Botswana Bound - Articles - Zimbio

Babes of Botsawna

Fri, 3 May 2008 14:22:00 GMT

posted by rams12
African Safari in Botswana... As we traveled through the Okavango Delta and north to Chobe the shear abundance of life was staggering. It is difficult to remember that we were in the Kalahari Desert with such areas of lush greenery and tropical jungle. But in the Delta there is a blessing of water that reaches into the desert like fingers. A healthy ecosystem is very evident by the huge number of young wildlife. From baboons to zebra new life was stretching its young legs around the delta. The country of Botswana has set aside enormous tracts of land for wildlife preserves with the hope of attracting ecotourist.

These baby lions were but a few of the many that we saw. At camp one night we were surrounded by lions as they called to members of there prides. As long as we could here them we were safe.

Young Vervet monkeys were as curious about us as we were of them.

This young pride of lions were just waiting for us, or so it seemed. The two males were just beginning to grow their mane.

Mom, big sister and little brother Kudu.Baby baboon in tow using mom's tail as a rudder.

This baboon was only a couple of weeks old.

We were told that hippos usually are not out of the water during the mid day sun since they can get sun burn, but this family seemed to be enjoying the rays.

Botswana is home to over 30,000 African Elephants and you can see the devastation such large herds do to the jungle. It is like putting 30,000 bulldozers on cruise control and letting them go. Plus there is all that elephant dung.

Kudu buck with baby vying for his attention.

A female elephant can be very dangerous and unpredictable when she has a calf.

Huge herds of elephants gather at the edge of the Zambezi River in northern Chobe Reserve.

This is as close to a wild lion cub as you could ever hope for.

RICK-DA-SCALE
Here I will give my humble uneducated opinion of the places I have been. On a scale from 1-10 where 10 is nirvana and 1 is equal to having your right eye stuck with a hot poker while the left eye is forced to watch book reviews on C-Span.
Location_____________Rating____________________Comment

Botswana_____________9_______________________unbelievable wildlifeSafari Camp___________8_______________________tents can be cold at nightFood________________8_______________________ 5 course meals every day

Charging Elephant in Botswana

Wed, 27 Mar 2008 00:24:00 GMT

posted by rams12

Okavango Delta, Botswana.... This bull African elephant charged our land cruiser at mid day. We had just watched a small heard of elephants pass directly to the east of us. This male was not happy to see us on his trail and made this mock charge. Had he really wanted to do damage he could have easily trampled us and the vehicle. Just two weeks earlier a local villager was trampled to death.

Chobe Preserve in northern Botswana has some of the largest elephants populations in the world. An estimated 30,000 elephants roam the savannas and jungles.

This young bull was in musk. You can see the fluid seeping from the glands at the sides of his head.

New Life and death are frequent sights on the savanna.

Elephant herds move north during the dry months of winter. They find refuge on the Zambezi River at the northern edge of the Kalahari Desert.

Older bulls travel alone. Their behavior can be very unpredictable.

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
RICK-DA SCALE

Here I will give my humble uneducated opinion of the places I have been. On a scale from 1-10 where 10 is nirvana and 1 is equal to having your right eye stuck with a hot poker while the left eye is forced to watch book reviews on C-Span.

Location_____________Rating____________________CommentBotswana______________8________________Fantastic animal viewingOkavangoDelta__________7_______________ Less large game viewingFood on Safari___________7______________ 5 course meals /fresh baked bread dailyAccommodations_________6_______________Camping in a tent

Game Flight or Game Drive

Fri, 8 Mar 2008 08:33:21 GMT

posted by oceandavid

Game Flight or Game Drive?

Let’s assume you have just arrived in Maun, Botswana and you have to plan your activity for the next day. If you have to choose between either doing a game flight or going on a day game drive to Moremi Game Reserve, what should you consider?

The game flight only takes about an hour. It leaves you plenty of time during the next day to rest, shop or catch up on some writing or reading. Mainly the participants seem to remember seeing herds of elephant or cape buffalo. Flying in a small Piper Cub is fun and if you are like me, you see the ground as a real life map.

On the other hand, a game drive starts early in the morning and is a full day activity. The potential to get close to lions, leopards, elephant, giraffe, hippo, wildebeest and a bounty of bird life are reasonably high. The packed lunch and chance for a short midday rest never disappoint.

If getting close to nature in a world renowned game reserve is your idea of fun, then the game drive is for you. If you need a rest and prefer a unique aerial perspective of the Okavango Delta, then go for the game flight.

Gemsbok and Impala in Moremi Game Reserve.

Haina Safari Lodge - Central Kalahari

Tue, 14 Nov 2007 14:46:00 GMT

posted by Lathita
Haina Safari Lodge - Central Kalahari
The setting of Haina Safari Lodge is classically African, relaxed and informal. The Lodge accommodates up to 20 guests in tented accommodation which are all private with their own decks. The standard tents consist of a bedroom and en-suite bathroom with shower and toilet whilst the luxury tents have thatch roofs, large decks and full bathrooms.

The Lodge is situated on 22000 ha conservancy on the northern border of the Central Kalahari Park and offers overnight and day trip mobile safaris into the Park. Besides the 4x4 game drives you are able to participate in a quad bike safari and an unforgettable experience with the local Bushmen people.

Botswana Safari Lodges - Central Kalahari Safari Lodges - Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Experience the Central Kalahari and Haina Safari Lodge

85 Ton Hitachi Excavator Comes To Maun

Tue, 27 Feb 2008 11:25:56 GMT

posted by oceandavid
85 ton excavator arrives in Maun, Botswana - brought by a vehicle 4.2 metres wide, with 15 axles and 58 tires. It is enroute to Express Quarries in Tali Pan. The quarry is close to the Discovery Metals exploration property in the Kwgebe Hills. The total load weighed over 115 tons and must be the biggest delivery of its king in the history of Northern Botswana. In the video we have employees of the Maun Industrial Park celebrating the arrival of the new machine.