Here is a typical July scene - the lush greenery of past months has now given way to a slightly more parched look, and the roadside grass is pale and wintry. These pictures were taken last week during a business trip, on the road from Kasane to Ngoma.
This tarred transit road cuts through a section of the Chobe National Park, and is a very appealing drive through indigenous teak forests and grasslands, ending up on a ridge overlooking the Chobe floodplain and the Botswana/Namibian border crossing.
On the way we passed a camouflaged herd of zebra under shady trees on the left, and watched a magnificent sable antelope galloping across the road. Ground hornbills and baboons are usually dotted around on the tar road surface, or busy foraging around in the grass, and this was no exception.
This tarred transit road cuts through a section of the Chobe National Park, and is a very appealing drive through indigenous teak forests and grasslands, ending up on a ridge overlooking the Chobe floodplain and the Botswana/Namibian border crossing.
On the way we passed a camouflaged herd of zebra under shady trees on the left, and watched a magnificent sable antelope galloping across the road. Ground hornbills and baboons are usually dotted around on the tar road surface, or busy foraging around in the grass, and this was no exception. We have also encountered wild dog, and even a lioness on this route before! As ever, in the bush, I'm very aware that we only see a small percentage of what sees or could potentially see us...
The dry winter bush - a good time for viewing game near the road. Looking at those pics, I can smell the dust.
ReplyDeleteSaw a programme about wild dogs recently it was wonderful stuff. They are strange indeed.
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I enlarged the pictures but did not detect the zebras. Should I?But I like the idea that you are being watched by many eyes. This place is THEIR home. Ever since I was in Africa, I did not enjoy going to a zoo anymore.
ReplyDeleteWow, that looks EERILY like the stretch of road to our little corner of the earth. Our animal sightings are not quite as epic, though!
ReplyDeletebeats the hell out of taxis and angry Joburg traffic.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing lurking in the shade of trees are traffic cops with speed cameras!!!
I love your roads
What a lovely winter scene.
ReplyDeleteImagine seeing all that on the way to work! Too bad you can't capture the sound for us.
ReplyDeleteoh i wish i were on that road....
ReplyDeletei would be like you taking photos through the window. and like you appreciating everything i saw.
Funny that a photo of our July may have the same brown grasses, but due to drought & heat rather than winter!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes my neighbor did find a good home for "Little Cat". I hated to not be able to keep her, but our cat was having a hissy fit!
Looking at Angela's note I must say that I do not like zoos. Some may do good things in trying to save a species, but city zoos are quite sad to me.
ReplyDeleteOh that all our business road trips could be as exciting and eventful as yours always seem to be, Karen! Rather than gazing in dull inertia at the number plate on the car in front you can look out over your Africa and seek out the treasures hidden - or not - in all its wild loveliness.
ReplyDeleteUsually your pics are so exotic looking, but these are very peaceful. Maybe that's because I'm American, and for us, the road is a sign of happiness - we love to drive into the sunset as we always say.
ReplyDeleteMade me feel peaceful. Thank you!
Surely there'd be a mine of wildlife to discover in the bush. How safe is it to walk in the bush where you live?
ReplyDeleteYour writing is really evocative, thank you so much for sharing ! I can't believe it has taken me quite so long to find your lovely blog !
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