We left Cape Town behind with an early morning flight to Johannesburg connecting to Livingstone, Zambia. Arriving in Zambia, it was hot and dry. Their rainy season starts in November and they have not had rain since March. Everything is brown.
A long wait for customs, pay a big entrance fee, a broken fan belt 3 miles out of Livingstone, a wait for a replacement van and we were on our way to driving the 48 miles to Botswana.


The border crossing was at the Zambezi River and is a model of inefficiency. Vehicles crossing the border can only cross on the ferry. Generally only one semi tractor trailer and one or two cars can get on one ferry. As a result semi's are backed up close to a mile waiting their turn to cross, on both sides of the border and it sometimes takes a week to get their ferry ride. So the truckers are camping and cooking outdoors and the road is a picture of mayhem. We had it easy. Our guides had a small boat waiting for us, so the crossing was nice boat ride across the Zambezi and then a foot bath for the soles of our shoes to safeguard against "foot and mouth" disease crossing the border.(As a note, the borders of four countries, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia, intersect at the crossing) Our driver took us to the wrong hotel and after a few calls, we located the hotel we were supposed to be in so back in the van and finally to our hotel, the Chobe Marina Inn, a picturesque setting on the Zambezi. All in, about 3 ½ hours for the 50 mile trip. We were now officially on "Africa time".





Tuesday
We took a 6 am game ride with our guide, John. A native Zambian, he was good and worked hard to find the animals we were looking for. The Chobe National Park is large aand is one of the leading African parks for elphant. In fact there are so many elephants that they are well on their way to over eating the vegetation which will be a long term problem. The early morning light for photography was excellent. Lots of beautiful birds, water wildlife along the Zambezi and herds of elephants we couldn’t believe. Mid morning we were back at the lodge in time to take a game drive in a boat up the Zambezi. Hippos, crocodiles, water monitors, cape buffalo, antelope, elephants crossing the Zambezi and more birds. Late afternoon we took another game drive (again the afternoon light for photography was excellent) and we had some beautiful sunset scenes across the Zambezi River.
























Meals at the Chobe Marina Lodge were ho hum buffets which combined with all the other meals has added a few pounds to the mid section. All that work to stay thin and fit is blown in 2 weeks. Treadmill time coming up.
Wednesday
We gave John the objective to find us a leopard and lions. Another early morning game ride, rather cold and disappointing, was a strike out for our objective. Mid day we walked through the town of Kasane. Like all the areas in Zambia and Botswanna we had seen, there were many people on the streets, walking, sitting our talking. Too much unemployment and too hot to stay in the homes, puts a lot of people on the street. However, we walked the main street and not one vendor or beggar approached us. (Note - The border crossing in Zambia was a different picture with people coming at you from all sides to sell their ware)








Once again (determined), we took the late afternoon game ride and finally got our leopard. She had made a kill earlier and was hiding in the trees where she had just finished her meal. She came out of her hiding spot and while she refused to pose for the camera, she showed the grace and beautiful colors of these animals. We also found a female lion, well hidden in the thicket with recently killed prey. It just wasn’t good enough for a decent picture.









Thursday
No game ride today. We packed our bags and loaded up for drive back to Livingstone, Zambia. Another border crossing and we were getting to be old hands at Zambezi crossings. (Note to future travelers – Mary and I failed to purchased the proper re-entry visas for Zambia, so our crossings cost us $100 we didn’t need to pay) The ride to Livingstone was uneventful.
So here we are in Livingstone ready to wrap up our trip. No more wildlife photo are coming over the blog. A few shots of Victoria falls along with some other sights and then we are packing our bags for a Saturday departure to the good old USA. A wrap is coming.
Steve Coulter
2010-10-01
OMG. The difficulties you have had are formidable, but your pictures are well worth the price. I am so impressed. Want to get together when you get back and review with you.
Barbara Jeffries
2010-10-01
Loved the pictures! It looks like taking the "African time" to get to those sites was well worth it. Thanks
Mike Land
2010-10-01
Looks great
DONNA STOUT
2010-10-01
Betty P. has been so gracious in sharing your pictures and writings with me during your adventure to Africa...it is in my "bucket list" but I fear my list may be longer than what my life span may be so I have lived my Africian trip vicariously thru you and Mary.....you really could be a writer you express yourself so well in words. I have so enjoyed "our" trip and would love to see your pics when you return. I, in turn, have enjoyed seeing those precious Grandbabies while you have been gone. God's speed.
Ron Long
2010-10-01
Wow! Best pictures yet! Thanks for sharing.
Kathy H-G
2010-10-01
Besides being WOW'd by your pictures and travel journal, I am so impressed with
your system of posting, complete with maps and the ability to go back to any segment in the journey. You MUST teach a class to us when you get back on how to share so everyone else really "gets" the whole of location, context, food, sites, etc.....it has been SUCH a TREAT!! Thanks a milion, and happy safe travels home!
Ken Hanover
2010-10-01
Great Photos. More importantly, your narrative is really interesting and entertaining. It gives us as readers a great perspective of what your days have been like. Ken H.