Shadreck returned from Botswana after a Zimbabwe Botswana camping trip and had this to share.

 

Animals in the wild are just amazing at how they adapt to environmental changes. Most animals use piloerection to keep warm in winter, this is when they raise their fur to trap a layer of air that is then warmed by the internal body temperature. This helps the animals insulate themselves against the cold temperatures.

On the tenth day of the trip we arrived in the land of the Batswana people through a unique part of the world called Kazungula. Kazangula is the gateway to four countries namely Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia. We entered the country in the early morning and drove to the town of Kasane for some shopping. There after we drove to our lodge situated on the banks of the Chobe River. In the afternoon we went for a boat safari cruise on the Chobe River in Chobe National Park. The river is a tributary to the mighty Zambezi River. When the Zambezi River is running at its fullest the Chobe River can often be seen flowing in the opposite direction as the excess water from the Zambezi River floods the Chobe River.

Our cruise captain explained about a conflict between Namibia and Botswana over the island called Sedudu which stands in the middle of the Chobe River. The courts ruled in favour of Botswana and the island now forms part of the Chobe National Park.

The bird life is prolific on the island and a delight for all bird watchers. Crocodiles however seem to be the authorities of the island. This is proven by the number of these creatures inhabiting these waters.

After taking some photos of the Goliath Heron, one of the island's native species, our guide pointed out a heard of elephants that were making their way down to the river. Everyone was excited to see elephant drinking. The captain steared the boat closer to the elephants for the tour to get a better look at them when one male bull decided to give us some entertainment, he walked into the water to cross to the island and the others followed.

They played in the water for a while before crossing over to the island. The island is a green oasis compared to the very brown and dry land. the captain explained that these elephant could spend a month on the island feeding as the grass is always green. Buffalo, Reed Lechwe, Water Buck and other animals are often seen here.