Dinner and a movie??

Last night I got to enjoy a great meal and an even better conversation with Lipa, although I was doubtful at the start. I was feeling lazy because of the rain but I knew I couldn’t let Lipa down after how kind he has been to me during my stay in Kasane. So once the rain let up I put on my wet jeans and shoes, because I don’t have any other clothes (now that’s a major shock!) and I started my walk to town.

Walking in Botswana is always a big deal, everyone stares at me, which might not seem like a big thing but after 4 months of always being stared at and harassed as you walk down the street you get sick of greeting people and just wish to be a nobody on the street again.

I have said it before but men in Botswana make these walks the worst. The hello’s and how are you’s are fine but the where are you going I can take you there the fact that they try to grab my hand or arm so I have to slow down to talk makes me mad. I’d understand I’m a stranger in town but DAMN I’m not the interesting to look at and if I make it obvious I’m not interested why persist?

So my street harassment hit an all time high on my way to Lipa’s. It’s month end, Saturday and 5 o’clock and I have to walk past the bar not a great mix. I make it past the bar with much notice, but then it happens. Hello! … Hey! … HEY I’m TALKING TO YOU! … (I try to just keep walk) … I’m saying hello to you white girl! … (fuck leave me alone) … HEY YOU FAKE WHITE STOP I’M TALKING TO YOU… (Are you kidding me?) … HEY YOU FAKE WHITE! FAKE WHITE BITCH I’M…

I’m not sure for how long this man yelled at me as I continued to walk but I knew how much I wanted to say fuck off. I was mad to be bothered but even more offended by the fake white. Never in my life have I tried to claim my whiteness yet it is always thrown in my face. My skin tone, my hair, the way I speak (properly), my dress, mannerisms. All things that have been called white washed, not black enough. From all sides for my whole life, my race has made it so I can’t just be a nobody walking down the street. Everyone feels entitle to a say on my race and how I present it.

Coming to Botswana and being told for the first time in my life that not only to I “act” white but I am white. That I’m just as much as a lekoga as the other students on my trip was hard to understand and take on. The idea of race in Botswana is so different from in the states. Yet it was still clear that I was not white “white” has one of my host mothers put it. So still not enough. Still a rough spot in people schemes of race and assumptions.

As I continued to make my way to Lipa’s house I fumed internally about the injustice of it all. I’m a woman so I must want your catcalls. I am “white” so I must have money to give you. I’m a “colored” so I must think I am better than others. I’m an American so I must stand out. I am walking the streets so I must deal it the harassment. I must keep my muttering of asshole to myself because of what I am and where I am and the danger that the attention I must take comes with. I must smile and nod. I must say hello and understand your questions. I must take your judgment.

Judgment, race, politics, family, relationships, drama, dreams, education … Life

Lipa and I talked about it all our fish and movie night turned into and all night debate. I learned a lot and after months of not speaking much, observing a lot, it was so refreshing to free share ideas. Organic life talks. 

Last weekend in Kasane …PULA!

On my last Saturday in Kasane, I woke up early for our big CARACAL club boat trip. When the kids arrived they were all very excited and I was worried that there would be problems but for the first hour they were the best behaved I have ever saw them. And then the rain came… Real rain!

Although most of Botswana has had some good rains already up here in Kasane we have been waiting and praying for pula. We rushed to get the rain guards down and ended up soaked but it was amazing to be out on the water surrounded by hippos when the first rain hit. Once it clamed down we went up to the top of the boat and saw a herd of elephants crossing the river and playing in the fresh mud. If that’s not Africa for you then 35 school children singing different songs in Setswana on the ride back to port at the top of their lungs with white tourist in follow boats snapping pictures has to be!

It was great to see the kids enjoying and watching them point of the wildlife to me it really showed that they are learning a lot from the club. Its always amazing to watch kids enjoy a new opportunity.

Although the walk back to my house in the rain wasn’t as nice.

BAT

I have been in Kasane for almost two weeks now and as much as I am enjoying myself I can’ help but count down the days until I am back home. As much as I have experienced and learned from my time in Botswana the finally few weeks have really taught me how much the people in my life mean to me. Last night for example ... I was just sitting at home watching tv, alone (somehow my last homestay family has turned into me myself I and Lala, the huge guard dog) well I’m sitting at and then out of no where something big is flying for my face and I ain’t going to play it was a flash back to late nights back in Pomona when my brother and I would hit the deck when we heard bumps in the night. So bam my face hit the couch and I know it’s a bat but I try to trick myself into thinking its huge moth. But nope I hop up check all the rooms lock up the windows and doors and start to freak out. I’m not sure why I was so scared but I was and I had no one to call and no one to tell or laugh the over reaction off with. So ten minutes later when it flew back into the room I screamed and thought about the worst. THEN ten mintues later when it started crawling back into the room I told myself I had to put on my big girl panties on like my mom always says and I got the best trap I could, a old yogurt container.  Took a deep breath and caught that sucker! And proceeced to freak out again! Heartbeating I used my last bit of air time to call my friend who always helps me out with google the call dropped before I could get any advice. Yet, I realized a few things.

11)   I was freaking out because I was alone and I have been for a while

22)   The last time a bat flew at with I was with my whole family

33)   I would have never chicken out if I wasn’t alone  

44)   I’m in the bush and a bat is a little problem

55)   I miss home

Nov 9 What a wonderful first day

Today I had my first full day in Kasane and I couldn’t be more pleased with how it went. I am staying with a 25 year old woman named Mpho, she is the niece of Monica, the owner of the Lilly Lodge that I mentioned in an earlier blog. It is super rare to see anyone so young living alone let alone a woman, and I don’t have many details as to why this is the case but I have to say I’m looking forward to learning more about Mpho.  She normally stays at the lodge so I basically have the house to myself. However I am not alone, it might be my first day but I have made so many new “friends”. But before that CARCAL…

CARCAL it is a rare bush cat but it is also the non-profit wildlife conservation center that I will be working for my DISP. Although I don’t have a set ‘job’ or role, the team seems very open to letting me explore the wide options that they have.  Today for example after meeting very one and being showed around the office I met Ellen a recent grad and head of education section of the organization and we went with Rob the local scientist dude (not sure what his real title is) Maria the vet to a local primary school for a science fair. The students were 6-10 and so bright and adorable! (also their teacher is Rob’s girlfriend) After the fair Maria and Rob went to check out an Elephant that sadly had died and had anthrax! WILD

I also met Lipa, a volunteer and Motswana, who had be help him enter data on the different cases of diarrhea from local hospitals and clinics for the water health project, next week I will get to go out into the Chobe to help collect samples!

At 2:30 we made our way to Kasane primary for the weekly site visit for Ellen’s education programming. The children were not as well behaved as I expected or as interested in learning about “bush fires”, despite there being a wild bush fire going on as we spoke but it is the last three weeks of school in Botswana and Friday after school program is always going to be a little rough but I used more Setswana in that hour or so than I have in a while and I could tell the children enjoyed my efforts.

After more data entry, Ellen invited me to her regular Friday movie night with Rob and some of her other friends which I was very down for because Mpho works late and to be honest I haven’t spoken to people in a LONG time. Lipa kindly walked me home after work through a CEMEATRY, some things don’t change despite getting out of Maine. Shortly after Cora, a friend of Ellen’s came to pick me up and I glad an lovely dinner at the home of Rob’s girlfriend’s parents. As the rain and lighten rolled in they rolled out the Southern hospitality, despite living in Bots for a very long time they are still strongly Texans! It was different being with so many American’s and Brits but nice. I even got invited to Thanksgiving! Funny enough makes me miss the Matoin’s and their lovely daughter even more! haha

After dinner and a movie Cora drove me home spotting some elephants buffalo and a small wild cat on the road on our way back. I was a little worried that I was awkward and kicking myself for no offering to house sit for Cora when she asked but as I got out Cora asked “Do you play Volleyball?” Now I have an after work activity for Tuesdays and Thursday. 

I have more to share about what CARCAL is, my trip to MAUN, hitchhiking, my newly adopted religion, and applying for Jobs in NYC and considering Teach for America more seriously  ( most of which happened today) but I’m ready for bed and seeing that I have been sleeping in a tent with two boys and only a blanket in the Delta bush for the past week the four soft pillow are loudly calling my name.

Robala sentle!

On to the next one...

Today I start my next adventure in Botswana, after spending two weeks in Gaborone in a few moments I will set out on a 3 hour bus ride to Serowe for two days to visit the Khama Rhino Sanctuary and get in two more game drives! That means more exciting pictures! Then its a 4-5 hours bus ride to Maun for four days of camping and mokoro (boat) trip then I will catch one more bus and head up to Kasane for the rest of November. I will be working at the CARCAL non-profit organization that dose wildlife conservation and promotes education to the community and school children about coexisting with wildlife. I'm excited and nervous to start but I know it all going to be fun and a lot of learning with me done. Time is flying and I will be back in the states in just under five weeks!

I'm unsure of what my connection to the internet will be like in Kasane but I will be back with updates in December!

I miss and Love you all and thanks for reading my poorly managed and rarely updated blog!

-Z

Internship:

For my internship I was to volunteer at a local school, Lesopa Junior Secondary School, although it was not my first choice to be in the school I thought it could be fun working with the students and I obviously had experience doing such, but when I arrived it became clear that the school had no idea what to do with a volunteer and that I would not be interacting with many students or teachers. The majority of my first few days of work were me sitting in the back room of the computer lab while a teacher’s workshop was being held and I watched downloaded movies and provided some printing help now and again. When I asked if I could be better used some place else I was moved to the library to tackle to task of categorizing, labeling and covering a new shipment of books that looked to have been sitting around for months. I was pleased to have some work but the arrogant librarian watching me and sharing his “thoughts” with me made my work unpleasant and resent the fact I was doing his dirty work while he lifted no finger to help.

Returning again in hopes they had sorted out a classroom placement for me, I was given a weeks holiday since the school was breaking for the term and the national holiday. Although frustrated to be wasting time I knew that I needed to drop expectations and roll with the Botswana way. After the break and entering the third week of my four week internship I was introduced to the whole staff given the assignment of the math department and then put to work grading mock exams. Not exactly what I hoped for but it was something to do, when given the chance to monitor an exam I leaped from the exams were what had been keeping me from the students. When I entered the students paid me little mind took their test then interacted with each other but as the time neared the bell one female student grew brave and asked me a question, which lead to a rush of questions from the class and their circling around me to touch my hair and ask for hugs. Finally I had seen the children and I was asked to please return and teach their class for they had no teacher, which is what I kinda did in my last days but honestly it was mostly show and tell.

If you want to hear more you can read my final paper from Lobatse on my Internship… expect I just realized it is hand written and I don’t think I will have the chance to type it up until it is graded and I am 98% sure no one wants to read it. 

Lobatse

I arrived in Lobatse with renewed hoped that quickly disappeared. After the hour long bus ride and waiting outside of a “Hispanic” chicken place for a bit we met your mothers and we were on your ways. I had little worry in my head about losing my phone or being away from the boys because I new that I would have time to enjoy with my new family and going to my internship at the local school was to keep me busy. The first night was not bad although my homestay was clearly in the ghetto side of town WoodHall and our house was on the lot with the local rehab hostels that my host mother worked at limiting interactions with neighbors my mother was extremely welcoming and so very pleased to find that my Setswana name was Boitumelo for her own daughter’s named was Moitumelo (Mighty). However after this first night things got “interesting”. Read the blogs that follow to hear more! Tales of my internship, isolation, being insulted and very VERY frustrated at times.

Out of the Bush into the City and off to Lobatse

After a week of exploring Northeastern Botswana and peaks into Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia we returned to Gabz and rather than staying at another hotel we told Batsi that we would like to stay at the program house. The program house is a house owned by Pitzer where the “offices” are and where we hold some of our classes while we are in Gabz. It is also an awesome house, with court yard, pool, four bedrooms two baths, study, kitchen, living area and deck with attached side house for the live in gardener and Remus’ new father! Our little puppy from Manyana has found a new home in the high life. Although I’m sad he would be coming home with me I’m glad that he will be here from generation of Pitzer in Botswana students to come. I mean studies show the benefits of having a dog and in such a high stress time the comfort and affection little Remus can and will provide will be a great aid. I bet there is a sociological or psychological study in there.

But I digress, staying in the program house had it benefits but some quite humorous drawbacks one was the instance of Nobu that I sleep in one of the offices alone rather than in the common room with the boys. Although I had no problem with it especially since someone snores, but I know it has a lot to do with the gender roles and divide in Botswana rather than anything else. Batsi walking into the closet and discovering our extracurricular activity was also quite entertaining along with setting off the alarm every ten minutes.

More lectures where also a major part of our orientation week. This time covering “Christianity and traditional African Religion in Botswana” where I got to kick some knowledge thanks to Professor C.Berry got to say I really miss her classes and will continue to since she won’t be at Bowdoin in the spring, if anyone knows another AFS professor I can adore let me know I’m trying to make up my mind about a fourth or five class. We also had a Gender Issues and Impact on Development where a good mix of my focuses from Bowdoin came into play. I notice that has much as I’m enjoying the ease of Botswana I am very much a student and enjoy structure classroom learning. Maybe it will be off to grad school for me after all???

Well grad school will have to wait because its off to the next homestay. Batsi is send us to a new location for our Big Motse stay which shall be interesting. I’m looking forward to working my internship in the local school although it wasn’t my first choice. I’m also hopeful the Lobatse will keep me busier that Manyana, which being the third largest town and the almost capital of Botswana holds promise!

More Safari.

I know I can only going on about the all the wildlife and safari rides and epic sun rises and sets that I saw over the next few days for so long so I’m going to stop here. There are tons of photos you can check out on my facebook if you are interested and I’m always willing to chat your ear off once I return. But for now I will tell you about relaxing poolside, enjoying a nature walk and talk in the evening, getting lost in the bush in the dark maybe not so sober and getting to know Lydia. Lydia, the poor woman was made to join our wild bunch of college students on safari. At first we were very standoffish with her but once we got out of the bush and had a chance to speak with her about what we were doing and her about her life in Monaco and travels to South Africa before arriving in Botswana minus the friends who were supposed to join her we really came around. Again it is the possibility of meeting people and learning about them that study abroad is about right? Lydia made me think, not just because of her touching story about how AIDs has touched her life but on how lucky I am to be having this experience so young in life and how much I can gain from it and how my interactions shape others views of American youths. I know I choose to this for a lot of reasons and it’s really hard at times to remember way due to frustration and enjoyment but in the smallest ways I’m learning so much about people, myself, literature. At one point I complained to Katlego about missing the “real” discussions and thought processes I had at Bowdoin but I know I have now engaged and listened to discussions and learned facts and things I would have never learned at Bowdoin at the same time. These are not only tied to being in Botswana or studying abroad but a lot to do with the people I am in contact with and their experiences in the world. Thato said that “She is older and smarter than us in books but in the social we know more” and I agree, but I also know that just means I can gain some much in different ways from my time here.

Email from Lydia 

HI "you all"

It was wonderful meeting you and  sharing special moments with you ... Unforgettable places ... Like the loo in the camp !!!..
Boy ! Does that create a bond ......!!! .... Never to be Broken ..
I hope to meet you again some day if you wish to come to Monte-Carlo !

All the best and REMEMBER YOU ARE HAVING NOW THE BEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE ...
Later .. Shit will start hitting the fan ... I hope not too hard , but it will, that's called LIFE ..

Kisses to "you all" !

Lydia

The Real Bush Camp and Safari Drive cont.

Once we made it through the bush we arrived at our new home in the bush. Six tents were pitched neatly in a semi circle when we arrived at the bush camp although we were at a campsite and would be staying in tents, the great number of workmen moving around the private site constructing bathrooms, showers, dinning, kitchen and their own tents tipped me off that we wouldn’t be roughing it, Marx popping a bottle of wine for us on the road also should have been a tip off but when in Botswana…

We had a quick rest and we set straight out for our first sunset safari game drive. Although we had 4 or so hours til sunset LT warned us that there was a lot to see but we had to be back at camp before dark. As we set out already having seen wild dogs, zebras, elephants, and antelopes on the way I was excited to see what scenes we would see now that we were really in the thick of it.

Again a wild assortment of wildlife was to be seen and breath taking views. Especially of one lady in a GREEN bikini waving at us as she waded into croc, snake and god knows what else water. Although LT said we most definitely wouldn’t and shouldn’t do such a thing he didn’t make fuss about trying to inform the woman that she wasn’t in the best position to be going for a dip. Anyways shortly after passing the lady in the GREEN bikini we saw giraffes, elephants, wilder beast, all kinds of birds and some lions. LIONESES to be exact, not to far off we came across the carcass of a huge elephant that had most of its face and inners devoured, clearly having fallen prey to the pride. I expected to be a little more shocked but much like killing the chicken, the slaughter of the cows for nwgo and later my trip to the BMC, I’m learning I’m quite un-phased by the gruesome death of animals and I have a strong tummy. Although I think my strength and blood lust might be coming from my company who were very anxious to see some hunts in actions, it would have been awesome but didn’t happen. Our driven continued for hours until we parked in an elephant playground, got down and had a drink and watched the sunset while sitting in a huge whole made by the elephants seeking the salt. Sitting there elephants passing within a 30 foot radius was pretty epic and I could just imagine my mother shouting at me to get out of the damn hole and into the car. But then again if we are talking about my mom she would out there inspecting the elephant dung and snapping photos of the beautiful view.

As we headed back to camp ending on an amazing high something even more exciting happened. Not too far off in the distance a leopard jetted by. Our big hunt seen briefly and in the shadow on night fall but amazing and rare all the same. 

The Real Bush Camp and Safari Drive-Elephants

The next two day were spent camping out and visiting the three areas of Chobe national park. Each of the three areas are distinct with different ecosystems and huge wildlife concentrations. One the first day we left our tree houses and took a three hour drive in open air 4WD 11 seat safari vehicle. The “simple” drive there was adventure in itself. Passing through a large Kasane on the way there it was one-third paved road and villages and two-thirds bush/game drive. Pulling through the town of Kasane we saw tons of elephants and Phono’s warning that we would be sick of “thlo” by the end of our trip or at least completely jaded like most Batswana was starting to make sense. Although I was far from jaded, I could begin to understand how Batswana could see elephants on the daily and just keep walking and that those who live in villages that are ravaged by the majestic creatures could feel contempt for them.  Before arriving in Botswana I knew that I wanted to work with elephants to the greatest degree of my ability and I had initially thought it would be in the line of nature reserve or rescue. However has I spend more time in Botswana I realize that the perspective of elephants especially in Northeastern Botswana where the population is at it’s highest is far different from the American awe and appreciation. I had hope to use my sociological skills and education to observe elephant interactions and how they held human characteristics and how the developed and structured societies. Yet, I quickly learned that the elephant population has dramatic effects on human society in Botswana. Not only do elephants in search of food and water ravage and destroy the lands and water supplies of many rural villages, creating a fear and dislike of the animals. The African Elephant play a major role in tourism. Many tourists can’t wait to see the huge mammal, a good number take part in the riding of elephant, which is not always the most humane act, and even more buy crafts made from parts of the animal for at least depict it. A lot of the excitement also has to do with elephants begin part of the big five. I can’t say I am void of the hype, I have my own collection of elephant figurines and more than enough background pictures of baby elephants but I have to say I don’t know enough about the animal. Which makes me think maybe I am jaded, not by the presence of the elephant but maybe by the idea of them. I know my time watching and learning about them while in Chobe and Kasane taught me a lot and made me desire to deepen my knowledge of the animals I admire so much and there place within their home habitats and the world.

Mosi-oa-Tunya “the smoke that thunders”

Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, is 1.7km wide, 108m high with one million liters of water flowing through per second! And our destination for our second day, I have been waiting for this day for over two years when I first saw Cameron’s pictures of this breathtaking place. Victoria Falls lays right outside the border on Botswana one side falling claim to Zambia and the other to Zimbabwe. Both offer amazing views, which are extremely different, and I’m bias when I say that the Zimbabwe side is a little more beautiful especially during the dry season when the lack of mist makes appreciating the falls a little easier.

We began our trip around the falls at the Devil’s Cataract, the flowing water was a rush and I can only dream of what it’s like during the wet season with the water it 10 time higher! We slowly made our way around to the 6 other waterfall sites, it was unreal how greatly the vegetation changed as we made our way around the falls. Areas that received heavy mist were lush and green like walking into the thick of the jungle while other areas were dry and rocky. Along with the beauty of the falls and great landscape there were animals too! After passing the Main Falls and before our group picture at Horseshoe Falls we spotted a group of warthogs and brave Mpho bestse Pumba shocking him still and chasing the other two straight towards me on the other side of the path. Yes for those of you who didn’t get what I tried to creatively say, Mpho (Jack) added a warthog to his list of animals he has touched while in Botswana [list includes goats, cows, chicken, snake, and few others].

Once we reached the Rainbow Falls I decided I needed to explore a little on my own and think about where I was and what I had in store for myself very soon. The mist picked up while I walked on and couldn’t help but think about what it took for me to arrive here at this moment in my life and how that although I was doubting my choice to come and my ability to successfully take advantage of my time in Botswana, that I was exactly where I needed to be. Never in my life had I ever picture myself traveling to someplace so beautiful and rich in cultural and history and doing such on my own. I realize that all the homework, extra activities, the time and effort my parents spent raising me kind of all added up to this point. Giving the education and opportunity to do things that I never dreamed of. It was time to stop holding on the expectations and start learning to take in everything I could from these months and to learn that these things aren’t out of reach and I deserve to enjoy in their splendor.

Which was the prefect mindset to have before getting lost at the falls with a small German woman and then signing up to Bungee Jump. I mean why not jump off Victoria Falls Bridge with a giant tuber band tied around my ankles? Cameron did it and I had spent the past year telling everyone besides my mother that I was going to. My excitement got Rosalie to join me while the boys were put off by the price, but taking on the 3^rd highest jump in the world (111m) for about US$100? I said happy birthday to me.

Before the Jump though we had lunch, my boys tried the Kudu stake while I went for some pap and traditional spicy beef stew. Then we did a little shopping at the local market where they take, US dollars, South African ran, Botswana pula, sock, shirts, flashlights, cokes, basically anything you got to trade. I got a few great gifts for my water bottle and headband, however I was reluctant to part with my socks or shirt but if I had known I would have brought more with me to trade. There was some really great traditional crafts and we all know I over packed. The market place although awesome for trading is very much a place to be watchful the men are very aggressive at getting you to look at their set-up and are over eager to make a sell to you. Like in Botswana the idea of personal space does not exist and they are very direct in there use of English, grabbing you by the wrist telling you that you must buy one thing or the other holding on to you demanding that you have more money because you are American. Which is so conflicting but I wont go into that now. After our shopping trip we went by a Baobab tree that was more than 1000 years old! Peter and I hopped the fence around the tree while the others were distracted by men trying to selling them more crafts and got up close to the HUGE tree. At one point the hollowed out Baobabs were used as prisons, which is not shocking when you see the size and strength of the base. After the tree it was straight on to the bridge, which included crossing over into Zambia, getting weighed, strapped in and leaping not so gracefully off a bridge! It was wild and a much long experience than I thought it would be. The bounce back up has to be the best part, the force bringing you all the way right-side up again before you fall all over again spinning and swinging in totally unexpected ways.

After the jump we had to make a mad dash back to the border because as Batsi told us they CLOSE at 6 to Zim and 7 to Bots. It was 5 our bus was no where to be seen, half our group was missing and it was more than an hours drive back to the border! However Batsi was wrong about the time and we made it back to a delicious meal with Marx A.O.K.

(Busy day in Bots/Zim/Zam)

Day Two Pictures

Crossing the boarder to Zambia

Devil’s Cataract

Group shot at Horseshoe Falls-

Victoria Falls

Where I Jumped

Thats me!

Entering Mosi-oa-tunya National Park

Devil’s Cataract

Main Falls

Zambia side of Falls (I’m not that crazy MOM!)

Moneys EVERYWHERE!

Baobab tree

JUMP

Tree house adventures with Marx

Day two I wake up in the beautiful bedroom of my tree house at the “bush camp”, when we arrived after the long drive from the lodge I was blown away, very time I try to set expectation in Botswana they are blown away in one way or another. Our bush camp is the real life version of Disney’s tree houses located at their Magic Kingdom park expect we were really sleeping with wild animals right outside our window. Rosalie and I lucked into the tree house with the watering hole right outside our door, which made for some great relaxing on the deck with elephants and antelope gazing right below us.

How could this get any better? Well more free drinks and amazing food presented by the most wonderful Marx. Marx our personal bush camp chef was five stars all around. He was so detailed he his presentation of his meals and engaging to us that he was 100% a Motswana I will never forget. His “ladies first” rules and invitations for “second chance and third chance” was such a welcome change to the mad rush and no share rule of lunch in Manyana. The only thing that could compete with Marx’s personality was his cooking! He definitely put Nobu’s job in question. Allow with Marx, our camp host “Crazy Spaniard” Carlos was a great treat and livened up meal time with great stories of creating the resort and the amazing things his wife, dog and him experience living at the bush camp reserve. I feel like I should clarify that the resorts (Lilly lodge, tree houses, and real bush camp) are all owned and run by Monica, Carlos’s wife, she is the first woman in Botswana to start and run a successful tourism business and one of the only female Motswana to do so. Showing the power and possibility that exist within the tourism business for Botswana and the adapting gender norms (although that might be a stretch). Rounding out the amazing team was LT, our tour guide. Impossible to describe but it’s easy enough said that it’s the people and ANMIALS that make the experience. 

Along with this thought I have to admit that I couldn’t help but wish I could share this adventure with my family and friends, I could just image how much my mother would love taking in all the natural sights and how Macy and Kassey would have me laughing and enjoying the food and the simple facts just so much more. I wont deny that I am traveling with a great group of guys but they agree that they too wish they could have their loved ones to share this with.

Camp Pictures

Watering hole outside my treehouse

It’s been a long time…

To say the least I haven’t felt much like sitting in front of my laptop typing away the details of my African adventures which is sad because I’m sure I’m going to wish I had at some point but some parts you just have to enjoy in the moment.

    But I will do my best to recap a little. Last time I blogged I had just finished my first month in Manyana and was spending a few days in the capital city Gaborone before embarking on an AMAZING study trip to Northeastern Botswana which is bordered by Namibia, Zimbabwe, and, Zambia  and the waters of Chobe River which brings about the one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in Southern Africa.

We left my victory and rundown bed and breakfast on Friday morning and headed to the airport. I was unsure of what to expect but I knew that we would be arriving stopping off for lunch then heading out to for a sunset boat safari on the Chobe then heading out to our bush camp. The plane ride was only two hours but it was like entering a whole new realm when we arrived in Kasane. It is a big tourist town and there were Lekoga everywhere. Batsi’s statement that we would be staying in a bush camp left all of us under the impression that we would be “roughing it” yet, when we arrived at The Water Lilly Lodge that idea went out the window. Although we wouldn’t be staying at the lodge until Wednesday it was clear that we were going to be doing some luxury camping.

After a quick and DEILCIOUS lunch (this trip is going to call for some serious gymming when I get back to the states) we heading to the boat. It was a beautiful time of day and the Chobe keeps the basin lush and green. And with in five minutes of complementary drinks and pulling out from the dock it happened!!! I SAW MY FIRST ELEPHANT! Although it was hard to capture a picture of this single Elephant on the shore of the river chowing down on some leaves was amazing. Yet, the Elephant was completely un-phased by the gathering of tourist boats. After a few minutes of watching we pulled away and that’s when she moved from her hiding place and began to stroll across the beach. As our three hour tour continued there was no shortage of wildlife, I saw dozens of herds of elephants, hippopotamuses (a baby one too!), herds of antelopes, crocodiles, water buffalos and a wild arrange of birds.  Floating down the river as the sunset with Botswana on one side and Zambia on the other was so unreal and if the trip hadn’t already proved to be amazing just as we were turning around we came across a huge dead male hippo with a swarm of crocs feasting, the hippo had ended up upside down keeping the softest meat just out of the reach of the crocs but they were working hard to flip the huge hippo and we got an awesome view of the crocodiles jumping and leaping out of the water sinking there razor sharp teeth into the limbs of the dead hippo. As we moved some that amazing yet gruesome site we were met by the beauty of a waterfront sunset. I have pictures of most of this following, I can try to describe and I can show you the pictures but being feet away from these amazing sights and creatures is pretty indescribable. 

Pictures from day one in Kasane

Chobe Riverfront (I think it connects to the Zambeiz river here too)

 1^st elephant coming out of hiding

BABY hippopotamus 

Elephant eating lunch

Croc waiting for lunch

Dead male hippo

Croc feasting!

Drinks on Pitzer

Sunset on Chobe