I just got back from our annual trans-Okavango river safari. We switched things up a bit this year and started in Shakawe on the loveliest houseboat in Botswana. I fished so hard but only managed to bag one barbel and one tiger fish. After two nights on the houseboat we met our trusty guide Mike and he pulled along side the Kubu Queen and we just threw our bags aboard and then hoped on the River Raptor.
This is our third year and even though the idea is always the same – traverse the Okanvango Delta in a 14 foot long aluminum boat with Mike – every time feels different. I can’t even begin to provide a proper synopsis here but I shall try to give a condensed outline.
First there is a very big river. Huge crocodiles lie all over the banks. We see one every minute. Then we enter a very small papyrus channel where we all lie flat on the boat as reeds and papyrus wack us on either side. After that we enter Xo flats, which is open and wide and very, very shallow. Then there are lots of lagoons with lily pads. Then there are high reeds with small, deep channels. We see lots of elephants here. Then it’s a proper small river with banks and we finally see cattle and goats and then we know that Maun is near.
We spent five days on the boat swimming, fishing, listening to music, watching Ellen down Liquifruit like it’s her cocaine (she has her habit under control, just barely), watching Alicia turn an enviable shade of brown (SPF 4), watching Katy apply sunscreen every half hour (her freckles are gorgeous), and amusing Mike with our fabulous antics.
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