SA 2013 Day 8 – Chobe National Park Safari Day 2 and Sunset Cruise

Morning game drive was just like the one we had in Kruger. The stark difference was that in Mowana, there are a lot of people! Everyone was up before day break and was gathering near the big Baobab tree in the middle compound of the lodge where cold coffee and tea and small pastries were served. Many safari vehicles rolled in at the entrance and guests loaded up the vehicles. We boarded the vehicle and we were on our way for cats spotting!

Caught a glimpse of cute and funny pair of honey badgers. One was even rolling and walking backwards.

As we moved to the locations where prides normally roamed, we also saw many vultures on the tree. It was possible they were waiting for food that a predator was still feeding on, which meant that maybe a cat was nearby? We were hoping. The vultures could be just waiting for the sun to warm up that’s all.

After driving around for some time, and had seen the same type of wildlife, we reached the rest stop for some warm drinks. Still an hour left, we might still catch a cat. Chances were low though, since cats would go into hiding from the afternoon sun and did their hunting in the early mornings or late evenings.

An hour left and we were soon on our way back. There weren’t game drives anymore and so we thought, since there was still some time in the morning the next day, we were going to book an extra game drive the next day.

Still no sightings. Went back to the hotel for breakfast and booked the game drive for the next day, which came up to be about 100SGD per person. Took the chance to roam around in the lodge. There was a bar with a clear view of the river, a small souvenir shop where we managed to exchange some USD with Botswana currency for my collection. There was also a swimming pool with a bar and some putting greens near the entrance. Nothing that really interested us. We went back to our rooms for internet and rest.

Ordered dine in lunch since when we were not in favour of the buffet offered since we were still full from the buffet breakfast in the morning. Also, we were concerned that if we had our lunch too close to the sunset cruise, we might get seasick. Not the tastiest of chicken though.

When it was time, we boarded the ferry which was just within walking distance from our rooms, since there was a jetty by the lodge. This sunset cruise was something like the game drive but on river. We got to go closer to those in the river than we could on the safari jeep.

We weren’t expecting to see cats on this trip but it was a refreshing trip, different experience from the drive. Also amazing to know that the river is shared by Namibia and Botswana, and so on the opposite bank was Namibia already. And of course, sunset cruise won’t be complete without the sunset!

By the time we returned to the jetty, the sun had set completely. Dinner was served in the same location, also buffet style.Again we were joined by the same lady from the previous day for dinner. There were more people as a bus load of Japanese tourists just arrived that afternoon. The in-house singer was more enthusiastic than before, even singing some Japanese songs. Nice atmosphere for the group as they even joined the singing at some point. We retired early in preparation for a long day ahead.