Crossing the Moremi Game Reserve & Chobe Nationalpark - Botsvana

Nxai pans - Okavango Delta flight - Botsvana

Sunday 3.03:

At sunrise (or maybe a bit later we never seem to make it) we drove the loop around small park. So far one of the nicest parks we have been to even compared to Etosha. We saw loads of zebras and giraffes, one lion and the Baobab trees (Affenbrotbaum) which can become up to 6000 years old . We had to be out of the park by 11:00 in the morning to return to Maun.

Back in Maun we booked a 1 hour flight over the Okavango delta in a 5 seat Cessna. It was amazing to see the water world from above with plenty of hippos, elephants and crocodiles.

Makgadikadi Pans- Elephants attacking

Friday-Saturday 1-2.03:

Early the next morning we drove into the Makgadikadi Pans. We drove through savanna grassland with wide open spaces only interrupted by single palm trees and a network of parched-white dry lakes. It was a fun driving challenge to battle the deep sand path to Khumaga. 

 Here the Bolleti river is like an oasis in the dry savanna. We saw hippos and elephants bathing peacefully in the green water pools. Suddenly a huge elephant stood in front of us in our path. He was definitely not in a peaceful mood and was ready to attack us. The only thing left was to hit the gas pedal and escape as quick as possible. He kept chasing us but we were faster. I definitely learned the lesson to be more careful next time.

At night we entered the Nxai National park just north  of the main road. After two hours deep sand offroad driving we arrived at the unfenced camping ground.

Offroad in the Central Kalahari

26-28.02 Tuesday-Thursdays:

After studying the maps of Botswana we decided to first drive through the Central Kalahari. We arrived late in the evening at the gate to the national park. We were not allowed in anymore so we parked in the wilderness a few hundred meters in front of the gate. It was full moon, a night to remember.

The next day we drove for 10 hours through the bumpy Kalahari sand tracks. It was real test for our 4&4 Nissan Patrol, for the tires and our driving skills. It seemed like the lions, giraffes and elephants were on summer vacation because we did not see any. However we saw lots of Oryx Antelopes, spring bock herds etc..  Very exhausted we stopped at an unfenced campground and set up our roof top tent always scanning the near distance for some wild animal ready to attack us. We discussed what should be done in case of a lion attack and decided to use the fire extinguisher as a weapon. Of course nothing happened in the end.

At sunrise we packed our stuff and drove out of the park taking along a African girl with her sick child. We dropped her off at the next village doctor.

 Our next destinations were the big salt pans a 3 hour drive from the park. We found a luxury lodge close by the pans with a huge pool. We  stayed at the campground but could use the nice facilities. Ju swam for 1 hour in the pool. Meanwhile I relaxed in the hammock ate a burger, recharged my body and camera batteries.

Namibia to Botswana into the Okavango Delta

Sunday 24-25.02:

In the afternoon we left Rundu to the Botswana border. Unfortunately we arrived too late. The border closed already at 6 pm. This way we found the most original camp ground we have been so far. The outside showers and toilets had direct river view. The river swimming pool was only protected by a cage. At night we could see the blinking eyes of the crocodiles floating in the river and the loud cries of the hippos and understood the reason for the cage around the river pool.

The next day we crossed the small Mahango Game Reserve just before the border. A few Giraffes crossed the dirt road but I have to admit after Etosha I was still excited but just a little bit less.

The border crossing to Botswana went smoothly. 

We drove all the way to Maun the starting town for all expeditions in Botswana. We made all the necessary shopping’s, got all necessary national park permits and stayed in a camp at the Okavango delta.