Nikon D5100 and the two photographers were my father and my son. Credit goes to both of them. There are a few pictures taken using my mobile phones – iPhone and BlackBerry. I did the editing using either my laptop’s ‘Photos’ and/or ‘Paint’ applications (so nothing fancy or complex). The edits are mainly cropping, enhancing, blurring and a change of filter on a few (using ‘Photos’) and re-sizing and adding the text (using ‘Paint’).
This is mostly a showcase of the images so for my favorite ones, I will provide the information on the photograph – especially for the photographers out there – but please do not think that I understand what those details are as I am merely copying from the “file information” (from ‘Photos’). I can bet though that we used that Nikon D5100 almost like a point and shoot, with adjustments on focus and zoom here and there.
Chobe River shines
Here are the magnificent elephants. I do think they are quite majestic.
We caught this hippopotamus getting out of the water. The bird photo-bombed the hippo and the crocodile simply refused to move out of the hippo’s shot.
On dry land, the hippo and the bird chilled together for a little bit.
This little hippo chilled all by himself
Then friends came to join
They do enjoy the attention
Baboon
Birds
Buffalos
Crocodiles
Have passport, will travel – to Namibia
But no, we didn’t. Apart from the fact that we didn’t have our passports, we were not scheduled to disembark. It wasn’t the day to hike even a little on Namibian soil. Still, we had to report to the Namibian officials as we were also on Namibian water. The river is shared between Botswana and Namibia.
This island belongs to Botswana. The decision was made by measuring the depth of the water of each country. Botswana’s side of the river is shallower than Namibia’s and therefore, the island belongs to Botswana.
River, land, sky, clouds, boats and bar
And, this is my son. He is not part of the wild but being a young man, one can be forgiven for making an honest mistake, if applicable. 🙂
For more information on how to get to Kasane and other travelers’ and/or tourists’ attractions, check out Botswana Tourism. There are flights to Kasane from Johannesburg, South Africa and Gaborone, Botswana.
I have not been to the Okavango Delta but it is on my bucket list.
You might also want to have a look at Nata especially if on a road trip. It is a tiny African town about 3 hours before Kasane. It’s bush, it’s sandy, it has wildlife especially elephants and it has the Makgadikgadi Pan (Botswana salt flats).
However, if Victoria Falls is part of the plan, the trip could start in Zambia. It is best to fly to Livingstone, and stay in Royal Livingstone. I wouldn’t recommend heading out to Zimbabwe even if the Zimbabwean side of the falls is better (than the Zambian side). After all, it’s only a matter of crossing the bridge from Livingstone. Livingstone is only about 100km from Kasane/Kazungula.
However you get to Chobe River, I am sure that you will have the most marvelous safari.
Wow! What a special post to feast my eyes on 😊 It looks stunning and seeing the animals is thrilling even on photograph! 😘💖💙
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank my darling. 🙂 It’s actually such a relaxing experience. I must take you there. My parents live there now. The bridge over Zambezi to connect Botswana and Zambia is being built. Just fly here and then we tell my boss I’ve gotta take off to show you around. 🙂 Lotsa love and tight bear hugs. Mwah! xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic journey! So envy that you are so near to these wonderful places. The Hippos can be dangerous we hear andthe boat looked large enough…phew!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 💖 I guess we are 😊 But only if you like nature and wild animals. Being in Europe is the best for those wanting to see many countries. How is it being in Singapore? Is it pretty easy, convenient and affordable to travel?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why yes, but only with a plane! Within 3 hours we can be in any part of Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand or even Burma. Sure we can also drive 400 km across Malaysia but it’s not the same as the experience you have!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I think the Asian airlines run a lot or promos. From the Philippines, you can get to Hong Kong for next to nothing, I hear.
From Johannesburg, we can drive less than 400km and be in another country, such as Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland and we need to drive more than 1000km to get to Mother City, Cape Town, in the same country. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed, and there is already so much to see in South Africa on its own!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your wild life pictures. Fantastic trip, so much to see.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was indeed. Thank you so much., Inese. 😊💖❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brings back memories of my trip to Botswana! Really enjoyable post & awesome photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We must still do the Okavango Delta. Have you done that Botswana experience? Hopefully next year as we’d like to do Italy this year. My parents live in Kasane. It’s just too far to drive from Johannesburg and everything in Botswana is what we call European tourists rate. Haha. Not for the ZAR that continues to decline while Botswana Pula remains stable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have done the Okavango Delta! It was a great experience, I loved every minute of it. We didn’t see much in the way of wildlife though. Which surprised me a bit but ultimately it didn’t detract from the overall experience. I hope you manage to get up there soon, maybe next trip – after Italy 😀
https://ramblingsofk.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/snapshot-okavango-delta/
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is awesome! I am officially jealous and I am sure that as I read more, I’ll be greener… so I’ll just travel through your travels… for now. 🙂 I’m off to experience Okavango. By the way, I didn’t comment on your Fish River Canyon, Namibia. It looks spectacular! I’ve just told hubby we have to go to Namibia and he asks me if I will do the whole “4X4’ing” as we say it here (four by four’ing – lol!) and sleeping in tents. I love tented chalets. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Anne. I have no doubts you’ll get to Okavango soon. You have such a passion for that continent and for travel, it’s only a matter of time. Namibia is one of my favourite places, I love it there. I think the 4X4ing sounds like a great idea. I’m okay with tents but if there’s some kind of weird, wonderful & unique accom available instead – I’m all for that! 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m definitely going to write Okavango in on top of the list. 🙂 And Namibia! I am not as adventurous but the spirit is there. Thank you for the encouragement, Kim. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re most welcome! I know you’ll love both places and can’t wait to read about your experiences once you get there some day!
LikeLiked by 1 person