This morning we arrive at Kazungula border post...rows & rows of parked trucks & swarms of people all milling around in seemingly disorganised chaos patiently waiting to cross over to Botswana. But don't be fooled - there is a system....we follow the guide to a tiny room where Immigration officials are checking paperwork. Our problem child had only purchased a single entry visa - cost US$ 50 - and we are returning so he needs a double entry visa - cost US$ 80. He's hoping the guys won't spot it if he puts his passport in the middle of the pile.....wrong....that will be another US$ 50, thank you very much! There are two ferries operating across the river but we are going the quicker route by boat as we are being collected on the other side so don't need to wait for our vehicle to be transported across...
A quick trip across the river, bags out the boat & back into a vehicle for the short ride to the immigration point where we check into Botswana. There are beautiful flamboyant (the name is so perfect) trees everywhere....makes you feel happy just looking at them...
Then another drive to the exit point and we have to check out of Botswana again as our next destination is technically in Namibia...then we hop onto a boat on the Chobe for the short ride to the Namibian border post on Impalila Island. Out of the boat and walk up the hill, stepping into special dip for anthrax on the way up....
Priscilla has an American passport....the immigration official literally goes through every page of her 9o odd page passport...I can see her starting to look anxious but at last he stamps it & she's free to go. I step up..present an South African passport - he takes one look, tells me I have a pretty name & he is going to name his next daughter after me, stamps it & I'm free to go...I know my passport is valid etc etc but every time I go through a border post my heart starts pounding - so silly!
Back down the hill again, through the anthrax dip and onto the boat - phewww - all that in 45 degree heat..fortunately we've accomplished the hard bit and now time to relax, have a cool drink & enjoy the ride....The best thing about game viewing by boat is that you can get right up to the animals and you get the head shot...not the rear view! These buffalo's are totally unfazed & calmly continue munching as if there isn't a boat right under their noses...you can see Chobe National Park in the background..
We gently make our way down the river and in the distance our accommodation for the next 2 nights slowly reveals herself.....
Ladies & gentlemen....the Zambezi Queen....
I'm fortunate to have one of the Master Suites - my cabin is the one at the front of the boat - just above the name...and this is what she looks like from the inside...
My private little deck complete with loungers....I like it...I think I'll stay....
On the agenda for this afternoon is a game viewing cruise which will be a nice change from the vehicle or on foot....this is our sister boat from the Zambezi Queen...
We're both taking a long look at this big mother of a crocodile....after seeing it thoughts of dangling any extremities in the water to cool off quickly vanish....not that you would anyway...
The Chobe National Park has always been known for it's elephants and at sunset they are all making their way down to the river for a cooling dip & a drink...
We are lucky enough to share our boat with Garth Thompson, a very well known (I hate to say legendary but people tend to go into raptures when his name is mentioned) guide from Zimbabwe...one of his hobbies is photography so there is a bit of banter between the Canon (Garth & Priscilla) & Nikon (Danica, Karen & I) factions. Thanks to Katie Dalrymple-Hamilton for the photo below.
We spend a very pleasant afternoon exploring the river banks....funny to see the vehicles going on their game drives from this angle..
One of the slight negatives of this stretch of the Chobe is that it is within striking distance of Kasane, which means that it is accessible to large numbers of tourists on the so called 'booze cruises' although it does make for a good photo or two.....& this was one of the smaller boats...The following day we enjoy a surprisingly productive game drive in the Chobe National Park. We saw an amazing amount of game including a large herd of sable antelope, kudu, lots of ellies, lion, hippo, enormous herd of buffalo, Southern giraffe, warthogs and last but not least a group of three leopard tortoises. And lots of birds including African skimmers (one of my favourites and the bird that Wilderness Safaris uses on their logo which only makes sense when you see them flying), yellow billed storks, carmine bee eaters, a group of ghoulish maribou storks looking like undertakers and this very sweet family of Egyptian geese...
During our game drive the heavens opened.....wonderful to see how all the naimals were enjoying one of the first downpours of the season....the Chobe NP is looking very dry & the elephants thin so let's hope it will be a good one... When we get back to the boat for lunch, the anchor is drawn up and we motor slowly down the Chobe to more isolated waters enjoying game viewing from up high - such a relaxing way to travel....there is also a small plunge pool so you can cool off during the heat of the day...
We try our hands at tiger fishing once again but sadly no luck this time...so we work on our casting technique - for next time....
And then suddenly our time is up .....the next morning it is back to Livingstone Aiport - reversing the sequence through the Namibia, Botswana & Kazungula border posts again. Happily at the end of it all the very kind lady at the check in desk upgrades me to Business Class....I almost hugged her when I saw the seat number....3C!!
Zikomo Kwambiri (tl: thank you very much) to Zambia for an amazing trip & new friends made!!
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