The African continent continues to delight and Botswana is one of my ‘old time favourites’. A modern Nomad, that’s me. Who’s following in my footsteps?
A week before Christmas, traditionally a week of reflection, back to the roots and getting ready for the new year. The year 2017 was crazy, never have so many travelers plotted their trip “where the world can’t find you” with us.
BOTSWANA CONTINUES TO FASCINATE
Botswana, six nights of intense wildlife. Already on the landing strip of Zarafa Dhows pumps adrenaline through my entire body. Two large male lions lie in the shade metres away from the plane. Botswana continues to fascinate even after having been here dozens of times. Old memories are coming back. The ‘red eye dove’ (red-eyed pigeon, ed.) dances around the campfire on Chiefs Island, touching a python that disappears into an old termite mound and, of course, the nights full of primal sounds. Wow!
Selinda Camp
Two nights Selinda on the Linyanti swamps. Time has stood still. Elephants follow their ingested routes that are passed down from generation to generation. We are surprised by a herd of rare roan anti-runs.
Behind every bend or bush there is something to see. The first rains (I love this season) full of life, termite hills that come to life and create a cloud of alpine swifts (swallow species, ed.) that flew around Cape Town the same morning. How do they know this? It’s these details that are so important. Observe.
TERRITORIAL BATTLE WITH HIPPOS
My next stop, two nights in the beautiful Duba Plains. I was once here when the lodge was just opened. It’s still beautiful. We’re seeing territorial combat with hippos. The power of 2 tons of bulldozer violence! We sit still in our speedboat and observe.
Duba Plains is so far away from everything in the deep Okavango Delta that Great Plaines (local organization, ed.) has put together a plan to bring rhinos back to the concession. It doesn’t take long if we find about 10 beautiful specimens. And what I forgot, Duba Plains is the capital of the red lechwe (water antiloop, ed.), with its tens of thousands they run around. A party to be a part of. Wild dogs for the first time in 20 years, welcome us on the vast aluvial plains.
Eternal struggle for dominance
My last two nights I spent in the Khwai region,Khwai Tented Camp. A small intimate lodge near the village and river of the same name. At night we are surrounded by the roar of lions which is answered with ghostly sounds of the hyenas. An eternal struggle for dominance.
I end up in the beautiful Thorn Tree on the banks of the Zambezi which still looks as wild and authentic as on my first visit in the early 90s.
The African continent continues to delight and Botswana is one of my ‘old time favourites’. A modern nomad, that’s me. Who’s following in my footsteps?
