I stayed in Kasane at
Chobe Safari Lodge, on the banks of the Chobe River, sharing an invisible border with the national park.
The animals from the park pass freely through the lodge’s grounds. Guests are reminded to be on the look out for crocs and hippos that frequent the river bank at night and are advised not to store items on their balconies, lest they become play things for monkeys. A one-armed mother monkey made a small boy cry when she tried to steal his chocolate milkshake. When scolded by the boy’s father, she quietly scooped up her baby by her stub, and scampered away.
"Chobe Safari Lodge does not take any responsibility for any theft or damage caused by our resident animals."
I was entertained by the endless parade of monkeys, baboons, mongooses (not mongeese), warthogs, and lizards that passed through my front lawn. I could hear hippos snorting from the riverbank at night, but fortunately didn't run into any. I even learned a couple of games:
Monkey Escape:
Quickly climb up a vine hanging from a tree. Try to reach the safety of the nearest branch before the combined weight of your brothers and sisters who followed you breaks the vine, taking you and them crashing to the ground below, in a tangled heap of foliage.
Baboon Tag:
As in human tag, chase your friends around the grounds, tackling the one you catch. If tackled, do a somersault, then turn around and chase the others. If you are small, daring, and wily, you can approach your larger, more cumbersome playmate, then scamper up the nearest tree when it comes after you. If you are fast and lucky enough, you might just avoid a swat.
The night of the fall moon, while Michiko was capturing the midnight mist of Victoria Falls, I took a dinner boat cruise from the Lodge down the Chobe River. It was nice – except for all the mosquitos attracted to the candle light.
