Out third morning in Etosha we did another morning game drive and then it was time to set out. Over the next two days we were supposed to drive all the way across the Caprivi strip, a tiny narrow panhandle-like piece of Namibia that runs along all of Botswana. This is an over 600 mile drive, that takes longer than what you’d expect, since you need to constantly slow down for goats, cattle, and other random things crossing the road.
We fully expected this to be a two day slog, but it ended up being a really nice drive in the end. We drove through tons of small Namibian villages and it was fascinating to see how people lived out here in the real, untouristy, Namibia. Most villages were comprised of a mix of wooden huts with thatched roofs or small corrugated tin homes. Sometimes, you’d see more affluent areas where houses were larger and made of concrete. Goats and cattle wandered freely from place to place, totally not fenced in. Kids ran around in large groups, playing by the side of the road and waving to our car as we went by.
We spent the night in Rundu to break up the journey. Another night camping, and we grilled some meats that we bought from the lodge. It’s kinda crazy how used to all of this we are now. At first, I was so nervous even driving our massive vehicle. All the crazy compartments were confusing. Figuring out how to set up the tent on our roof, or inflate/deflate our tires depending on what type of road we were traversing was tricky. But now, we are totally comfortable with it all. We can set up camp (and break it down) in no time flat. I have no issues driving the car, even on all the crazy sandy/rutted/gravel roads. It’s all become second nature.
After the two day drive, we finally cross the border and say good bye to Namibia. We had such a fantastic time there. I knew virtually nothing about this place just two months ago, and am so glad that we decided to come here. Such a special place. And apparently, I just checked, it turns out this is the 50th country I’ve been to!
So here we are in Botswana! Our first stop is staying in Mwandi View next to the famous Chobe park. We’re staying in nice looking tented accommodations. The place is so nice. It also has. Watering hole out front and animals wander in to drink. During our first dinner, I walk outside and there are like 25 hippos just hanging around outside drinking. Eventually, a ton of elephants walk in and there is a big confrontation. Finally, the elephants scare away the hippos, who stand some yards away looking pissed off. The room we are staying in looks out into the wilderness. Sometimes you see 30-40 baboons scamper by. Other times elephants. At night, you hear elephants trumpeting, weird growling noises, and all sorts of other crazy animal sounds.
