Here’s a little background information: I planned our first safari ever in Botswana. Maggie from ProAfrica – yes Protravel has an African Specialist who assisted me with choosing and arranging our accommodations. We worked with & Beyond because of their stellar reputation. We are traveling with my husband, Jeff and dear friends, Ruth and Dan. It is Dan, Jeff’s and my first safari. Right now, I am writing this overlooking part of the Okavango Delta at the Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge. I hear hippos, birds and frogs right now. Off in the distance is a wildfire which has been going on for the past few days. It is across from the water because we are in a wetland. There are so many things to write about and I’ve decided to just give you the highlights.
First, & Beyond, Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge. To call this place a lodge is not correct. There are only 8 detached bungalow rooms on the property. So far, I’ve counted 16 staff. The rooms have dual sinks, an outdoor shower, king beds and mosquito netting – another first for me! The room is maintained 3 times per day. Here’s something funny/interesting…there is elephant poop along the walkway. Why is there elephant poop around the walkway…because elephants roam freely – as do other animals like an occasional hippo. :-) (VERY COOL)
Every morning, we awake to a drum beating outside of our bungalow – at 5:30 am! A continental breakfast is served at 6:00am then the game drive leaves at 6:30am. The sunrises have been stupendous! We have two guides – Gift and Gomes who have been with us the entire time. Gift is 29 and the lead guide and Gomes is 22 and the spotter. The four of us have had our vehicle to ourselves which is great because if we want to stop and watch baboons at play for 20 minutes…it’s ok! It’s our time!
Sandibe’s property is huge. I feel as though I have been bounced around from the dry lands with impalas ranging to the wetlands that host birds of many kinds, antelope, hippos and more. Our first game drive was when we arrived. We were picked up at an airstrip (6 seat airplanes are NOT my thing) and taken to Sandibe which is 45 minutes away. On the way, we saw our first lions! What a way to begin.
Some of the highlights have been:-a giraffe nursing her baby
-4 female lions and 2 babies deciding whether to chase and kill a giraffe
-elephants at play
-zebras and wildebeests sharing the same space
-baboons at play as well as the vervets (small monkeys) here on the property
-the sound of an angry elephant roar as wild dogs are taunting it
-Gomes pointing out a shooting star
I have a few observations to share:
-there are 3 vehicles with guides. They share their sightings and stay at a respectful distance from whatever they are observing
-our guides, Gift and Gomes are exceptionally knowledgeable. If they do not know an answer, they look it up in the books that they carry – books about birds and wildlife.
-our guides look at many things to track the animals. They look for vultures which indicate a recent kill, they follow wild dogs as they hunt, and they look at paw prints and can distinguish between all of the various animals
-this part of the Okavango Delta is so vast. This is harmony here in the way that the animals interact. Some of it brings smiles to your face as you see various animals living together and others are the reality of animal life…the hunted and the hunter.
I didn’t know what to expect from a safari. The sun is setting, the crickets are starting to sound out and the birds are calling. The electricity is off for the next 2 hours and my life has calmed down. I’ve reached out of my “comfort zone” and am proud of how I’ve handled the small challenges that this city girl has come across. We’ve concentrated on animals more than birds or plants at this location. Tomorrow, we are traveling to another part of the Okavango Delta and will be staying at & Beyond Xaranna. We will be observing more birds and plants than wildlife at Xaranna. Wish me luck on the next 6 seater airplane!!!
MARI
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