On Day 3 in the land of Africa, we joined a full day Safari package at world famous Chobe National Park, Botswana. Yezzerr... visited another African country - Botswana ;)
The Safari package that we booked via Shearwater Travel comprised a Cruise on the Chobe River and a Game Drive in Chobe National Park - home to one of the largest game concentrations in Africa. The three of us were super excited to join this adventure! Hey, a visit to Africa will not be complete if we don't do Safari Game Drive, don't you guys think so? ;)
Anyway, a driver came to fetch us at Victoria Falls Rest Camp around 7am. Chobe National Park is just across the border from Zimbabwe about an hour’s drive from Victoria Falls and is the second largest national park in Botswana.
Us in our transport on the way to Botswana border…
With us was the driver from Shearwater Travel Agent and a tourist guide (the lady) whom I forgot their names (sorry, I did wrote their names in my notes on that kaput handphone… pfttt!!)
On our way to the Zimbabwe-Botswana border, the driver said "hey look there's a giraffe there!".
A giraffe having 'breakfast' at the roadside... can you believe it?? Comel giler kan? :D
Oh well, this is AFRICA!! It's sooooo awesome here ;)
At the Zimbabwe-Botswana border..
With Abang Yusuf and a lady (sorry I forgot her name) who was from the travel agency and helped us with the immigration procedure..
After the immigration process, we were introduced to a Chobezi Travel Agent representative who was also our agent cum driver in Botswana. We hopped into a new transport (with the lady who apparently are from Chobezi Travel Agent as well) and off we go crossing the border into Botswana.
At border crossings, we were requested to clean our shoes. In a precautionary measure after foot-and-mouth disease broke out in Botswana, local veterinary authorities have installed disinfectant dips along the Botswana-Zimbabwe border in an attempt to curb further spread of the disease.
Vehicles must also pass through a pit filled with the same disinfectant.
… and of course we had to go through Ebola screening as well… had to fill in some forms… that's all.
The driver dropped us off at the Chobe Safari Lodge
Chobe Safari Lodge is located at a very strategic location in Kasane on the banks of the Chobe River and shares a border with Chobe National Park. It was where we started our exciting Safari adventure!
Us - excited before the cruise adventure on the Chobe River
Chobe Safari Lodge is beautiful! Heard it's quite expensive to stay here... -.-
View of Chobe River from the Safari Lodge…
We were all set and ready for the Chobe River cruise safari adventure!
View during the cruise was Ah-ma-zing!!! I kept thinking "I can't believe I'm in Africa!!" :D
I kept reminding myself to praise Allah for creating such a beautiful world! Subhanallah…
There's an eagle trying to catch a fish in this pic… beautiful, isn't it?
Yours truly berselfie on the boat ;)
Mr Hubby focusing on the view using a binocular…
Yes we brought binoculars with us just for this trip.
Bought them at Petaling Street… hehe. Really, really helpful during this adventure - I tell you!
Abang Yusof busy with his camera…
Our safari tour guide - the man in safari uniform at the back of the boat, (damn! I forgot his name. Again, it was in my damn notes :P) guiding us on what and where to look during the journey.
All game drives should be accompanied by a Professional Guide and equipped with First Aid kits.
Ahh…. that made me feel safe a bit… haha!
With us on the cruise boat was a family of 6 from Arkansas, USA. Such a nice beautiful family! We sure had fun getting to know them during the excursion ;)
Chobe National Park is affectionately known as “The land of the Giants” boasting a population of over 75 000 elephant spread across 11,000 square kilometers. It is also home to the rare red lechwe, puku and sitatunga antelopes as well as to most big game species associated with a classic African safari and is specially famed for its lion sightings.
Birds watching…
There are birds in all the pictures above … can u see them? No?? Pfft… you need a binocular! :P
Our tour guide did mentioned all the bird names… but I lost track of the names… there are so many of them!! There sure are lots of birds here…
Tea, coffee, mineral water, bottled juices and light snacks were provided during this cruise.
Gazing out at the Chobe River to see wildlife and birdlife while enjoying my tea - priceless!!
More animals along the river...
Can you all see an antelope?
This African buffalo is so huge! I was amazed to see his horn… so comel! :D
We definitely see lots and lots of African elephant… Beautiful view from far! Subhanallah!
Okay… I must selfie with these elephant!! Wajib okeh! :P
And he also want to selfie with the elephants :D
Another antelope - such a beautiful creature!
Beautiful lotus in the park…
Priceless experience to watch these two elephants fighting… ;)
wondering what they were fighting about… hmm…
This little girl from Tulsa, Arkansas is such a cutie! ;)
Us again berselfie with elephants at the back :D
More awesome scene that we captured…
Botswana flag
Spot the hippos in this pic…
Jom selfie with the hippos…
Okay, 2 jejaka malaya ni kalau bab bergambar… I kalah okay! :P
He loves to selfie more than I do. Don't you think so? :D
The whole bunch of us on the boat. See… I told you… he sure loves to selfie! Lol!
A panorama pic
On our way back to Safari Lodge..
My man's trying to rest here… ;D
Back at the Safari Lodge…
Watch your step! Or crocodiles await you... hehe :D
Buffet lunch at Safari Lodge before we start our game drive in the eve...
Alhamdulillah… we could eat veges, fish, vege rice, potatoes, salad and fruits here in Safari Lodge. They are aware that Moslem can't eat meat… so they do prepare veges and fishes for travelers like us.
Happy faces now that our stomach is full :D
I so love the public toilet here… it's so exclusive! No wonder this place is so expensive!
We wanted to pray jamak qasar Dzuhur and Asar. So I asked one of the staff (who I guess was one of the managers here) if there was any private place that we could perform our prayer. I was just thinking of a small corner that is private or something… but to my surprise, he showed us to a room in their hotel. He instructed his staff to let us enter a room and let us perform our prayers in private… masyaAllah, thank you Allah for making this journey so easy for us… alhamdulillah… alhamdulillah...
Okay… It was not my intention to show off or anything… but this picture is just to show you guys a room in Chobe Safari Lodge which I thought is so exclusive! It has 2 queen beds!!
We wondered how much it cost for a night…
Room with a view! So beautiful!!
All ready now for our evening game drive! How exciting!
Oh yeah… our 4x4 vehicle for game drive is here! Super excited to start the next adventure!
Will continue on the Safari Game Drive in part 2.
*** to be continued... ***
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