Botswana: Chobe

Our final camp in Botswana was Kwando Lagoon Camp , a gorgeous location on the Kwando River, in the extremme north of Botswana. The camp is on a private reserve near Chobe National Park, right across the river from Caprivi, Namibia, a strange narrow strip extending 200 miles east of the rest of the Namibia.

Being right on the river, we were able to watch families of elephants wallowing and eating in the lagoon next to camp. (We were told they're not always there.)

Our safari guides, General and A.T., were excellent. Kwando Lagoon Camp had safari vehicles that were neither Land Rovers nor Toyota Land Cruisers. They were custom built "URI" vehicles, with a special tracker seat on the front-left corner of the truck.

This elephant in musth wasn't very happy about us.

We spent a few hours one morning tracking wild dogs through the woods. Because Kwando Lagoon Camp is on a private reserve, we were allowed to drive off-road, leaving the dirt tracks to follow animal tracks cross-country. We never did find those elusive wild dogs.

A typical day would involve two safaris: one in the early morning, and one in the late afternoon. We would rise before sunrise, and grab some quick coffee or tea before heading out for a few bumpy hours tracking animals. Afterwards, we would return to camp for a full brunch, and then have the hot mid-day to ourselves, to relax or take a siesta. Then, a quick afternoon tea, and we were out in the safari vehicles for another few hours until sunset, when we'd stop somewhere scenic for a "sundowner" with evening drinks (traditionally gin & tonic).

Another advantage of being on a private reserve was that we could also go on night safaris! (The national parks would close at sundown.)