Tag: Boat Tour

Zimbabwe is a country of 16 million people of which 65% live in rural areas. I consider myself so fortunate to have visited this country that filled my cup with such amazing memories. To finish our time here, we went to The Big Open Craft Market and I bought some curios (souvenirs) made from teak, olive and springstone. I also bartered for a mbira (a mini hand-held piano) and some “monkey ball” shakers. Negotiation is a must and expected! Teak trees are common in Zimbabwe and you will find a lot of curios and carvings made from wood of this tree. Also, popular curios are the woven plates that you can hang on a wall and soapstone animal figures. There is a women’s and a men’s market of vendors.

Once we were all shopped out, we headed, via bus, for the 1 hour drive to The Republic of Botswana to the town of Kasare on the Chobe River. While we entered through immigrations, I had to dip my shoes to confirm no foot-and-mouth disease—they are very serious about their beef industry here.

Some facts from our bus driver:

• We are close to the intersection of Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia – only place in the world where 4 countries come together.

• Marriage – In rural Zimbabwe when you marry, the grooms family must pay the dowry in cows. The greater the number of cows = the more educated/skilled the woman. There are still polygamy in some tribes but it’s slowly fading due to Christianity.

Botswana:

Facts-

• Monetary unit – Pula

• Main exports – diamonds, cattle and tourism. Also, copper, nickel, coal, and iron ore.

• Home to 2.3M people

• Capital – Gaborone

• One of Africa’s most stable countries and the continent’s longest continuous multi-party democracy with a good human rights record.

I look forward to seeing the baobob and acacia (umbrella and camel) trees in Botswana. Also, the sand dunes of the Kalahari cover most of Botswana

Hello Greeting:

*Du mela, mma (to greet a female)

*Du mela, rra (to greet a male)

Botswana is made of sand of the Kalahari and is home to over 130,000 elephants! In fact, there is a dispute going on right now regarding reducing the number of elephants in Botswana.

WE ARRIVED!

We arrived at the Chobe Marina Lodge, situated on the Chobe River, by lunch. I am blown away—this place is like a giant treehouse! We had barely checked into our room when Vervet moneys were doing handstands and a warthog was grazing the grounds outside the balcony!

Once we dropped our bags off, we had a buffet lunch and went on a Boat Excursion at 3:00. Long, hot afternoon which took us along the Chobe River into the Chobe National Park. Another breathtaking sunset while we cruised along the river, taking in so many animals and birds—elephants, (big) crocs, hippos, baboons, antelope (aquatic and waterbuck), impala, African fish eagle, AND another one of the big 5–the African buffalo! and then the icing on the cake was the sunset. I didn’t think a sunset would ever top the other night, but gosh was I wrong!