After our Okavango Delta adventure, we made our way to Chobe National Park, Botswana's premier wildlife reserve. The group was staying at a campsite within the park, just next to a very expensive 4-star lodge. Fortunately for us, we had a chance to use all of the amenities at the lodge including their pool, WiFi, and beautiful lounge area. Needless to say, our camp was deserted and the group spent most of their time by the pool.
Because we were staying in the park, we had lots of wildlife surrounding the lodge including monkeys, warthogs, and striped meerkats. One day, two young Australian girls who became fast friends on the trip decided to "get married" to show their devotion to the other. This resulted in a fake wedding at our campsite complete with cake, rings, and speeches. While I didn't exactly get swept up in the wedding festivities, I caught the tail end where a little monkey came and stole a few marshmallows off of the cake. During the ceremony, Kurt (the Swiss man with the alpine horn) turned into the warthog whisperer and made friends with one of the warthogs roaming the campsite. The warthog laid down and asked to have his belly rubbed like a dog. Of course Kurt obliged. I had a chance to rub the warthog's belly too. Folks, do not try this at home. I've included some photos of the festivities below.
Because we were staying in the park, we had lots of wildlife surrounding the lodge including monkeys, warthogs, and striped meerkats. One day, two young Australian girls who became fast friends on the trip decided to "get married" to show their devotion to the other. This resulted in a fake wedding at our campsite complete with cake, rings, and speeches. While I didn't exactly get swept up in the wedding festivities, I caught the tail end where a little monkey came and stole a few marshmallows off of the cake. During the ceremony, Kurt (the Swiss man with the alpine horn) turned into the warthog whisperer and made friends with one of the warthogs roaming the campsite. The warthog laid down and asked to have his belly rubbed like a dog. Of course Kurt obliged. I had a chance to rub the warthog's belly too. Folks, do not try this at home. I've included some photos of the festivities below.
The next morning, we had to be up at 430 AM to prepare for an early morning game drive. In my opinion anything before 6 AM is just too damn early. But the animals are active when the sun rises and just before the sun sets so you have to work around their schedule. We loaded up into 4X4 jeeps and hit the park at 6 AM. The game drive lasted about three hours, but we didn't see much that day other than a lot of birds and some impalas. While birds are not the most exciting African animals, I didn't mind looking at all of the birds unlike the rest of my group. Did I want to be up at 430 AM to go look at birds? No. But as our guide mentioned, this is wildlife and you see what you see.
In the afternoon, we took a three hour boat cruise to view some of the animals along the Chobe river. What we missed in the morning, we made up in the afternoon. We saw so many hippos, crocodiles and elephants! It was a a really good ride and I enjoyed watching the sunset over the river at the end of the tour.
Lots of animal photos below for your viewing pleasure, thanks for coming along on the adventure!
In the afternoon, we took a three hour boat cruise to view some of the animals along the Chobe river. What we missed in the morning, we made up in the afternoon. We saw so many hippos, crocodiles and elephants! It was a a really good ride and I enjoyed watching the sunset over the river at the end of the tour.
Lots of animal photos below for your viewing pleasure, thanks for coming along on the adventure!
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