Botswana

Today we headed over the border to Botswana to check out the national park called Chobe. It borders Namibia so when we were in the river (not swimming, boat cruise) we more or less skipped into another country. They are fighting for an island in the middle of the river at the moment. Each day a group of army guys from either side put their countries flag up in replacement of the other..today it was Botswana's. There isn't any actual fighting involved just in the court system one wants to use it for tourism and the other for farming.
On the river part we saw hippo, crocodiles, elephants, and buffalos they all come down to the river in the morning to drink. In the afternoon we took a 4 X 4 out to the land and saw them all over again just in massive herds. We also were the only ones to see the lions before they ducked into a group of bushes.

There are over 60,000 elephants on this piece of land alone..and I'm pretty sure not only did we see them but smell them. A few were at the river getting a bath and cooling off. There was a baby born just 9 days ago so he's still a bit scared of the Jeeps..poor thing. Also a baby hippo was born and he was sunning himself by the herd.. Too cute. They have cur down on the poaching in this area, normally men are looking for rhino horn which goes for over $200,000 and the ivory..the new rules are that the army guys shoot to kill not just arrest so to discourage any more animal killing. 

We had lunch at a hotel on the river before our game drive and by 4:30 we headed back to the border to head home. Long day but wonderful and a once an a life time event, on this side of things.  Now we eat our African meal of fast food.. Chicken inn..surprisingly delicious.. Night all I hope these emails are still worth reading and encourahing. 

Lakr Karbia

This is the 3rd largest man-made reservoir in the world. It was created when the Zambezi river was dammed for the purpose of generating hydroelectric power. Some teak trees still stand even after 50 some years under water. Its swarming with crocodiles and hippopotami and on a good day you will be able to watch elephants cooling them selves off in the mud bed. Watching the world from here makes it hard to believe you're still in Africa.
Our group is 21 people, half from the states and the other are locals. We rented condos from a place call Caribbean Bay we have three, its in a beautiful place...right on the corner of a little land that jets out a bit into the lake and two personal pools. We may or may not have a pack of baboons running around our cabins too...fighting little dudes.
Part of the lake is in Zambia so we snuck a short swim so we could say we've been there. The only way to come to this place is with a boat.. Staying on land just wouldn't cut it. The three families we came with have boats so we spilt into groups of 7 and each day we take off into the rising sun, coming home only when the sun was setting. We have been be to see crocodiles...hippos..elephants..and zebras all from our boats, comfortably as we sip our cokes or gin and tonics.
One our new friends, Sport {real name is William} is our personal crocodile Dundee...I swear he's done everything up here in the bush. He worked here for a little while on the boats finishing for capenta fish which only work at night. He did a five day hike here when he was young and he said he's picked a few spots for the future new world he's gonna build on. Ha All the islands here were the high hills, one is called Rhino Island where a black rhino was stranded and they had to put into place operation Noah's ark to save him.

We've had a great time up her for the last four days. I will be happy to get back to service & walking routine. I will be coming home with nice color. :)