Smoke that Thunders

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Chobe Chilwero Lodge, Chobe National Park, Botswana

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Zambia

Our last day in Botswana, we were treated to a majestic male lion stalking four Cape Buffalo and a lioness killing a prey and delivering her three cubs to their lunch. During a sunset cruise on the Chobe River, we got up close and personal with a gigantic crocodile chilling on the banks, a bull elephant crossing the river, and a close-up shot of grazing hippos. At the lovely Sanctuary Chilwero Lodge, pre-dinner entertainment was a lively native dance troupe performance. The two Sanctuary camps were luxurious by any measure, with a unique African flavor tinged with charming colonial British service and decor. Game guides are exceptional — they really enhance the whole experience. We learned so much about all the animals! Our photo albums are overflowing.

Today we arrived and went on a walking tour of Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side — spectacular! Victoria Falls’ reputation as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World is well deserved. It straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, and we transversed both of those borders to arrive at the Royal Livingstone Hotel — a welcome spot after a challenging day in and out of official offices to get visas and other paperwork. David Livingstone, a British explorer, named the falls in 1855 after the British monarchy. However, local African residents called it “Mosi-oa-Tunya,” which means “Smoke that Thunders.”