Africa 2024 - Botswana & Zimbabwe - June 2-12, 2024
My friend Helen & I embarked on a remarkable, unforgettable 10 day adventure in beautiful Botswana & Zimbabwe. Organized by Terraficionados Travel Society & Journeymaker, our lodging was divided among 4 locations. The 1st 2 lodges were located in the stunningly beautiful Okavango Delta. Our 1st lodge, Xugana Island Lodge, was situated on Xugana Lagoon, while Camp Xakanaxa was nestled in Moremi Game Reserve. The 3rd lodging in Botswana was at the newly renovated Savute Safari Lodge located in Chobe National Park. We spent our last 3 days at Tsowa Safari Island situated on its own private island in Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe. There we visited Victoria Falls & enjoyed a couple more game drives.
We experienced stunning landscapes throughout our journey. We were so blessed, not only to see the amazing creatures that inhabit the bush, plains, rivers & lagoons, but to witness activities that brought us closer to nature. We had a personal encounter with a curious young elephant that came within 2 feet of our jeep; we enjoyed Sundowner parked in the middle of a pride of lions, watching their cubs at play; we watched a jackal unsuccessfully stalk some Guinea Fowl at the water's edge; we saw elephants drinking at a water hole at sunset & cover themselves with mud in another watering hole; we watched 2 young male elephants in a confrontation to prove which one was more dominant; we saw Wild Dogs, Hyena pups, 2 gorgeous leopards, plus so many other beautiful animals & birds. And the "icing on the cake" was the awesome people with whom we shared meals & the jeep on game drives. And speaking of cake, I celebrated my 75th birthday in Okavango Delta. Staff at the Xugana Lodge sang happy birthday as we came in for breakfast & after dinner at our next lodge, Camp Xakanaxa, staff surprised me with a birthday cake. Very nice.
Each day was anticipated with awe & each day we were given a gift of nature at its best. Africa truly is a magical place.
Note: There are captions on a number of images that provide additional information
We experienced stunning landscapes throughout our journey. We were so blessed, not only to see the amazing creatures that inhabit the bush, plains, rivers & lagoons, but to witness activities that brought us closer to nature. We had a personal encounter with a curious young elephant that came within 2 feet of our jeep; we enjoyed Sundowner parked in the middle of a pride of lions, watching their cubs at play; we watched a jackal unsuccessfully stalk some Guinea Fowl at the water's edge; we saw elephants drinking at a water hole at sunset & cover themselves with mud in another watering hole; we watched 2 young male elephants in a confrontation to prove which one was more dominant; we saw Wild Dogs, Hyena pups, 2 gorgeous leopards, plus so many other beautiful animals & birds. And the "icing on the cake" was the awesome people with whom we shared meals & the jeep on game drives. And speaking of cake, I celebrated my 75th birthday in Okavango Delta. Staff at the Xugana Lodge sang happy birthday as we came in for breakfast & after dinner at our next lodge, Camp Xakanaxa, staff surprised me with a birthday cake. Very nice.
Each day was anticipated with awe & each day we were given a gift of nature at its best. Africa truly is a magical place.
Note: There are captions on a number of images that provide additional information
OKAVANGO DELTA
For the 1st 3 days, our temporary home was on a beautiful fresh water lagoon. We spent time on boats & canoes, including one Sundowner when we witnessed the most stunning sunset. In the mornings, our guide Colen took us on nature walks to nearby islands by boat where we saw a variety of animals & birds. He provided us with lots of interesting information about plants, trees, animal behaviour, etc. Who knew elephant dung had so many benefits! One lunch, staff at Xugana Island Lodge surprised us with a barbeque lunch out in the bush.
For the 1st 3 days, our temporary home was on a beautiful fresh water lagoon. We spent time on boats & canoes, including one Sundowner when we witnessed the most stunning sunset. In the mornings, our guide Colen took us on nature walks to nearby islands by boat where we saw a variety of animals & birds. He provided us with lots of interesting information about plants, trees, animal behaviour, etc. Who knew elephant dung had so many benefits! One lunch, staff at Xugana Island Lodge surprised us with a barbeque lunch out in the bush.
BIRDS
We saw many beautiful birds. My favourites are the Bee Eater & the Lilac Breasted Roller. Both so sweet.
We saw many beautiful birds. My favourites are the Bee Eater & the Lilac Breasted Roller. Both so sweet.
HIPPOS, LEOPARDS, WARTHOGS, JACKALS, MONKEYS, BABOONS, CROCODILES, WILD DOGS, HYENAS
We were fortunate to see 2 of the elusive leopard, both in the Moremi Game Reserve. The 1st one shown was a female who left her spot shortly after we arrived to stalk an impala. The next day, our guide was advised of a sighting of the 2nd one, a male, just before we were heading back to camp for lunch ... he was 40 minutes away in the other direction, but we made the decision to have a much later lunch to get a chance to see him. He was in no hurry to move.
We were fortunate to see 2 of the elusive leopard, both in the Moremi Game Reserve. The 1st one shown was a female who left her spot shortly after we arrived to stalk an impala. The next day, our guide was advised of a sighting of the 2nd one, a male, just before we were heading back to camp for lunch ... he was 40 minutes away in the other direction, but we made the decision to have a much later lunch to get a chance to see him. He was in no hurry to move.
GIRAFFE, ZEBRA, ANTELOPE, WILDEBEAST, CAPE BUFFALO
Note the 4th image of the giraffe running. Both the front and back legs on one side move forward together, then the other two legs on the other side move forward, unlike other mammals. Also note the Oxpecker on the eye of the giraffe in the 5th image. It eats ticks & parasites off giraffes, zebras etc. to relieve them of parasites.
Note the 4th image of the giraffe running. Both the front and back legs on one side move forward together, then the other two legs on the other side move forward, unlike other mammals. Also note the Oxpecker on the eye of the giraffe in the 5th image. It eats ticks & parasites off giraffes, zebras etc. to relieve them of parasites.
MAGESTIC ELEPHANTS
The 1st 5 images are of the curious teenage male who approached our jeep & came within 2 feet of us. It was truly a special moment. I was hoping he would touch us with his trunk, but I'm thrilled that we had such a close encounter. I was also pleased to capture the confrontation of the 2 males at a water hole in Zimbabwe. You can see the dust flying from stomping feet in the last 2 images of this series. The larger male on the right became rather aroused during this altercation!
The image of the elephants that looks like ghosts was taken from the dining room of Savute Safari Lodge. There is a water hole just outside the lodge where many animals come to refresh themselves during the day & night.
The 1st 5 images are of the curious teenage male who approached our jeep & came within 2 feet of us. It was truly a special moment. I was hoping he would touch us with his trunk, but I'm thrilled that we had such a close encounter. I was also pleased to capture the confrontation of the 2 males at a water hole in Zimbabwe. You can see the dust flying from stomping feet in the last 2 images of this series. The larger male on the right became rather aroused during this altercation!
The image of the elephants that looks like ghosts was taken from the dining room of Savute Safari Lodge. There is a water hole just outside the lodge where many animals come to refresh themselves during the day & night.
GORGEOUS LIONS
Except for the 1st image, these lions are part of a large pride which has 4 males, 7-8 females & 3 cubs & is located in Chobe National Park. My favourite Sundowner was sitting in the jeep sipping wine while having the family all around us. In a few of the images of the lionesses, you can see blood on their chins. They had been feeding on an elephant carcass nearby (not a lion kill ... the guide wasn't sure how it died). It was so much fun to capture the cubs play fighting.
Except for the 1st image, these lions are part of a large pride which has 4 males, 7-8 females & 3 cubs & is located in Chobe National Park. My favourite Sundowner was sitting in the jeep sipping wine while having the family all around us. In a few of the images of the lionesses, you can see blood on their chins. They had been feeding on an elephant carcass nearby (not a lion kill ... the guide wasn't sure how it died). It was so much fun to capture the cubs play fighting.
