The peace and magic of Botswana...

There is something a bit magic and definitely something very peaceful about Botswana. With a population of two million in a land area the size of France, after the hustle, bustle and occasional hassle of other countries in Africa, Botswana is incredibly peaceful.

We arrived in Kasane and boarded a small boat for a cruise along the Chobe River which runs between the Chobe National Park and Namibia – sighting elephants, baboons, crocodiles and kudu on the banks of the river and drifting between reeds teeming with hippos. Further along the river we sighted a pair of lions on the bank and another one amongst the reeds – it is incredible to be so close to nature.

The Batswana, as the people here are known have been lucky in comparison to other countries we have been in to find masses of diamonds in their land – the government has clearly directed this wealth into infrastructure, education and health. In fact they are the only African country to provide free HIV medication to those in need, which at a rate of 25% is a large portion of the population. In 2006 their life expectancy had dipped to 33 years of age, meaning that Tille was already ‘old’ but now in 2011, the rate is back up to a respectable 77 years of age.

Our next stop was a place called Elephant Sands where the motto states ‘that Elephants rule’ and do they what! We camped at this lovely little lodge, sat around a campfire drinking a beer and watching a herd of about 20 elephants bath and drink from a water hole not 20 metres away. Once they had drifted away a leopard (now we have the big 5!!) came to the water hole to see what was for supper. We had been promised that elephants will not walk over tents, but at 1am when there was one literally less than a metre away (foot prints to prove it!) we were feeling a little unsure! To be so close to nature is magic indeed.

After a short stop at Planet Baobab which was a little bit like a Disney inspired African lodge we rode across the top of the Kalahari to Maun where we camped on the edge of the Okavango Delta. Our final day took us along the western side of the Delta where we spotted zebra, marabou and ostriches on the road.

Between the vast open plains and wilderness left untouched by the small population, friendly smiles from the locals and the western comforts of home (Tille keeps saying he feels like he is in Australia), Botswana has been simply magical and peaceful and a place we would love to return in the dry season to make the most of the Kalahari and the Okavango Delta...