We are walking amongst the trees! It’s an incredible lodge and as my friend, Jen, said, it’s like we were the Swiss Family Robinson.
We heard this lodge was built to be a timeshare. It never took off so now it’s a successful lodge. Comfortable rooms with mosquito nets and a separate living area. Bathroom has all the amenities you need – shampoo, shower soap, mosquito repellent, vanity kit, bar soap, etc.
Pictures do not do this lodge justice. You have to see it to understand how special it is but here are a few!
Only 10 minutes from the Chobe National Park, it also has its own boat dock. Therefore, the two times we left by boat we simply had to walk down the ramp!
We ate all meals here. I enjoyed the salad bar — I know it was chancing it with my stomach but they clean the food very well. I used bottled water when brushing my teeth, though. Meals were good and some were better than others. The stir fry night was outstanding as was the BBQ out by the pool. The people were so gracious, kind, and helpful! In fact, ALL the people we encountered in Botswana were extremely welcoming…especially Hero, our boat/vehicle local guide with African Odyssey. Hero, thank you for making our game drives so unique and memorable.
We had a balcony and could watch the warthogs, banded mongoose, and vervet monkey on the grounds. We always saw the sun set from Chobe National Park but the after effects and the colors stayed in the sky and we admired it from our balcony.
I would come back to Chobe Marina Lodge! In a heartbeat.
(Pictures soon – I don’t have great WiFi right now)
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!
The warthogs
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!
Washing his food before eating (with an Africa buffalo in the background)Drying off his wings before he can fly again
Tip toeing around any crocs!A little trunk-to-trunk touch
So many pods of hippos today on the banks of the Chobe River
African Buffalo… We have now seen 3 of the Big 5. Lions and Leopards to go!
Don’t want to run into this crocodile!
Lots of baboons in the trees! We had fun watching them climb to the tallest branches —babies too!
Fish Eagle
The impalas came down to the river the same time the baboons did. They have a “friendship”.
And we got to watch as the elephants played in the water!This is unedited. The sunset on the Chobe River – 1000x better in person!
Christina’s Journey Journal 