Monday 19 September - Okavango Delta to Mazambala

THIS IS MORE LIKE IT

Another two and a half boat transfer back to our truck this morning saw us retrace our route through the main Delta channel in this area, spotting various birdlife along the way, including several eagles.

We crossed into Namibia again then travelled along the Caprivi Strip, a 500 kilometre narrow strip of land that connects Namibia with the Zambezi River – and all paved. Along this mainly straight roadway there were numerous warnings to be alert for wild animals, especially elephants, on the road. By late afternoon we reached our stop for the night, a lodge at Mazambala on the banks of the Kwando River. A motorboat transported us and all of our luggage to the lodge, this time only a twenty minute transfer. Between the lodge and the landing there was a gated fence – the hippo gate which is closed each night between sunset and sunrise to stop hippos coming into the grounds. The gate would be easy for a human to step over, but not hippos with their short legs

After being assigned our cabins for the night, most of us opted to go on a sunset game cruise on the river. This was more like what I had expected to see in the Okavango Delta.  In the two hour cruise we saw lots of elephants, including young ones, hippos, antelope, a crocodile and lots of birdlife. It’s hard to beat sitting quietly having an icy drink while watching the hippos from a safe distance.

Bee-eaters - but not sure which ones

 

Not the best photo of hippos - but you take what you can!

One herd of elephants was right on the water's edge, with several of the adult elephants challenging us not to come closer. They eventually crossed the river in front of us, one mother pushing its baby ahead of it. When they came out the other side most of them had a 'tide' mark on them, showing where the water came up on them, except for the baby which was completely wet. It didn't take long for them to start covering themselves with dirt - their own form of insect repellent.

After a buffet dinner, we sat around an open fire in the grounds and talked until I decided to call it a night so that I could repack my overnight bag for our stay in Chobe National Park. I gave up camping years ago so I’m hoping our camp tomorrow is more in line with tented accommodation with a solid floor and washing facilities.