Since our last trip to Botswana in 2005 we have vowed every year to come back, finally that year has come! This has been a trip thus far that has certainly been challenging from an organisational/logistical point of view. Booking the campsites was no easy feat but with lots of calls to Botswana and some perseverence we got there in the end! There were also logistics to consider in selecting an appropriate route and ensuring enough fuel etc. We are about to embark on nearly two weeks with no phone signal and no fuel stops. Self sufficiency needed somewhat! However, the planning is all part of the fun and where 'Mrs Skinner' comes in with maticulous planning! Or is it just a case of organisational OCD!
Starting in Maun we collect our vehicle, hired from South African based Bushlore. (Thanks guys for your prompt responses and assistance!). You may ask why are we hiring when we have a perfectly decent landy sitting there in Kenya!? Good question but with just 16 days available driving to and from Kenya is just to far. Therefore logistics determined that we would hire from South Africa and have the car delivered to Botswana, and Bushlore fitted the bill in terms of excellent vehicle specs.
We are in a geeky kind of way excited about our hire from Bushlore. Staying with the Skinner tradition we have hired a Land Rover Defender 110, with full expedition kit and rooftent. However, indulge us for a moment as this beauty is going to be a TDCi/Puma model, one we have yet to drive in the bush!
Ok, so that aside heres a quick snapshot of where we are headed.
Leaving Maun we plan to travel into Moremi reserve, home to the famed Okavango Delta and vast areas of bush known for good population of Lion and Wild Dog. Here we stay for 5 nights, camping in three seperate remote bush campsites in three different areas of Moremi.
Leaving via the beautiful Khwai area of Moremi our offroad journey takes us across the famous Magwikhwe sand ridge and onto the Savuti area of Chobe National Park. 156 miles long and 65 feet high, the sand ridge is the ancient shoreline of a super-lake that covered much of northern Botswana and will certainly test our 4x4 driving skills!
We stay in a bush campsite in the heart of Savuti for 3 nights, near to the reborn Savuti channel which flows once again after long periods of running dry. Here this area is known for its dense elephant populations as well as home to the well documented Lion pride who specialised in hunting elephant.
Leaving the plains of Savuti we head further north and deeper into Chobe National Park, camping at a remote site along the Chobe River. We remain in Chobe for our last three nights in the Botswana bush before crossing the border into Zambia via the Kazungula ferry.
As we reach Livingstone in Zambia we reach the conclusion of our 16 day African adventure but not without a two night stay and hopping over the border into Zimbabwe to view the mighty Victoria Falls. Having visited once before from both sides we both undeniably agree that its at its best seen from the Zim side. Having said that both views take your breath away and we cant wait to go back to see the 'smoke that thunders'.
As the sunsets on our last night in Zambia we are hoping to be chatting together on the banks of the Zambezi about 16 crazy, but sucessful days and 400 miles across 3 countries! (That hopefully includes Wild Dog!)
We will ofcourse be doing a blog during our travel but due to no internet signal all posts will be online once we are back home! Check back soon!
Botswana/Zambia - our destinations
Bushlore Land Rovers
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