Today we crossed the Zambia border into Botswana. At the ferry crossing, we were hounded by very persistent street vendors. The one who followed me was selling wooden animal carvings. He had a strange way of bargaining – he kept raising the price instead of lowering it (?!). I held firm on what I was willing to spend, and he sold me three carvings – a rhino, an elephant, and a hippo – and gave me a copper bracelet for free.
Once our shopping was over, we boarded the ferry, said goodbye to our bus driver, and crossed the Zambezi River into Botswana (the crossing was located at the four-corner region that includes Angola, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia).
Our tour director informed us that Zambia’s major industries are mining (primarily copper), agriculture and tourism, while Botswana’s major industries are tourism and diamonds (Botswana has the third fastest growing economy in the world after Korea and China). In spite of the visible poverty in some areas, it was evident from its gas stations, shopping centers, and restaurants that the people of Botswana seemed better off than the people of Zambia. Our bus passed a festive “electoral motorcade” for a popular candidate in Botswana’s presidential race.
We had a wonderful lunch cruise on the Chobe River and had great food and many animal sightings – crocodiles, birds, hippos, impalas, waterbucks and buffalo.
Chobe River Cruise Boat – buffet lunch in plain sight
African Fish Eagle
Crocodile
African Buffalo
Waterbucks
Hippo and Great Egret
Impalas
We then left for our flight to the Khwai River Lodge where we were greeted in song by the lodge staff prior to getting settled in our luxury tents.
My tent at the Khwai River Lodge
We had a late afternoon tea prior to our game drive where we encountered an elephant, a lion pride and a leopard.
Departing on our game drive
Elephant
Lionesses
Leopard after dark
Our day ended with a traditional boma (an outdoor barbecue buffet) catered by the lodge.
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