July 16, 2013 Chobe

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 – Chobe National Park

On this morning’s game drive we saw the usual kudus, zebras, giraffes, guinea fowl, impalas, baboons, elephants, etc, and saw an African Fish Eagle, including one landing on her nest. We also saw Sable antelopes, cape buffalo, more of the lilac-breasted rollers, Kori Bustards, Coqui Francolins, a nesting pair of Brown Snake Eagles, and monkeys. We also saw a family group of hippos very high in the dry ridge overlooking the Chobe flood plain. That was surprising, since they need to spend much of their time submerged in order to protect their skin.

what bird?

fresh lion tracks over last night's tire tracks

kudu

guinea fowl

impala

giraffe

baboons

fish eagle coming into its nest

baboon tribe with babies

impala

this baby male baboon lets it all hang out

cape buffalo and guinea fowl

our tour leader Abi Nyoni, Judith Blecha, cook _, and Marilyn Herel at our morning tea break

Guide Moses, Judith Blecha, guide Metz, Marilyn Herel at our morning tea break

herd of impala browse near the
Chobe flood plain

monkey

termite mound: because of uneven drying due to sun and wind, in this part of Africa the mounds always point to the northwest

lilac-breasted roller

giraffe

cape buffalo

secretary bird

zebras

Brown Snake Eagle female and male

lilac breasted roller

guinea fowl

kudu

guinea fowl

a tired Arthur sits on a
low tree limb

monkey

coqui francolin

more monkey

elephant

Mud baths protect the skin and get rid of the insects

kudu

cape buffalo

hippos

elephants crossing our road

giraffes

kudu

swallows over the flood plain

the Chobe River flood plain looking towards a narrow strip of Namibia

swallows?

path to our cabin at Chobe

kudu

Late that afternoon we were given a talk about Botswana from Junior, one of our game drive guides. We were also invited to partake of a local dish for an appetizer — sautéed mopane worms. Arthur and Janet ate one. I did not. I am told that it had a very earthy taste. Incidentally, mopane worms become beautiful emperor moths.

our cabin overlooking the gully

Junior gives a talk to us about Botswana

swallows?

Janet Shi bravely eats a Mopani worm as an "adventure" appetizer

Mopani worm (really a caterpillar) which turns into an Emperor moth

swallows?

A gorgeous sunset, where we saw the evening star (venus?)

sunset with the evening star (Venus?) over the Chobe River flood plain

swallows?

That night we were given a farewell traditional dinner and Bonno, our host, and his wife put on a skit of a husband coming home to his wife for dinner in a traditional rural village. There was also much singing and dancing. We were supposed to reciprocate, and luckily Laura Westray, Arthur Kay, and Winston Padgett were able to come up with some nice songs, and Arthur and I gave some jokes.