As I’ve mentioned in other TRs, Chobe is surely in the top tier of public safari destinations in Africa. With convenience to Victoria Falls, that’s a good value combination if you are in southern Africa. We stayed at Chobe Safari Lodge, where warthogs were the resident wildlife.
In 2002 as well as this time, the afternoon/sunset safari at Chobe is by boat, circling Sedudu Island. The partially swampy island is favored by many animals like this water buffalo.
Chobe is most famous for the highest concentration of elephants in Africa. Here some are crossing the shallower channel of the Chobe River.
This was one of the many “Henry Mancini moments” we experienced in Botswana and Namibia.
The elephants pull up swamp grass with their trunks, then wash it in the standing water before consuming it.
Chobe is noted for diverse bird life. White egret:
African spoonbill:
Grey heron:
Through my binoculars I saw one of these pull a frog out of the swamp by its head and swallow it whole.
Yellow billed stork:
Egyptian goose:
Marabou storks, included among the Ugly Five of southern Africa:
Hippos half buried in mud:
There are lots of safari boats on the Chobe river, three of them close to elephants and the right shoreline.
Marabou stork coming in for a landing near elephants and an Egyptian goose:
Storks and giraffes:
The deeper channel of the river had some reptiles on the bank. Crocodile:
Monitor lizard
Sunset:
Outside buffet dinner at Chobe Safari Lodge:
There were quite few Afrikaans speaking families from South Africa.
The next morning we up by 6AM for a land based safari. There were rumors of a leopard sighting, but no luck.
This is what you can get in a public park where vehicles are required to stay on the roads.
The road came close to the riverbank in the early morning light. Impala:
Squacco heron:
We got a new mirrorless digital camera this year for these safaris as much as for April’s eclipse.
There were lots of guinea fowl on the road, but Liz zoomed this one.
White-backed vultures feeding on a buffalo head, hooded vultures in background:
Black-backed jackal scares off a couple of vultures:
Live buffalo:
Southern yellow-billed hornbill:
Kori bustard:
This is the heaviest flighted bird in the world, average 25lb, but can occasionally reach 40lb.
Baby elephant remains:
Baboon and mongooses:
Female kudus:
Male kudu in the bushes:
This is an older, larger male approaching 4 spirals in his horns. Guides said 5 spirals is the maximum they have seen.
In 2002 as well as this time, the afternoon/sunset safari at Chobe is by boat, circling Sedudu Island. The partially swampy island is favored by many animals like this water buffalo.
Chobe is most famous for the highest concentration of elephants in Africa. Here some are crossing the shallower channel of the Chobe River.
This was one of the many “Henry Mancini moments” we experienced in Botswana and Namibia.
The elephants pull up swamp grass with their trunks, then wash it in the standing water before consuming it.
Chobe is noted for diverse bird life. White egret:
African spoonbill:
Grey heron:
Through my binoculars I saw one of these pull a frog out of the swamp by its head and swallow it whole.
Yellow billed stork:
Egyptian goose:
Marabou storks, included among the Ugly Five of southern Africa:
Hippos half buried in mud:
There are lots of safari boats on the Chobe river, three of them close to elephants and the right shoreline.
Marabou stork coming in for a landing near elephants and an Egyptian goose:
Storks and giraffes:
The deeper channel of the river had some reptiles on the bank. Crocodile:
Monitor lizard
Sunset:
Outside buffet dinner at Chobe Safari Lodge:
There were quite few Afrikaans speaking families from South Africa.
The next morning we up by 6AM for a land based safari. There were rumors of a leopard sighting, but no luck.
This is what you can get in a public park where vehicles are required to stay on the roads.
The road came close to the riverbank in the early morning light. Impala:
Squacco heron:
We got a new mirrorless digital camera this year for these safaris as much as for April’s eclipse.
There were lots of guinea fowl on the road, but Liz zoomed this one.
White-backed vultures feeding on a buffalo head, hooded vultures in background:
Black-backed jackal scares off a couple of vultures:
Live buffalo:
Southern yellow-billed hornbill:
Kori bustard:
This is the heaviest flighted bird in the world, average 25lb, but can occasionally reach 40lb.
Baby elephant remains:
Baboon and mongooses:
Female kudus:
Male kudu in the bushes:
This is an older, larger male approaching 4 spirals in his horns. Guides said 5 spirals is the maximum they have seen.
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