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Well, Chobe National Park, what can I say?
We had no expectations from Chobe, having been on over 10 game drives between us and seen the big 5 already we thought the early morning game drive at Chobe would be just a pleasant way to pass a few hours - it didn't even cross our minds that we may see something that would bow us away.
A mere 2 minutes through the park gates and we happened upon a leopord, oh about 10 metres away, just sat under a tree staring at us. To see a leopard so close was really special. After that, the show just got better and better.....
A breeding herd of over 80 elephants hanging around a watering hole was the highlight, I think I mentioned on my previous postcard that it was the stuff of BBC's Planet Earth. To see them playing and looking like they were really having fun was just so cool. And the noise. I had never head elephants 'trumpet' before, but trumpet they did. Oh and the baby ones - ahhhh.
But then there was the silverback jackal kill...we happened upon a pair of jackals with a recently killed impala in their mouths. They were tearing it up into pieces and taking it off into the bush to hide it, all the while huge eagles were circling above waiting for their opportunity to pounce...and pounce they did. The clever jackals were quick to return and chase them off though. All this happened less than 5 metres from us.
Then El and I fell in love with the dung beetle. Dung beetles actually warrant a postcard of their very own. We spent at least 20 minutes watching a male dung beetle stuggle with his ball of dung up a hill (well, the side of a tyre track in the road, but that is a hill to him), whilst his lady partner clung to the side and got a free ride. It was seriously fascinating stuff, and the 6 of us in our vehicle were cheering him on. Thankfully he did make it before another vehicle passed and squashed him! Since then we have had several other and different encounters with the dung beetle. Family, I am afraid you will be subjected to the video footage of all of them!!!
So, yes, it was quite some drive. We were already running 30 minutes late and our guide knew he would get into trouble, but he said it was the best drive of his year so didn't give a monkeys....so yes 30 min late and we turn to head back and on the drive out of the national park we saw 2 further leopords, both closer than the first. What a rare and so very lucky treat.
Chobe really was a feast for the eyes. We loved it. A real highlight.
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