Day 18 - Chobe Safari Lodge

Day 18 at the Chobe Safari Lodge

Everyone has signed up for the optional Game Drive in the morning and it leaves at 6 AM due to the heat later in the day.

We get into 2 Safari vehicles and head out. Once again, we are putting blankets over ourselves in the early morning coolness as the vehicles move out.  Soon we are entering the park and find there are about 10 other vehicles waiting to get into the park. After the guide has paid the entrance fee we are once again on our way. There are a number of different dirt roads you can take thru the park and we take a number of them in our search for wildlife.  We have yet to come across Water Buffalo and we are not to be disappointed on this drive as we spy a number of them, as well as Giraffes, Elephants, Springbok, etc.  We also come across a female lion and her cubs hiding in the bush, but it is very difficult to see them.  We see lots of baboons, some eagles, vultures, warthogs, grouse, and some zebras as well.  Our driver is a tad fast and it is a very rough ride as I am in the rearmost seat with Judy and Nik on this trip.  Tim and Mike were in front of me but we picked up another couple at another lodge and Mike ended up in the front seat with the driver.

The game drive finishes up around 10 and we are back at the Lodge around 1030, in time for a late breakfast at the buffet. I load up on breakfast as I will pass on lunch and spend some time chilling in the afternoon, before we head out on the included Sunset Boat Drive,

There are 2 large pontoon boats that we head out on. Each one is carrying about 50 people and has 2 decks on them.  As we head towards the pool where we are to meet prior to boarding there is a fellow with a Nikon D4s and a HUGE lens attached to it.  He tells me it is a 600 mm lens and that it is simply a hobby with him. Pretty serious hobby as the lens alone runs about 12,000 dollars!

Anyway, we get on board, and head out onto the Zambeze River.  We cruise along and stop to view Hippos, Elephants, Water Buffalo, Crocs and a number of different birds and waterfowl.  There are drinks on board, and I get some great shots of the wildlife as we cruise and stop along the river.  Finally sunset is approaching and the boat goes up a narrow channel before stopping to watch the sun set in the distance.  There is a herd of elephants making their way across the marsh and I get some really cool shots as they move across the plain in front of the setting sun, which has turned red as it nears the horizon.

By the time we get back to the lodge, it is close to supper, and, once again we enjoy the buffet. Everyone leaves fairly quickly after supper as it seems we are all tired what with 2 large excursions that day.  We don't have an early start tomorrow, but it is nice to have some down time in a nice room.