Water Safari
The Okavango Delta had plenty of twisty channels to explore by boat.
Elephants sure look big when they're in the tiny channel with you.
Especially when they're angry.
Hippopotamus
They look kind of cute, but we're told they're pretty mean.
Mokoro
Mokoros are African traditional hollowed-out log boats, like canoes. But
these were made of fiberglass. It was nice to silently pole along the
water, being in touching-distance of everything.
Walking Safari
Another feature of staying at Xugana was the walking safari! It seemed
pretty amazing to us, after being on many safaris protected by the metal box of
our car, that we would be allowed to walk around in the wilderness! With
lions. And no guns! Well, we did go walking, and we're still alive to tell
the tale. Golden rule: don't run! If a lion approaches, you're fine if you
don't run. If you do run, well, the lion thinks you must be prey.
Apparently, people (well, full-sized adults) don't seem much like food to
lions. They're unfamiliar, too big, and don't run away. And, there was plenty
of other tasty lion food walking around nearby.
Can you spot the lion in the grass in this photo? She's dead center,
watching us from maybe 100 yards away.
Lion food. We tried not to be between the lions and their prey.
It was nice to explore on foot, being able to get up close to things. We
also spotted groups of baboons and elephants, at a safe distance.
Occasionally, we heard far-off lions roaring.
We walked to this hyena den, with a hyena cub watching us from inside!
Birds of the wetlands
Leaving Xugana — another tiny plane ride. It's like a narrow minivan, but
the view's better!
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