Limpopo River Lodge: Botswana

On 31st August I drove from Kruger to the Limpopo River Lodge in Botswana to meet up with Delana. It proved to be a long drive over some poor main roads but I crossed the border at the tiny Platjon Border Post & found out that Delana was just ahead of me!

Map of the reserve.

Delana & her beloved Landcruiser!

She is very well equipped.
 Delana has everything including
 the kitchen sink!

On the edge of our camp.

The magnificent Limpopo River

The view from the Bush Camp

Sundowners in the evening

That is what we were looking at!

The Bush Camp

It proved to be extremely comfortable place to stay.

Our bar!

Delana had booked us in for a four night stay. She had stayed here before many years ago, but the area was new for me. The river was magnificent, the bush camp very comfortable (we had proper beds)! And we virtually had the place to ourselves! It was great to walk where you want (no restrictions here) & explore the tracks & trails in the reserve. Botswana is wild, you can feel it & you can almost touch it! We didn't fancy a dip in the river though, far too many crocs!

Enjoying the evening.

The end of the day

Long tailed Starling were common along the river.

Crested Barbet

Crocodile

The next morning, we drove a gravel road parallel to the river. It proved to be a lovely drive punctuated by short walks amid magnificent riparian forest.

Delana doing a spot of birding!

Looking across to South Africa

We didn't see or hear Leopard but they are here!

Away from the river, the area is very arid.

The entire area is dotted with koppies.

Ostrich

Namaqua Dove


Sabota Lark

Common in the mopane scrub
 habitat.

Scaly feathered Finch

Tracks were primitive & driving was slow.

Delana in her beloved bush!

There are a few waterholes in the area.

The enormous hollow baobab.

Just in case you missed it there is a sign.

The baobab is protected from destructive

 Elephants by circling the tree

 with sharp rocks.

Elephants had dug in the dry river for water.

The sand was wet at the bottom, 

but it was a long way down!

There were a few Giraffe.

Impala

Game was skittish. Recently there was hunting here.

Steenbok

Elephants were common.

We probably saw around 40 animals.
 Too many for the area.

This individual wouldn't let us pass!

We had to make a massive detour
 to get back to camp!

All too soon our four night stay came to an end. We both had had a wonderful time & would love to come back to the Tuli Block to do some more exploring. We left via the Zanzibar Border post, which was a delight. Bye Botswana for now, but we will be back!

Crossing back into South Africa 

after a brilliant five days.