25 November 2018 – Kasane

Since Friday we are in Botswana, to be exact in Kasane. We are here at a campsite, Thebes Safaris Lodge & Camping, directly at the Chobe River. We arrived Friday early, much earlier than expected because the border crossing went easy, for African notions. The road from Camp Nkwazi to Kazangula, about 40 km, was fine until the exit to the border crossing. Just before the exit we were stopped and I had to show driving license, road tax, carbon tax and insurance. Everything was in order but I will never complain about the Dutch police! The last part to the ferry was bad, very bad, and no more is being done because for years they have been building a bridge over the Zambezi that connects Zambia and Botswana. In the pictures you can see how far they are.

As usual, we had to stop for the border gate, park and then to the border on foot to have our passports and CDP stamped. We got help from someone who presented himself as an employee of Bushlore (the previous owner of the car) but this turned out not be the the case later. He helped us great, although the exchange rate he gave was bad. We also bought a ticket for the ferry. After that we were allowed to drive to the ferry, a floating pontoon/barge with a small engine on it, where I had to park in the middle so that we stayed stable and afloat. Luckily the crossing only took 2 minutes and we were in Botswana.

Everything went very fast. Passport stamping (no visa), we paid road tax (15 euro) and ready. Then by car through the border where we have to give all fruit away and I had a discussion with the official on the import of the car. I proved to be right and she agreed with a broad smile. Welcome to Botswana!

Kasane is known for us and we did quick shopping and left for the campsite just outside the village. In the night we got a lot of rain and thunderstorms so the whole campsite was wet. We had a lot of pity with some late arrivers who had to set up their tent in the pouring rain and storm. Our neighbours turned out to be two Dutch men who came driving from Cape Town with their camper. They wanted to go to Zambia but weren’t prepared at all. No dollars (for Visa and road tax) but there I could help them!

Saturday we made a boat cruise on the Chobe. For us this was the third time and what struck us was that we did not see any elephant or giraffe but a lot of hippo’s, buffalos and waterbucks. This is because we were now much later (3 months) in the season and the animals were all in the national park.

Tomorrow we go to Nata, about 290 km south of Kasane. Then direction Maun. We want to be in Swakopmund by Christmas.