Chobe National Park

The mighty baobab - tree of legends. There are many stories about how it came to look like a tree with its roots sticking in the air - except when it is in leaf.  It is said that if you drink water in which its seeds have soaked you will be safe from crocodile attack or if you pick it's flower you will be mauled by a lion.... hmmmm. Designed to survive in seasonally arid areas it can store up to 120,000 litres of water in its trunk. This particular tree is found near the banks of the Chobe River in northern Botswana - the site of a brief 'vacation in the midst of work'.

Speaking of lions... early one morning we headed out on a game drive. Given the heavy rains many of the larger mammals had headed to more discrete places away from human intrusion. The lions were around however and had passed by just an hour before - so we saw only their tracks in the road. At another point we saw lion tracks crossing hippo tracks - but again we missed the action. Guess they had gone to the shallows to cool off and look for company other than ours!

Later on that afternoon we took on a boat cruise to see what was happening on the river. At this time of year the Chobe is in flood and expands over areas usually dry. Late afternoon the elephant herds head for the water to bathe, drink, play and cool off. It was amazing to watch them cavort in the water. At one point several elephant bulls came out so far they simply disappeared in the river only to emerge and tussel with each other in the water. Further up families with young ones had gathered to play and roll in the mud.

All too soon it was time to turn the boat around and return to the lodge where we were staying. As we cruised home we were accompanied by swifts, herons, and teals winging their way to their nighttime roosts. Occasional fish eagles had made their presence known earlier in the day. Hippo grunts echoed across the river and the air became cool and moist. There is no better way to end such a day than by sitting along the river bank taking in the delightful peace and quiet of a river sunset and reliving the experiences of the day before heading to the dinner buffet.           

                                                                          Next morning we head for Kasangula ferry enroute to Zambia. Here the Chobe River joins the mighty Zambezi and together they flow 80kms before tumbling with a vast roar over the basalt plateau with its sandstone filled cracks that makes up what is known as Victoria Falls. But more on that another time.

Confluence of Chobe & Zambezi Rivers