Zambia to Botswana

July 28

We flew from Zanzibar back to the mainland and had an overnight in a hotel in Dar es Salaam. Then it was back to the airport for a flight, south, to Johannesburg. Another overnight at an airport hotel.

Then it was on a flight to Livingstone, Zambia after a few hiccups at Jo-berg airport (we've been to better airports).

Picked up by Ben and transferred to Avani for our one night. As the entry process at Livingstone airport had taken about 1 1/2hr we had only a short time to get ready for a 3.30pm departure for our Zambezi sunset cruise.

We have done one of these cruises before so knew what to expect. On this occasion, though, it was an opportunity to become acquainted with our fellow travellers.

Saw quite a few hippos as we glided along and lots of bird life. Great sunset photo opportunities. As the sun was setting an ultra light flew low over the river and it was lucky I was able to grab a couple of shots

 

Having some fun with the outdoor artefacts!

Zebras roamed at will at this lodge

One of many birds I captures while on our cruise

Good company on board

The draw card for a Zambezi River cruise

Now this was novel!

Couldn't quite get it centred in the sun!

A wonderful evening altogether

July 29

This morning, we went for a walk to view the falls. Not as spectacular as from the Zimbabwe side, but amazing nonetheless.

Our safari departed when all guests who did the heli flight over the falls returned; we were finally on our way. Transport for our group of 22 was somewhat different, however, a 45 seater bus! So plenty of room to move about.

The border crossing at Kazungula into Botswana was an interesting exercise but under the watchful eye of our guide, Ben, we were finally through the formalities and on to the ferry and into Botswana. Here the Zambezi River is at the conjunction of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.

Chobe Safari Lodge is located on the Chobe River, a tributary of the Zambezi at the town of Kasane. It is a very big lodge with accommodation from hotel rooms to camp grounds. It was very busy. We had the afternoon at leisure.

A local variety of frangipani flowering around our hotel in Livingstone

Impala also wandered in the grounds

More of the artistic models in the grounds too

So to the Falls

Water tumbling through the gorges created by this powerful river

Double rainbows abounded

The bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe, still one of the few bridges in the world which carries, road rail and pedestrian traffic. Officially opened 12th September 1905 by the grandson of Charles Darwin. George Darwin

It was not a long journey to the border crossing. However, the border formalities did take some time. This is Africa after all.

Just along from the vehicle ferry was a group of elephants having fun in the riverbank mud

The ferry carries many local people who cross the border frequently to buy and sell at markets

A very tricky exercise getting the coach on and off the ferry without crunching either end

A famous lodging for our first night in Botswana

Some locals tending the grass outside our room

As well as a somewhat familiar reptile passing through

Sunsets feature heavily in this part of the world

July 30

Up early for a game drive in the park. Saw couple of new animals then eventually two young lions. Worth the early start? Perhaps. But the best is yet to come.

We returned to the lodge where a hot breakfast was welcome.

After breakfast we went for a walk around the lodge and into the town of Kasane and spotted -

greater glossy starling, black eyed bulbul, blue waxbill, white fronted bee eater, all of which we had identified on our return by our guide.

Still very early. Maribou storks up in their nesting trees

Out for an early morning stroll

Red billed hornbill

The sun eventually started to rise

Eagle keeping an eye out for an early breakfast

I never tire of snapping this beautiful bird

This time I got double lucky - those amazing colours seen clearly when they fly

A large family of banded mongooses were playing happily in this open area

Black backed jackal

A stop by the river for a welcome hot drink

It was a very cold start to the day

We came across this small herd of elephants as we started on our return trip out of the park

A large female elephant and what's in the tree behind her?

Another one! Two in the one morning!

This matriarch is keeping an eye out for the young ones

Quite a different pattern to the giraffe's coat

Our guide mistakenly declared these two as young females!

Wrong - there is distinct evidence this is a young male

Clearly there is a mane growing on this young chap

Returning to the lodge on the main road an elephant crosses. Just as well it was not dark

Their feet are amazing. Soft pads of fatty tissue cushion their tread

Ian having fun!

A glossy starling

Black eyed bul bul

Blue waxbill

Not your average sight at the supermarket - I'm not referring to the trolley!

In the town there is a huge very old baobab which was once used as a holding cell for prisoners

In the afternoon we were off on a river safari. The second leg of our African safari features lots of water which made a lovely change from the bumping around on dirt roads! 

So many birds in this river wonderland: African darter, spurwing geese, open billed stork, jacana (which seemingly walks on water), lechwe antelope, fish eagle, pied kingfisher, black or purple heron, as well as Nile crocodiles, pods of hippo with little egrets and jacana on their backs, skimmers - a rare bird and very shy.

Here is but a small sample of the photographs I took this afternoon

As we headed out, so did this group of 'photographers' Wow some expensive equipment here

These bee eaters become a common sight. Such lovely colours though

With the body mostly submerged, these darters almost look like snakes

I'm very fond of these magnificent fish eagles too

The elephants really enjoy these marshy grasslands

So do the buffaloes

This extraordinary bird spreads out his wings and hides underneath. The fish then cannot see it above them

They are too quick to capture the fish when they come up with one

Some big crocs in this river

The birds hop from one hippo to another picking up insects from their skin

The jacana looks like it walks on water it is so light on its feet

This fish eagle was casting an eye on the river from down on the grass

While this chap stayed up top

Hippo, elephant, water buck, lechwe, all grazing happily on the grassy islands

Hippos eat huge amounts of grass every day, usually during the evening and early morning

These skimmers stayed on the sandy rise just long enough ...

then they were away

Lots of pied kingfishers in this part of the world

As the sun sets many birds take to the skies to head for their evening roosts

As the sun was setting .....

the full moon was rising

The elephants here seem almost black because they have so much water with which to douse themselves rather than dust

 

Never tire of an African sunset