November 4: Okavango Delta

After a morning self-guided safari tour which didn’t result in any views of the big five, we booked a guided tour at the Okavango Delta.  The tour in the swampy waters reminded us of our village visit in Sigiriya in Sri Lanka. Our mode of transport was the Mokorro, which is a traditional canoe-like vessel.  It was definitely the highlight of our short stay in Botswana so far.  According to Google, “The Okavango Delta is a vast inland river delta in northern Botswana. It's known for its sprawling grassy plains, which flood seasonally, becoming a lush animal habitat. The Moremi Game Reserve occupies the east and central areas of the region. Here, dugout canoes are used to navigate past hippos, elephants and crocodiles. On dry land, wildlife includes lions, leopards, giraffes and rhinos.”

We began drifting in this peaceful setting and immediately came upon a small group of hippos.  The huge beasts floated in the murky waters to protect their skins from the harmful UV rays of the sun.  As we continued along the river, we saw zebras, storks, frogs, and impalas. But, the ultimate highlight was seeing another one of the big five up close and personal – the African Buffalo.  This beast waded in knee high waters and stared right through us as we approached on so close.  It was exhilarating to be so close to these massive animals.