Camping through Botswana

He Said:

Baboons in Chobe

Our overland group departed Zimbabwe on Tuesday heading west into Botswana. Botswana is a relatively wealthy nation. Large diamond mines, exports of beef and a booming tourist industry have allowed the population to live in relative affluence compared to many other nations in the region. There are far more houses instead of thatch huts, roads are excellent, and more people drive cars than donkey carts.

Our first big stop was a visit to the wild animal reserve at Chobe National Park. During our game drive we spotted a lot of the same types of creatures we had seen back in Zambia at South Luangwa. A few highlights included seeing a leopard perched in a high tree and a number of large elephant herds (including a number of babies). In the afternoon we did a sunset cruise up the Chobe River and had a number of submerged hippos charge the boat. When we weren't being harassed by the hippos in the water, the views of the sunset over the marshland with silhouettes of elephants and antelopes grazing were positively sublime.

Elephants in Chobe

Our next big stop is to be the Okavango Delta. Because the roads in Botswana don't go through the marshy delta region we are heading into Namibia tomorrow to cross the Caprivi Strip, which is the narrow "panhandle" of land extending east from Namibia's northern border and stay at a camp near the Botswana border. From there we are to head back south into Botswana the next day to enter the Okavango Delta.

So far the overland truck style of travel is working out great for us. There are few worries about logistics, the food is great, our fellow travelers are a very energetic and interesting bunch, and we are seeing some great stuff! We'll see how it goes the next few weeks after the "honeymoon" ends. I guess some of my disdain in the past for "group trips" was linked more to the types of activities and personalities of fellow passengers than to traveling in a group. We are going to be doing some pretty interesting activities that Katie and I definitely wouldn't have been able to arrange had we been on our own in the region, and having an instant social group after being just a duo for months is pretty fun as well.

Lurking hippo!

She Said:

So far, so good... we are getting along with the group just fine and settling into the routine. After the first few nights in Vic Falls camping with the group, I wasn't sure what we had signed up for. The campsite we were staying at was apparently "the party place" for backpackers, and the bar blared loud music and stayed open until 2 or 3 in the morning. So, not only were we getting used to sleeping in a tent on the ground, it also seemed that we had pitched the tent in the front yard of a fraternity house. And it was pouring rain. And on top of that, we were using dirty laundry as pillows. Even Tylenol PM wasn't up to the task of putting us to sleep. I was pretty miserable the next morning and mentioned to Todd several times that I didn't know how I was going to deal with this for five weeks. Anyhoo, it turns out that most of our group was pretty unhappy with the rowdy campsite as well, and that most of the places we were going to stay in the future are peaceful.

No swimming!!!

As part of the overland style of travel, everyone in the group has a job. I opened my big mouth and unfortunately let out the secret that Todd worked as a baggage handler for an airline one summer, and he was promptly assigned to the team that handles the luggage locker! As you can imagine, he was thrilled. I, on the other hand, was assigned to the chair team with three others that have to set up 24 chairs everyday...which is quite easy with so many people.

After so many game drives over the last month, I think we are officially safaried out. The animals practically have to walk right up to the truck and do a little dance for us to be impressed anymore. However, we did pull up right next to a sleeping lioness, which did manage to wow us. But even more exciting was the quick taxi trip into the nearest town on a quest for pillows. I managed to find two comfy pillows, pillowcases, and a very thick foam pad to use in conjunction with the Thermarest pads we brought with us. Looks like we might actually get a good nights sleep tonight!!! Very exciting!!

Springboks