Etosha Pan, Okavango Delta:

After leaving the drama that occurred in the cheetah park, we moved on to the beginning of the areas that are known for the African wildlife that makes up the image that most of us have in our minds about Africa. First, we visited Etosha National Game Park in the northern part of Namibia, and then we continued on to the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

We arrived early in the morning to Etosha in order to see some of the animals such as the lions, which are only active during the mornings and late evenings when it is not as hot outside. Within twenty minutes of being in the park, we spotted a male and a female lion hiding in the bushes on the side of the road watching a herd of springbok on the opposite side of the road. Unfortunately, we were only able to see them briefly because they were scared away by the sound of our diesel truck.

Even though those were the only lions we saw, the rest of the day driving along the Etosha pan (largest salt flat in the world) was visual feast. There were enormous herds of springboks and impalas. The wildebeests would be lying or grazing peacefully alongside the impalas or kudus. Black-backed jackals were running through the bushes chasing all sorts of rodents and reptiles. The hundreds of zebras and ostriches were either grazing out on the plains or running along side the road. The giraffes group themselves in herds of six to ten altogether, and while the different families did not mix, they always stayed in close proximity to one another. So, it looked as though there were hundreds of giraffes around, and when they run, it is an awesome sight. They are very tall, and their legs are really long. So when they run it looks as if they are in slow motion, wave-like rhythm.

From Etosha we headed across the Botswanan border to visit the Okavango Delta, which is one of the few deltas where the water never reaches the sea. The river flows down from Angola and then disappears in this delta at the edge of the Kalahari Desert. About 70% of the water is absorbed in the delta, and this saturation allows for a spectacular growth of plants and an abundance of wildlife. We spent three days in the delta, and traveled through it on makoros, dug out canoes that the local people move along by using long poles to propel them over the reeds and shallow waters.

In the delta, we saw well over thirty hippopotamus, many baboons, velvet monkeys, impalas, and many birds including eagles, egrets, and hornbills. However, even though being in the delta was a tremendous experience, the scenic flight that I took afterwards was the best part of the trip so far for me. We took off in a small seven-seater single prop plane, and I rode in the co-pilot's seat. From this spot, I could see well ahead of us as well as look to the side and down. The experience was surreal because we saw herds of elephants that exceeded 50 in number as well as hundreds of water buffalo, giraffes, zebras and many others. In the 45 minute plane ride, I saw more wildlife than in the entire trip together thus far. Even if we had not seen the animals, the scenery of the delta was gorgeous with its palm covered islands, peaceful lakes, tall reed marshes, and many streams connecting them all.

It will be hard to surpass the excitement of seeing all the animals, but we still have not seen all of the big five (elephant, water buffalo, lion, leopard, and rhinoceros). The next park that we are headed to is the Chobe National Game Park in Botswana, and it is along the Chobe River, where four countries meet (Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, and Namibia). Till next time, Cheers.