Days on the Chobe
I had already driven through three countries over the last ten days, but the long hours in my rental car were far from over. After my excellent day exploring Kruger National Park, I once again arose early to make my way to Botswana. From Kruger to Kasane, the northernmost town in Botswana, normally takes sixteen hours. Due to my small car and stories of questionable road conditions, I decided to head for Francistown, a mere ten hours away. Nothing a few Red Bulls and boxes of Pringles can't handle!
Town after town, I made my way through South Africa. Upon reaching the border of Botswana, I was shocked to see the amount of freight trucks standing by to cross the border. After speaking with some of the officials, they told me it is not uncommon for some drivers to wait for weeks on end in order to cross the border. Luckily, I only had to wait about an hour to get my rental car paperwork approved. When in Africa, I suppose! A few more towns and a dark dirt road later, I arrived at my accommodation in Francistown. Little did I know I would be spending the night in a campsite surrounded by monkeys! I was again surprised at how cold it can get in Africa during the nighttime. Thankfully, I was out of there first thing that morning to finish the last five hours to Kasane.
The final part of the drive was the most entertaining, as I encountered several wild elephants crossing in front of me. As well as that, the northern Botswana roads were some of the worst I have ever seen in terms of potholes. I was caught several times driving steadily, only to see tire marks leading into holes covering the entire width of the road. Once again, however, my little Hyundai made it through!
Kasane itself was an interesting city, and I was fortunate enough to have excellent hosts. My first morning in Kasane was spent on a safari drive through the Chobe National Park. It was not as magnificent as Kruger, but I still managed to spot some lions, giraffes, and the famous kudu animals. The drive through the Chobe was followed by an evening safari on the Chobe. In nothing more than a small raft, I watched in awe at elephants swimming across the giant river. The beauty and majesty of these animals are unparalleled.
It's wild down here, in Africa. I always dreamed of visiting this region and getting to see the world's greatest creatures. Nothing compares to the feeling when you are right beside them, seeing them in their own element. It's also quite enjoyable when you get to finish off the day with a sunset like this one. Although I spent only a short few days, Botswana had a lot to offer. It was time to hit the road again, but this time I'd be leaving my car behind. Across the Chobe, the country of Zambia was waiting.