Our last stop in Botswana is the Savuti Lodge. After the bumpy ride to the gravel airstrip, the bumpy ride in the 12 seater plane again, and another bumpy ride from the airstrip to the lodge (which is all part of the experience)
we arrived at thatched roof huts (7 of them) that are located on the river at the north end of the Linyanti Region.
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| The Okavango Delta |
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| Landing on the dirt runways--The guides in the land rovers have to stand by to make sure they run off any animals that get in the way |
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| Landing at Savuti |
Everything is very dry this time of year, except right around the river. Our hut, once again, is like something out of a Hemingway novel. Mosquito netting around the bed, a wood floor set above the water on stilts, with running water in copper sinks and a shower in the open on teak wood. We have a lovely deck overlooking the river where elephants and other animals come to drink and cool themselves off.
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| Luxury bed with mosquito netting |
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| This monkey greeted us by stealing our welcome plate of cookies |
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| Main lodge area with a small pool |
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| A total of 7 huts. Ours is on the end. |
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| Home |
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| The Lodge |
To cool ourselves off, we decided on a boat ride down the river instead of a game drive. With very calming flat water, reeds on both sides, we meandered (with a motor) to view open billed storks, cape buffalo, zebra, hippopotami (that didn't want our boat to come too close) and lots of elephants. Turning off the motor and floating in the reeds we had our sundowner toast and watched the elephants drink and play. There were small bell frogs that sang to us as soon as it got dark. (they sing pretty much all night long).
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| Zebra |
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| Warthog |
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| Baboon |
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| Buffalo |
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| Mamas and Babies |
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| This is my territory! |
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| Open billed Stork |
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| Waterbuck |
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| Enjoying the elephant show |
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| Barb on the boat |
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| What a romantic date! |
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| Sunset |
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| Back at camp |
Not wanting to be predictable and go out in the land rover on another game drive, we asked for a guide that could take us on a walking safari. Our guide was O.D. and had been trained to use a 458 caliber rifle that he could load and get off 3 shots within 11 seconds. A charging lion or elephant would be taken down with shots to the head. (of course only if needed).
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| O.D. with his 458 |
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| Barb and O.D. out on a walking safari |
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| Scott on our Walking Safari |
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| Out walking, we learned some animal behaviors, identified tracks, and enjoyed walking. You cannot do much exercise in Africa because you have to stay in your vehicle or in your camp. |
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| Bullet for 458 |
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| Scott checking out some tracks |
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| Termite mound. The large cats like to sit on top of these to get a better view of what may be their prey. The hole is made by an Aardvark and when he abandons it, warthogs and other animals take it over as their home. |
A parade of elephants were in our view, and wart hogs as well as various birds. O. D. pointed out the many prints of different animals that almost forms a cast in the soft sand.
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| Watching the elephant herd, making sure we are down wind so they won't smell us |
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| Large herd you probably don't want to mix with |
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| Elephant dung. A lot can be learned from examining what he has eaten. |
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| Leopard print |
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| Elephant footprint |
......
Lunch on the veranda while watching elephants walk next to your hut and into the river is pleasing....
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| From our own deck |
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| What to watch while having lunch |
Large herds of elephants are abundant in this area. While watching the behavior of a herd of elephants, nine lions with one young cub appeared in the tall grass and tried to get a little too close to the baby elephants. Mama elephants that were already beginning to cross the river came barreling back into the herd, surrounding the small elephants, and had a stand off with the lions. Ears flapping, trumpeting their warnings, and charging, caused the lions to retreat. A safe distance away the lions sat back down and waited for an opportunity to attack. The elephants delayed their crossing and seemed to be nervous about the lions. Eventually they moved into the water and swam with the babies closely tucked inside the herd. (yes, elephants swim well), and they all made it safely to the other bank.
The lions waited a little while and then at dusk, the lions swam across the river. (yes, lions swim also). We don't know what happened on the other side of the river, but we hope the babies are safe.
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| The herd always protects the young babies |
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| Having a little tussle |
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| This elephant made a mock charge at our land rover. He didn't want us too close. |
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| Barb is getting a little nervous as this lion is looking at her and walking directly toward her. |
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| In the rover- the lions are lying in the grass with the elephants not too far away |
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| These lions are thinking about trying to get a baby elephant while the mom's aren't looking. |
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| Watching from the land rover |
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| Swimming to the other side of the river |
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| The lions are keeping a close watch |
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| A baby lion cub |
Deciding to go on a night drive found us looking at bush babies, a spotted Genet, a Civet, and a couple of hippo youngsters sparring in the water and later coming out and walking and grazing. It was too dark to get good photos, but we enjoyed watching.
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| Hornbill |
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| Tree lizard |
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| Spotted Genet seen with infrared light |
This is a map of the Okavango Delta and the areas that we stayed.
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| Little Vumbura and Savuti Camps |
Africa is an amazing place. We have had a great time. On our flight to Nairobi (which was our stop-over on the way to India) we snapped a photo of Kilimanjaro......We climbed it with Brittany, Jason, and Caitlin, and reminisced what a great time we had.
We are off the India!
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| Kilimanjaro seen from the plane |
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