Botswana
Chobe in Botswana is just simply the most beautiful place to visit and immerse yourself in nature.
From the moment I arrived in Chobe my excitement grew. From the entrance to the Park to the lodge, the wildlife was there to greet us.
The variety was incredible to see. Lions (many), leopard, Elephants, Hippo, crocodile, jackal, baboon and numerous bird species. A surprise encounter with a Sable antelope was an early highlight.
One thing that surprised me was the absence of rhino. None in Chobe at all. Sadly, they had all been captured and moved to a safe location away from poachers.
The mornings were especially cold and starting a safari at 5.30am in single digit temperatures wasn’t what I expected. On two of my days here the wind was also a factor - thank goodness for blankets and hot drinks!
As the sun came up and gradually warmed up the bush, the animals began to make their appearance. Not unlike India, sightings were usually communicated amongst the jeep guides pretty quickly and was common for there to be several jeeps jostling for the best spots. Lions and leopards were the main attractions.
One particularly special moment that we managed without any other jeeps, was an encounter with a lioness and her 3 small cubs. She fed them next to us and we stayed with her and watched this beautiful moment for close to half an hour. She was completely relaxed with us nearby and this rubbed off on her cubs. After feeding they played with each other and posed for some incredible photos.
I couldn’t finish this blog post off without a huge wrap for the Chobe Game Lodge. The only accommodation inside the National Park, everything about this place was perfection. Food, service, the grounds and the commitment to making sure every customer had the perfect Chobe experience.