Botswana trip

Staying on a game ranch in South Africa is such a privilege. However, when the opportunity presents itself to go experience the wildlife in Botswana, a new level of excitement arises, every single time!

The Chobe National Park is a 4500 square mile nature reserve located in the North of Botswana. It borders on Namibia in the North and Zimbabwe and Zambia in the East. With a “shoot to kill, no nonsense tolerated” policy on poachers, wildlife thrives throughout the country.

Going out on the Chobe River, the sun just up, different animals come to the water to drink or even to cross. You soon find yourself watching a herd of elephants, trunk to tail nudging each other on to get to the other side. Baby elephants hold on to moms’ tail while little trunks stick out of the water like a submarine rising. Behind it will always be a larger elephant in the family that will gently lift baby to the surface if it starts to panic from the deep waters. Like ducks, all in a row they get to the other side. That saying of “the grass is always greener on the other side” is like a mantra in the world of elephants and buffalo as these crossings are observed daily. Some smaller species also brave the crocodile invested waters to get away from the lion, leopard and cheetah and find safety on the lush green marshy island.

Animals coming to the river to drink, means easy mealtime for lions and crocs and every so often a wildlife showdown presents itself in all its splendour. Lion chasing Sable, leopard catching an Impala and pulling it up a tree, crocodile betraying the stork he was just having an afternoon chat with and hippos fighting for their territory. Predator against prey, survival of the fastest and fittest! Eat or be eaten.

Chobe also offers a stunning array of birds which promises to be a birding paradise for keen photographers. From the mighty Fish Eagle crying over the waters, stealing each other’s catch, to an African Skimmer drawing a line across the water. Colourful Lilac Breasted rollers stealing the show to Jacana’s running over the lily pads with little baby feet hanging out from beneath the mom’s feathers.

No wonder this place is one of my favourite places on the planet.

At 30 000ft in the air and on the way to Kasane, I can just feel enormous gratitude for being able to visit this very special place on earth where wildlife can be just as the word says, wild.  This dark continent, Africa, is my home. A heart that has experienced Africa, can never beat the same again. Africa is a place that will not only take your breath away, but will also take a piece of your heart, keep it and let you leave with a yearning to come back to find the beat of the African drums guiding your feet and the savannahs echoing your name.  

Pro Staff Member:  Tanya Malan

YouTube Handle:  SelfsufficientTanya