While in Zambia, we discovered a unique opportunity to do another safari.  In Kruger Park, we did four safaris (two full days).  We were going to do a night safari at Kruger, but not enough people were interested and it was going to be a chilly night.  This new opportunity was a full-day excursion to another country - Botswana.  The bus picked us up early and we went for an hour or so drive to the border.  The border is a river which is sorely in need of a bridge.  There were dozens of semi trucks lined up waiting to get their turn on one of two ferry boats.  The ferries are not very large and can only accommodate two trucks at a time.  What a cluster.  Anyway, we did our passport processing and then jumped aboard a little private boat.  This boat took us across the river from Zambia to Botswana.  The interesting thing about this point in the river is this is where four countries meet at the same place -- Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia.  I crossed into three of these four countries.  I was a stone's throw from Namibia, but didn't actually step foot on their soil.

Once on Botswana land, we did the passport processing and had to step in mats soaked in hoof and mouth medicine.  Then safari vehicles took us into Chobe National Park.  Our morning safari was done on boat.  We went up the Chobe river between Botswana and Namibia.  In the water and river bed, we saw Hippos, Crocodiles, lots of birds, Elephants, Warthogs, Baboons, Giraffe, Monitor Lizards, Mongoose, an antelope-type creature called a Puku, and of course Impala.  I say "of course" because Impala are everywhere.  We saw thousands of them.  They are also like an antelope.  On their rump, they have black lines that almost look like an "M."  One of our guides said they call the Impalas McDonalds because of the M.  He said you see them on every corner and everyone wants to eat them :-)  On the river cruise, I was hoping to get video of one of the gigantic hippos opening their big mouth in a yawn.  I lucked out and caught two of them!

We went back to the lodge for lunch, and saw a warthog walk right up to the courtyard.  After lunch, we jumped into open safari vehicles and did an afternoon game drive.  Chobe is LOADED with elephants (60,000+), so we saw many of them right up close.  At one point, another safari vehicle got too close to a male elephant.  He let out a loud trumpet and then charged the vehicle.  He did not hit the vehicle, but stomped his foot, kicking dust all over the car.  I bet the people inside were a little nervous.  I was too slow to catch this on video, but I wish I had caught it.

I asked our guide if animals ever attack the vehicles.  He said that on occasion, they do.  I asked what would happen.  He didn't answer directly, but stated our vehicle was around two tons and the elephant was around six tons.  I can imagine who would win that one!  One of the elephants was in mast (ready to mate).  We saw one getting all upset when another male elephant came nearby.  It was interesting.  We saw this elephant with five legs (use your imagination).  We also saw baby elephants playing in the mud.  They were cute and were a group favorite.  We saw giraffes, plus a variety of other wildlife.  The safari was fantastic and worth the money.  I think everyone would agree that it was a fun day!!



Ferry between Zambia and Botswana



These women must have massive neck muscles.  We saw lots of African women carrying things on their head.  These women had hands on their load, but we saw many that managed to balance their loads on their heads.



This was our ferry across the river



Lisa, Dick, and Marlene crossing the river



Welcome to the Republic of Botswana



Our motley crew preparing for another fun day of safari



Dick, Marlene, Lisa, and Brad toasting the river cruise on the Chobe.
This toast is with Castle in a can (South African beer), but we tried the Botswana beer.  It is called Saint Louis beer.  Original name,eh?  Susan was nice enough to take this photo.  We rode up the river all morning looking for wildlife.



We spotted this little guy pretty fast (Crocodile)



Another Croc



I forget the name of this bird, but it dives in the water for food.  It then stands around drying its wings.



These little African Bee Eater birds are making nests in the mud



This guy looks like a Bald Eagle, but it is one of the Snake Eagles



Here's another big bird



Mongoose family



Another type of mongoose


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