On Monday I got back from Botswana. I did a river safari (a Trans-Okovango) in the Okovango Delta. Last year around this time I went on a TO with mom and Elena and we had such a fabulous week that we decided to book another trip this year. Mom did not come this time, but my brother Matt came along with new additions Ellen and Josh. It was another wonderful week on the river.


This was my third trip to Africa and I was thinking positive the whole month leading up to it. I told myself that in the month of June I had seen all the travel problems and would see no more for at least another year. This was not to be. We landed in Johannesburg and my bag was not there. Big bummer. The next day we flew on to Botswana (the airline people assured me my bag would make it there within 36 hours). It was great to see Elena - even better to see the clean clothing she had for me to wear. For the next two days we went as a group to the airport to wait for our bags (Josh and Ellen were also missing their luggage). Air Botswana were no help. I grew accustomed to hearing such things as, "I cannot help you", "Maam, if your bags were put on the plane they would be here", and "Your bags are not here". All said with no sympathy and very little care. We went on the trip without the luggage (since no one could tell us when our bags would arrive) and it became the subject of many jokes. I was extremely happy to see it finally when we got back to Maun after our week on the river. In the meantime, the views were so beautiful as to make me forget the dirty clothes I was wearing...


We saw many elephants on the river this year. Many more than last year. We even got to see a few cross the river. It is so beautiful to see these huge animals move. They are surprisingly graceful and quiet.





This photo (above) is not metered correctly and not a favorite, but I decided to post it anyway. We took a walk with Captain after lunch one day and came upon this elephant. He kept moving closer to us, which was exciting, but scary. As I was taking this photo Elena was yelling at me to move because the elephant was getting too close. They move very fast for such large animals. It is amazing how much more secure one feels on a boat with a powerful engine than on human legs.


In the photo above you can see a Fish Eagle. They are the chickens of the Okovango (Elena told me that). They are everywhere. Their prevalence does not diminish their beauty to me.


This is Josh (in the turban) and Elena fishing. Matt is probably sculpting a hyena or a hippo - only the scary animals.




We saw so many vulchures on our last afternoon (I am going to say hundreds). They were in the air and on the trees. There must have been a fresh kill on the ground.


As I have said, it was a wonderful trip. I really enjoyed spending time with my brother and cousin and also getting to know Ellen and Josh. Five days on a small boat is a great way to get to know people quickly (missing baggage also makes for good bonding). We are already planning our trip next year.