The Safari began when we flew from O.R. Tambo Airport in South Africa to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.  We met our guide Sandrah, and drove to Chobe, Botswana. We saw animals along the way to the lodge, and of course that is what the trip was about.  The first video/slides below focuses on people and places with few animals shown.  I have decided to put a large selection of animal photos in a separate slide show that follows the people/places slides.

Sandrah was our Overseas Adventure Travel guide for the entire trip, but at each camp we visited there was an awesome staff.  T-Boss was the director at our Chobe camp and our Safari guides were Six and Genius.  Of the 13 travelers in our group 12 were from California and only Carol was from Missouri.  That group size was really good, and as we went on Safari, the group split up with different guides and seating arrangements between our two Toyota 4-Wheel drive vehicles.  Arrival at each camp was always an experience.  

When we arrived at Chobe, there was a large group of staff members that greeted us with song, dance, and always a cool washcloth.  The Lodge area is where we ate, gathered and enjoyed a large variety of drinks–non-alcoholic, to beer, wine, and mixed drinks.  A running tab was kept with drink prices generally ranging from $2 to $4.  We were always given a briefing that included an escort to our cabin, a tour of the cabin.  The cabins were generally the same.  Most all of them had spectacular views.
The bed at Chobe was netted for mosquitos, but we really had no insect problem.  There was always a Deet type of spray for the body and another spray that could be used for any visible insects–again not a problem.  At each camp we were able to have our clothes washed with the exception of “smalls” (underwear had to be hand washed by us, but detergent was available).  There was no additional costs anywhere except for drinks or staff created souvenirs that were usually available.  Each cabin had a separate shower and toilet area, but a clean restroom was at each of the lodge areas also.  The slide show includes several photos of the Baobab Lodge and views from the lodge as well as views from our cabins.  One problem with being on Safari was that there is no time or place for exercise.  For example, after dinner we were escorted to our cabin by an armed guide.  We could not leave the cabins during night hours. 

Chobe National Park was probably the best place to see wildlife.  Each morning we roughly ate an early breakfast (maybe 5:30 or 6:00) and then got into our vehicles.  Before entering the park we got out of our vehicle and stomped our feet in a solution that stopped the spread of hoof and mouth disease, and the vehicle also ran through a tank of the solution, and then we entered the park.  The guides went into the entry station with our passports and the permits they held.  In the park we had to stay on the roads, which were usually very sandy and full of ruts.  The variety of game that we saw was amazing.  During our second or third day at Chobe we witnessed an event that is seldom seen by anyone.  We happened to spot a pack of lions that was about 50 yards off the trail we were on, and suddenly a young elephant came out of the bush about 100 yards from the lions.  Most of us in our group quickly realized that the elephant was alone, and that the lions would surely notice the situation.  The rest happened quickly.  We move our vehicle to a spot about 30 yards away from where the lions intercepted the elephant.  I took a lot of photos and some video footage of the event, but our group didn’t want to stick around to the eventual end.  The elephant actually got up three different times over a period of about 45 minutes.   A member of the second vehicle group videoed the entire event.  

Each day was very similar: we stopped the vehicles after about two hours, took a necessity stop behind a rock or a bush, had refreshments and snacks, drove around for another couple of hours and returned to the lodge where we were greeted with a cool washcloth.  Lunch was ready and always a great lunch with all the trimmings, and then an hour or three for a nap or time to read.  No internet, no phones, no TV–just a lot of pleasant company and time to mingle with the staff.  

The afternoon outing covered new territory in the park and was always highlighted by a “Sundowner”.  The Sundowner was similar to the morning necessity stop, but the refreshments included cocktails for some (this time at no cost), special snacks, and a great time to visit and watch the sun go down.  Next we headed back to the lodge and usually a great meal: always with a special soup, home made bread/rolls, a salad, main dish such as steak, chicken, lasagne, or whatever you might expect to be served in a fine restaurant–dessert too.  A lot like being on a cruise ship!  Plenty of great food prepared by a chef that always came out to announce the meal.  

After dinner, usually at about 9 PM we were escorted by armed staff back to our cabins.  If anyone wanted to stay in the lodge, the escorts would be available.

We had a fun outing to a basket weaving shop where we were shown how to make baskets.  The video/slide has a great movie clip of the women of the shop performing with song and dance.  This performance is worth watching.  We next made a stop at the local tavern for refreshments.

We stayed at each camp for three nights.  Next stop was at a nearby airport where we boarded two small planes in Kasane and headed off to the Banoka Camp in Maun, Botswana on the Okavanga Delta.