Traveling with the family in Botswana and Namibia

August 2016

Sunset at Okaukuejo Etosha National Park

Family journey

We travelled for nearly 6 weeks with my brother Thomas, his wife Sandra and their two children Lara and Noah through Namibia and Botswana. It was the third time for the family to travel with us around southern Africa during their summer holidays.  They drove a Toyota Landcruiser offering inside sleeping space for four people rented from Avis Safari Rental.

travelling together for 6 weeks

Safari route:

Maun - Moremi Game Reserve - Khwai River - Cobe National Park - Chobe Riverfront -Kasane - Katima Mulilo - Mudumo National Park - Nkasa Rupara National Park - Divundu - Mahango Nationalpark - Rundu - Grootfontein - Etosha National Park - Erindi Private Game Reserve - Windhoek.

The diverse animal abundance which we were privileged to experience especially in Botswana beat all our previous records. Huge herds of elephants, numerous hippos, lions on different occasions, cheetahs and leopards, caracal, wild dogs, giraffes and buffalos, jackals and hyenas and last but not lease the many antelope species and interesting raptors.
The 9 year old animal professor Noah commented the sightings at the camp fire and was often able to enlighten us with previously unknown details on the behaviour of the different species - cats and wild dog being his main field of expertise.
In the Okavango Delta we travelled through very humid areas. No problem for two well-equipped Landcruisers. 
We had only booked some night in the Moremi and Chobe as well as 5 nights at Okaukuejo in Etosha. Apart from that we were flexible. As we had a rather high expectancy regarding our camp site we sometimes had to have a look at several sites before everyone was happy.

Most of the times we had nice spots for at least two nights and thus our travel routine was mostly relaxed.

The interesting time spent togehter with a lot of highlights experienced went by much too fast. We said good-bye to the four at the Windhoek airport. On arrival in Switzerland a new adventure awaits them. The collected their first puppy – the newest member.

Action Mobil Robusto spotted

In Rundu, Zambezi Region Namibia we passed the parking Action Mobil Robusto. Unfortunately it looked somewhat battered and unkempt. Considering that his owner is a motor home dealer we were a bit surprised! We for our part would never have travelled with it looking like this.

Mostly we noticed vertical ‘scratches’ on the side panels that must have been quite difficult to actually get!

Not even real off-road driving for 9000 km in Mongolia, up to 6000 metres height in Tibet and monsoon in Thailand left Robusto looking like that. Thus we were also able to sell it later with a clear conscience to a focussed and critical buyer (qualified motor mechanic, experienced motor dealer).

The times and the journeys with Robusto remain unforgotten and were very adventurous.

 

Photos