The Real Africa: Border Crossing Into Zambia

I couldn't imagine what was taking so long. I'd passed through more than thirty-five border posts over the last two years and never did it seem to take this long. By now I was regretting giving my passport, carnet and motorcycle documents to Ronnie. ...A nearby bar, eating area, pool and Jacuzzi made for a perfect place to chill after taking in the falls, kayaking, rafting, bungee jumping or whatever activity the young crowd gathered here takes in. For Ronnie he is on a fast track to get to Lilongwe in Malawi where friends wait for him and they'll spend the next weekend on Lake Malawi.

Chobe River. Chobe National Park. Ichobezi Houseboat.

The next morning with our bikes parked safely at the Chobe Safari Lodge, a small “tender” boat with a 40hp engine met us at the Botswana Immigration office and ushered us ten minutes across the Chobe River where we hiked up a muddy track to a tiny one room shack filled with a collection of […]

Chobe River. Chobe National Park. Ichobezi Houseboat.

The next morning wiith our bikes parked safely at the Chobe Safari Lodge, a small “tender” boat with a 40hp engine met us at the Botswana Immigration office and ushered us ten minutes across the Chobe River where we hiked up a muddy track to a tiny one room shack filled with a collection of […]

Riding Through Herds of Elephants.

Botswana, like Namibia, is both blessed and cursed with dry, desolate and inhospitable deserts to the south, a massive swamp to the northwest and lush green forests and fertile greenbelts to the northeast. But getting to many of these areas can be challenging. As such, Botswana could be one of the most expensive tourist destinations […]

Exploring the Okavango Delta

IMG_3489_2.jpg First, I took an all day trip to explore the waterways by makoro - a shallow dug out canoe that is piloted by a "poler" - then Ronnie and I along with two German travelers charted a 45 minute scenic flight over the Delta - taking off and returning to Maun. ... One of the guys used his feat to kick the water out of the makoro (canoe) A good understanding of the local wildlife and certainly excellent makoro skills I relaxed and nearly sitting at the level of the water gazed through the reeds, into the water and up into the sky spotting herons, egrets, kingfishers, eagles, ducks and more as Daniel called out the names.

Solving Botswana’s Donkey Problem.

After a few nights at Ngepi Camp I would have to bid goodbye to Namibia and cross my fourth African border into Botswana, the least densely populated country in Africa. And while human population density may be minimal, I discovered that meant more room for donkeys. I’ve never seen more donkeys anywhere — including Mexico. […]