valandian-in Africa: Okavango region

August 2

We left Mazambala lodge, being transferred once again by boat, back to our coach. We are headed for the Okavango River area. The Delta (the only inland river delta in the world) is in Botswana. The river rises in the highlands of Angola and travels south through Namibia and into Botswana where it has expanded to become the famous Okavango Delta.

We were staying at tented accommodation right on the river itself. A treat in store.

At the earlier border crossings we had passed through disinfection points. There is a problem with foot and mouth disease in this area. However even passing from one area to another we go through disinfections points. This slows down our progress, but this is all accounted for. There was also a rare but interesting wild dog road sign where we stopped to take a photo. Wild dogs are seen in this area but rarely. As an endangered species it is necessary for such warnings.

We arrived mid afternoon at our tented accommodation which was very comfortable. After settling in we were off on an evening boat cruise on the Okavango River. This was also a wonderful experience as we saw large groups of elephants coming down to the river to drink just as the sun was going down.

Dinner was a self serve buffet as usual and we had the choice of Springbok, oryx or kudu meat in the dishes. These are all delicious meats if cooked well. A bit like us eating kangaroo really.

Returning to the coach after a disinfection point

After this one I started collecting unusual road signs. You may see some more

The word "River" is replaced in this part of the world by blue squiggly lines

It is quite wide at this point as would be usual for the 'older' river flow

The village on the road leading to our accommodation was very neat and tidy

Our lovely tent. The en suite is an attachment at the back

More decorative statues! The elephant that is!!

Just relaxing on the deck overlooking the river

The resident owl

This fellow was just sunning himself on the bank

The cooling mechanism has kicked in - jaws open

On Sunday the villagers come to the river to wash clothes. Sadly it is not uncommon for people to be taken by crocs here

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This fellow is called a thick knee for obvious reasons.

The endangered skimmers again. We were unable to get closer because of shallow water near where they were. So not a great picture as it was hard to focus under full zoom

After cruising up as far as the boundary of the nearby national park, we cruised back again past the lodge

This looks like a cormorant but it is the darter. The neck is much longer

This young chap was hard to spot even with the sun on him

All eyes on the elephants up ahead

Then they were off as the next group ambled down to the water

Such a beautiful, peaceful scene

On a separate bank these three young bulls were contemplating drinking here, but it seems the pod of hippos were putting them off

Almost, but the snorting hippos won out in the end and the elephants retreated

Dusting off - the youngsters simply roll in it, they don't have the same control over their trunk function

So much happening with the animals we almost missed the sun setting behind us

Although it was very cold overnight we had plenty of warm blankets in our room

August 3

Lots of hippo activity on the river just outside the tents this morning. We had been told the evening before not to wander the grounds after dark. Indeed we had to be escorted back to our tents with a staff member with a flash light after dinner at night. The hippos frequently come up the banks and chomp on the grass overnight. We slept so well we did not know if this had happened or not!

Groups had been pre-determined as to when they do a game drive and which evening river cruise they go on. So this morning we were free while another group went on their game drive. We decided to walk back along the road towards the nearby village and back along a dyke which has been built to maintain access to another lodge during the wet season. We saw lots of birds in the wetlands: little egret, young jacana, immature grey heron.

At breakfast we were treated to the sight of this elephant crossing the river

It was the hippo activity which we enjoyed though

During our walk we saw lots of birds in the wetlands. This egret ...

this jacana ...

a young grey heron

He kept flying along with us

This is a young jacana, still with the mottled feathers, but the tan just starting to appear

And here he is again, keeping a cormorant company

This pied kingfisher stayed high up in a tree keeping an eye out for ... who knows what

Back at the lodge Shaka the boxer dog

and Mira (I think it was) the older great dane, were having a mid morning nap

This afternoon we had our safari drive. We saw: Roan antelope, lots of kudu (several males), sable (a rare find), bush buck, Swainson's francolin, double banded sand grouse, a pair of wattled crane (only 25 pairs left in the Okavango), osprey, combretum platypetalum (a lovely red flower), reed buck, tsessebe, blue wildebeest. A fine afternoon drive.

We had super company as we had forged a connection with another group of four friends from Perth who were also very keen on anything and everything, not just the main, well known wildlife. They were also very keen on photography so we had this in common too.