For the first time all trip, the 6:00 wake up alarm was welcome today, as we set out for adventure at Chobe National Park in Botswana. At the border, we had a standoff with another tour car that we met in the midst of a lineup of over 60 semi trucks, many of which have to wait up to a week to get across the border. It was like the old west... the trucks met on a single lane road, the drivers glaring at each other from across glazed windshields. Words were exchanged in a language indecipherable to me, engines were turned off, and agitated gestures flew. It was clear that we would not be reaching Botswana without an epic struggle. As time wore on, our driver gave in, put the truck in reverse, and pulled to the side of the road to let the other truck pass, but not before the other driver cried foul, "Did you come to Africa to start trouble." Resisting the temptation to actually start trouble, were were called to the wilds of Botswana to get on our way.
Inside the park, there was much less drama, though the scene was dramatic. We took a three hour boat ride on the Chobe River where we saw numerous hippos, birds that only Derek can identify, a herd of buffalo, as well as several other creatures that are frequently featured in Pixar movies. The afternoon drive was the highlight, however, as we came across a group of about 50 elephants at VERY close range as they drank from the river and washed themselves in mud. It was a sight that cannot be described, though our hundreds of pictures will try to do the job if you're patient enough to look at them. We'd try to post one, but our luck with internet speed has not been good, so I think we'll skip it for now.
Tomorrow is our last full day in Zambia, and we'll be doing a radio interview about disability issues and meeting Nama's brother, who is the special education inspector for the Ministry of Education office just to the west of Livingstone. If time permits, we'll also go out to a small village that makes crafts to do some final shopping.
We ate springbok stew and fried caterpillars today (with no barf involved!).
See you soon.
-MDK
Inside the park, there was much less drama, though the scene was dramatic. We took a three hour boat ride on the Chobe River where we saw numerous hippos, birds that only Derek can identify, a herd of buffalo, as well as several other creatures that are frequently featured in Pixar movies. The afternoon drive was the highlight, however, as we came across a group of about 50 elephants at VERY close range as they drank from the river and washed themselves in mud. It was a sight that cannot be described, though our hundreds of pictures will try to do the job if you're patient enough to look at them. We'd try to post one, but our luck with internet speed has not been good, so I think we'll skip it for now.
Tomorrow is our last full day in Zambia, and we'll be doing a radio interview about disability issues and meeting Nama's brother, who is the special education inspector for the Ministry of Education office just to the west of Livingstone. If time permits, we'll also go out to a small village that makes crafts to do some final shopping.
We ate springbok stew and fried caterpillars today (with no barf involved!).
See you soon.
-MDK
