Day: 9 November 2026

Left Livingstone Camp about 10.00 Some cloud cover again so a little cooler first thing. Hit the main road to Divundu after about 20 minutes the B8 through the Caprivi Strip. This is an east/west corridor of land for 200 Km’s between Angola and Botswana. It is a designated conservation and wildlife corridor so all animal’s can migrate freely. It is actually now called the Bwabwata National Park and is split into three core areas. Although wildlife can roam freely we didn’t see anything on our trip through. Our stop for the next two nights is Shametu Lodge Campsite. Lovely camping spot with private facilities and a super lodge looking over the Okavango River which flows into the Delta. Lodge for a beer and then the heaven’s opened for an hour with T & L. First major rain we have ever had on any of our previous trips. Should be expected though as it is the start of the rainy season. Temperature dropped dramatically and now feels really cool. Ate in the Lodge tonight, set menu. Main course was Hake and was ok. Still cool.

Some cloud cover today and a little cooler after the rain about 34 degrees max down from the average 39 degrees. Went to the Mdumu National Park about 30 k’s north of Livingston Camp. Great trip along the Kwando River. Lots of hippos, crocs , birds and locusts !! This is the least visited of all the National Parks apparently, maybe it’s location. Had to deflate tyres as deep sand a lot of the way. Saw three other self drivers all day and they were a group. Highlight was seeing Bee Eaters making nests in burrows on the sandy banks of the river. Came across a very large bull elephant on the road in front of us. I didn’t like the look of his movements so backed up a bit. Waited for him to move into the bush a bit and gingerly moved forward. Stopped for Irene to take a photo which was a rear end when suddenly he turned around , started flapping the ears, not a good sign and started a sort of charge. Foot hard on the accelerator and we were out of there and he backed off. Glad I kept the engine going which quite often we don’t when taking photos.

Back to camp about 16.30. BBQ again.

Left Chobe Camp about 10ish and headed for Katimo Millilo where we did some shopping at Midel. Because of the Foot and Mouth problem the meat shelves including chicken were empty. Bought some borewors to make do for a couple of days. Looks like it’s pasta and tinned products from now onwards. Didn’t realise the F&M was such a problem but that is why all our meat and dairy products were confiscated at the border. This is going to be a continuing problem as we head south because as we understand it there will road blocks to check on out fridge and its contents. We have to keep all supermarket receipts as proof of purchase in Namibia. Good and very quiet road to Livingstone Camp. Checked in , camp number 3. Camp is about 10 k’s off the main road on sand. Very remote and unfenced. Private site with own ablutions again overlooking the savanna. Few animals wandering about. Mainly Impala and Waterbuck. Lots of birds.

After checking in and because we had time decided to spend rest of the day in the Rupara National Park about 20 k’s away. Saw very little until we eventually hit the river, about an hours drive. Elephants and Hippos only. This area is a wetland but the combination of lack of rain last year or so and the end of the dry season there is no water.

Back to camp. BBQ Wors and hot vegie rice. No light pollution, solar lighting only, no mobile network or WiFi. Off grid is brilliant. Sound of Hyenas in the night including thunder, lighting and rain, our first.