Last day in paradise
Friday 24th September, 2004Sunset across the Chobe.
Morning saw us reminiscing over what had been a remarkable holiday. Today was our last day at Chobe Safari Lodge, and this was a good time to get a complete 3 family photo ... just about the only time all 12 of us had been in one place at the same time. This spot was where we had let the kids camp, in the hotel grounds, while the adults luxuriated in the Lodge itself.
When we arrived yesterday, this was the sight that greeted us. An elegant, friendly and well run hotel, complete with all the facilities you'd expect from a 4 star resort. Best of all, it fronted right on to the Chobe river, and sported no nonsense 'Beware of Crocs' signs all along the water's edge.
More importantly, the bar was superb and the food was great.
If you didn't want to leave the Lodge, you could game watch right there, with Baboons, Warthog, Vervets, Owls and Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo) wandering all around the campus, between main buildings and rondavels. These omnivorous little animals (about the size of a cat) were clearly scared of the baboons when they were around, and bunched up into their characteristic 'crowds' all standing up on hind legs, looking at the predator. Fortunately the hotel staff would chase the baboons away with monotonous regularity, thereby 'protecting' the mongoose.
The sunset from the riverside bar (right next to the youngster's campsite) offered up these tantalising views across the river. Reinforcing the sadness that we would be leaving soon.
The last of the sundown cruise boats lingers to look at the elephant ......
.... before it too speeds back to the hotel for the night.
Dinner was a fabulous buffet set outside next to the pool and overlooking the Chobe river. Surely the most romantic and exotic dining imaginable.
Tomorrow we drive back to Johannesburg via Nata Pan, where hopefully we will see a few animals that have eluded us so far. It will be the last entry in this series, and after that, I will sadly have to resort to much more mundane subjects for my photos.
[Complete Safari and wildlife photo index]
Morning saw us reminiscing over what had been a remarkable holiday. Today was our last day at Chobe Safari Lodge, and this was a good time to get a complete 3 family photo ... just about the only time all 12 of us had been in one place at the same time. This spot was where we had let the kids camp, in the hotel grounds, while the adults luxuriated in the Lodge itself.
When we arrived yesterday, this was the sight that greeted us. An elegant, friendly and well run hotel, complete with all the facilities you'd expect from a 4 star resort. Best of all, it fronted right on to the Chobe river, and sported no nonsense 'Beware of Crocs' signs all along the water's edge.
More importantly, the bar was superb and the food was great.
If you didn't want to leave the Lodge, you could game watch right there, with Baboons, Warthog, Vervets, Owls and Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo) wandering all around the campus, between main buildings and rondavels. These omnivorous little animals (about the size of a cat) were clearly scared of the baboons when they were around, and bunched up into their characteristic 'crowds' all standing up on hind legs, looking at the predator. Fortunately the hotel staff would chase the baboons away with monotonous regularity, thereby 'protecting' the mongoose.
The sunset from the riverside bar (right next to the youngster's campsite) offered up these tantalising views across the river. Reinforcing the sadness that we would be leaving soon.
The last of the sundown cruise boats lingers to look at the elephant ......
.... before it too speeds back to the hotel for the night.
Dinner was a fabulous buffet set outside next to the pool and overlooking the Chobe river. Surely the most romantic and exotic dining imaginable.
Tomorrow we drive back to Johannesburg via Nata Pan, where hopefully we will see a few animals that have eluded us so far. It will be the last entry in this series, and after that, I will sadly have to resort to much more mundane subjects for my photos.
[Complete Safari and wildlife photo index]
