Bouganvilla outside my house: Spring arrives late in southern africa
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A marula tree outside my office: no sign of marulas yet
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Botswana countryside: comprised mostly of thorn bushes and brown mopane trees---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Botswana highway: the main highway in Botswana runs north south next to the railway line.
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Thick dry mopane bush: waiting for the rains
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Mopane leaves beginning to get green: after the rains start, they will be teeming with mopane worms.
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Most rivers are dry throughout the year and only fill up during the rainy season.
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Chibuku: the local alcoholic drink, "feel the goodness"??
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Our lodge chalets in Francistown: where we stayed recently
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Approaching the Botswana Border from South Africa: As you approach Botswana by road you will realize that the vegetation gets drier, less greener and with more thorn bushes (as we approach the semi-desert Kalahari.
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The village of Letlhakeng: This is a typical village in Botswana, huts and modern houses together and scattered over long distances. Letlhakeng is the start of the Kalahari Semi Desert which stretches all through the west, south- west of the country into South Africa and Namibia.
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Typical homes in the village of Molepolole: This a typical yard in a village; notice the little kitchen outside the house on the left.
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Elaborate fence in Letlhakeng: Some houses in the village are fences using dried tree logs dug into the ground.
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Beautiful traditional baskets: A basket weaving lady made these beautiful baskets, she was too shy to get photographed. In my opinion some of the villagers are so talented.
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A sheepskin entrepreneur in Letlhakeng: he is sitting outside his home and about to cut the skin to stitch some bags and slippers.
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Ostriches: An ostrich farm in the village of Letlhakeng. Ostriches are farmed for their eggs and feathers.
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Takatokwane Pan: A salt water pan near Letlhakeng. There are so many salt pans in Botswana, many are dry; the largest being the Makgadikgadi pans towards the north. See the emptiness of the makgadikgadi pans here.
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Khutse: Chalet lodges at Khutse Game Reserve. There are numerous game parks with luxury accommodation that bring you closer to the wild animals.
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Eland at Madikwe: In my opinion this is such a beautiful animal… a cross between a camel and a deer, the game rancher told us. They are good at jumping over fences and escaping the border fences of the game parks.
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Baby and Mother: A baby elephant hides under its mama at Kruger National Park in South Africa: cho chweet
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Elephants: at Chobe National Park in the north of Botswana
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Hippos at Chobe: It easy to think that you are watching clear ‘empty’ water. And as you wait they start appearing one by one and you realize it flooded with hippos in the water!!
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Hippo at Chobe: They all go back in and then one comes out to give a huge grunt and spray water in the air.
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Chobe National Park: Do you spot a lion in the bush?
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Lioness at Chobe National Park: Even when you know you are safe in your van; when you see the real lion out in the wild, you definitely break out in a sweat and your breathing gets short and heavier!
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Lionesses at Chobe: whoever said the lion is the king of the jungle? All he does is fight with each other for supremacy, it’s the lionesses that do the real stuff like hunt for food and take care of the cubs. From now on its queen of the jungle!
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The Madikwe boys (two young male lions) at Pilanesburg National Park. On of my favourite game parks is Pilanesburg which is located on an extinct volcano; this is where all the ranchers are on a walkie talkie. When they sight animals they keep informing each other and if our van is nearby, the ranchers lets us know that there is a lion, cheetah nearby and drive towards it. I can’t forget these particular lions because firstly they were so close to our vans and secondly I was expecting (preggy) at the time and my excitement even made my baby excited: he started kicking me from inside. It was a double scare for my husband! The next scheduled game drive I stayed behind at my camp :)
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Female Springboks: They are female because they don’t have any horns!
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A magestic Kudu: Isn’t he beautiful.
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Vervet monkey: at madikwe game park.
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Warthog in the bush: A mother warthog and her baby at Kruger National park
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Rhino at Pilanesburg: Perfect profile of a rhino
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The zebra couple at Kruger
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