Chobe

We just got back from our trip to Kasane (city) and Chobe (River, and National Park). We stayed at the Chobe Safari Lodge, which came highly recommended by friends, and did not disappoint. We did an evening river cruise the first night, a day trip to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe the next day, and just relaxed at the Lodge on the last day. There was much reading of Alexander McCall Smith during this trip. Something DT would be proud of: an abundance of quiet reading time ;).

After alighting the aircraft, we met a German couple and two American International AID workers who were on our flight, and also following a similar itinerary. The river cruise was pretty spectacular, and though we did not see elephants bathing (Jyo's wish), we did see hippos fighting (my wish). More on that later. Here we are, eager to get the boat ride started (for which Jyo did not even need her dramamine!).

We went to Sidudu Island, apparently shared by Botswana and Namibia, and saw a lot of impala and various birds. Here is a pretty awesome picture of two kingfishers perched on a barren tree. I think they're green, but a higher power zoom would have been nice...

We also saw this heron digging in the softer parts of the grass for edible items. I wasn't even aware of its presence when I snapped the picture, but the lower right hand corner has a surprise guest...

...6 foot viper!

Here is a female Kudu interested in our boat. But notice on her back -- she's got a free rider! The bird apparently has a symbiotic relationship, as it keeps her fur coat nice and clean from bugs; in return the bird gets an easy meal and a free ride.

Similarly, these birds following the hippo get the choicest bugs that hide out under the turf; after the hippo chomps on the upper layer of grass, the birds get clean and clear access to the hidden insects. I'm not sure if the hippo gets anything out of it though, so the relationship may be more commensal.

This last relationship, however, is anything but friendly. It must have been prime mating season or something, because the hippos were out in full force and battling for turf. The angle never was perfect, but here's a short clip of two male hippos going at it!

Finally, the view of the sun going down over the Chobe River were spectacular. The really cool thing was that it was cloudy and raining in Namibia across the river, so while the sun was setting there was thunder and lightning just slightly to the north.