Retired Nomads Part 4

September 5

We had an 8:00 start and breakfast was at 7:00. I wanted the French toast, but they were out of it, so I got an omelet that was yummy. Besides the food ordered from their menu there was a buffet of yogurt, cereals, fruits, cheeses, breads & more.

chalets at the lodge

part of the dining room

buffet wasn't quite set up yet

front of the lodge

game drive vehicles

Today we learned that a group of mongooses is called a business of mongoose. (and cute jokes like "what do you call Botswanan Cape Buffalo that crosses the border to Namibia?" Namibian Cape Buffalo was the answer.)

It was a good game drive, and we saw lots of hippos, buffaloes, elephants, birds, tree squirrels, lions and a jackal with a Guinea fowl kill and a martial eagle with a guinea fowl kill. This park is known for its' large number of elephants. (they did not disappoint)

Crested Francolin

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

baboon

entering Chobe National Park

beautiful desert colors

White-backed Vulture

Bateleur

windblown Bateleur

Kudu

Black-backed Jackal with a Guinea Fowl

Martian Eagle with Guinea Fowl

Black-winged Stilts

croc on an island

Gray Heron

large nest with a baby Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

zebra

Marabou Stork

White-winged Widowbird

Sable Antelope

Impala

Sable Antelope & young one

Impala

Great White Pelicans, African Spoonbills, Black Herons

The Black Heron have an interesting way of feeding called "canopy feeding" where they spread their wings forward and down like an umbrella to form a complete circle of shade over the water

pelicans, black herons feeding & spoonbills, Yellow-billed Storks, Little Egrets

African Openbill

African Fish-Eagle

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

a couple of lions

mokoros & man in the distance

Impala

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Squacco Heron

bathroom in the park

We had a bathroom break and some mid-morning snacks and drinks. Later we stopped where there were some picnic tables and the guides discussed whether we would have lunch there or later on the boat. It was determined that it would be nicer on the boat.

Lilac-breasted Roller

crocodile

another crocodile

White-crowned Lapwing

another lodge

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Impala

this was closed and there were picnic tables here and the guides discussed to have lunch here or on the boat - it was decided that the boat would be nicer

Tropical Boubou

Martial Eagle

Martial Eagles & possibly a Black Kite

Kudu

Impala

Kudu

bones

large herd of elephants crossed between the safari vehicles

Impala

a business of Mongoose

We were with another safari vehicle from our camp on the boat and it was a lovely ride with plenty of wildlife. There was a buffet of shredded beef wraps. Baba ghanoush, some kind of vegetable balls like potato and peas and some sweets. The driver found a great spot with a large croc sunning, and we stopped there to eat our lunch. (yep, a better choice than the picnic tables)

driving to the boat ramp

Hippos in the water

crocodile

Impala

African Darter

African Spoonbill

African Jacana

Blacksmith Lapwing

Gray Heron

Western Cattle Egret on Cape Buffalo

Egyptian Goose

Yellow-billed Stork

croc

Blacksmith Lapwing

African Openbill

Nile Monitor

Hippo

town in the background

Water Thick-knees

African Pied Wagtail

Bare-faced Go-away Bird?

Dinner that night was a boma. We sat around the fire, and the staff came out and performed some songs, and the chef told us about the food that was on the buffet. Everyone was served the butternut soup & bread. There were ribs, chicken sausage, steak, salads, and a caramel sponge cake for dessert. (and more sides and salads that I don’t remember)