Day Twenty-Four:  Road To Botswana and Chobe National Park

The morning we left Kwando from our Kaisosi Lodge river front chalets was both exciting but sad. The camp had lovely wood balconies overlooking the river with big huge trees offering shade and landing sites for different birds - some small and colourful, some larger and loud and annoying like the grey parrot that would complain loudly when you occupied the space below "his" tree.  (One even tried to poop on Alesa when she was lying in one of the comfortable hammocks they had tied to trees near the pool rest area!).

I loved sitting in one particular chair at the front of the curved balcony where I could put my feet up and watch the lily jumper bird going from lily pad to lily pad looking for small waterbugs.  With his burnt orange colour and his three, very long talons on his feet, he could stay afloat on the lily pads just long enough for a quick bite and then move on.  He was a joy to watch and so it was the last thing I did the morning we left.

We were excited to be going to a different country but weren't sure what to expect at the border.   Fortunately, we were only a few hours from the border so it was an easy drive.  We started seeing more warthogs as they seem to like the grassier, moister climate.

When we got to the border, we all had to get out and take our passports to have them stamped to exit Namibia.  The drivers had to fill out an extra form and register the vehicle.  Then they had to stop at the exit gate and hand in that paper.  Then we drove through a disinfectant "bath" for the car wheels to be cleansed of possible foot and mouth disease and then we again had to stop at the Botswana side and repeat the process of individual check-in and driver check-in of the vehicle and again stop at the entry gates to hand in the driver form and finally we were through and driving in Botswana.

We drove over a long bridge over beautiful green fields which, during the rainy season, is all water and is the Chobe River, the natural border between Namibia and Botswana.

It was only another short hour and a half that we arrived in Kasane and the Chobe Bush Lodge, a brand new addition to the Chobe Safari Lodge.  It was beautiful with wood floors, high-beamed ceilings and huge thatched roofs in the main reception and dining area.

There was a nice pool with a sunning patio and chaise lounge chairs.  Our rooms were gorgeous with all the amenities - huge bathroom with soaker tub, glassed-in shower and private toilet along with a big sink area and mirrors.  A large desk side table as well as a chair and end table were also in the room and a spacious balcony looked out over the park where you could actually watch the animals from (when they came around!).  Oh, and blessed air conditioning which we were so grateful for in the sweltering 37 - 43 degree heat!!!

Warthogs roam freely around the property and I mean freely!  The first day I went to the pool to get some sun, one was wondering the pool deck and rolling in a mud bath in the garden.

Later on, when we drove into town to get some money from a local bank, there was actually a huge warthog waiting at a crosswalk and looking both ways as if literally waiting for traffic to stop for him.  It was hilarious-looking and I was so disappointed I had left my camera in the hotel!

We were told we could not go into the pool past 6 pm because the animals can come down to drink and it is too dangerous to risk confrontation with them!  We didn't need to be told twice!!!

Unfortunately, the internet is only available at reception and, even then, is very sporadic, hence, the delay in blog-posting.....so sorry......JT