LUST LIST - Day 8 - May 31, 2012
OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA
Today we are heading to Africa! The Okavango Delta in Northern Botswana has been on hundreds of to-do lists, such as 1000 Places to See Before You Die, Conde Nast Traveler, etc.. I first learned of the Okavango Delta in college; during one of my advertising classes we got to "pitch" to real-life clients, and the client I chose was Trackers Northwest, a Portland-based safari company specializing in trips to the Okavango Delta.
This is a large inland Delta, where the water from the Okavango River reaches a basin in the Kalahari desert evaporates into a basin without ever reaching the sea. Between June & August (Botswana's dry winter months), the Delta swells with water and attracts one of Africa's greatest concentrations of wildlife. Thus, the popular safari destination! Unfortunately for me and my budget, Botswana's government has controlled the area to NOT cater to the "budget-traveler" in order to avoid the mass-tourism that results and would ruin the land. (Amy - 0, endangered species - 1)
Now these safaris are HIGH-END. I mean all-inclusive luxury travel "tents" (if you can even call them that). They look amazing. In this region you will find so many different types of animals and birds, every one you'd imagine on a safari. Here is a list if you aren't too imaginative: elephants, buffalo, hippos, giraffe, crocodile, lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena, black/white rhino, zebra, baboon, ostrich, and ibis. Oh man, there are so much more but that list gets me excited! Where else can you go and possibly see all these types of animals (besides a zoo, I know its cheaper!) in just a couple days? Amazing. If you also think that clicking language is fake, that is real too. Spoken by natives (San Bushmen) who live along the Delta, Bushmen is the world's oldest contemporary culture and have very little population remaining.
Fun facts: no vaccinations (or Visas!) are required for entry, however the CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends all these fun injections - Hep A, Hep B, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, and Yellow Fever. Malaria (especially during the wet season) runs high in Botswana (par for the course) so an anti-malarial medication should be prescribed by your doctor before heading out. P.S. Season 7 of the Amazing Race (Also on my bucket list - life goal to be on that show!!!) got to stay in Botswana in a safari lodge. Not fair. XO~
OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA
Today we are heading to Africa! The Okavango Delta in Northern Botswana has been on hundreds of to-do lists, such as 1000 Places to See Before You Die, Conde Nast Traveler, etc.. I first learned of the Okavango Delta in college; during one of my advertising classes we got to "pitch" to real-life clients, and the client I chose was Trackers Northwest, a Portland-based safari company specializing in trips to the Okavango Delta.
This is a large inland Delta, where the water from the Okavango River reaches a basin in the Kalahari desert evaporates into a basin without ever reaching the sea. Between June & August (Botswana's dry winter months), the Delta swells with water and attracts one of Africa's greatest concentrations of wildlife. Thus, the popular safari destination! Unfortunately for me and my budget, Botswana's government has controlled the area to NOT cater to the "budget-traveler" in order to avoid the mass-tourism that results and would ruin the land. (Amy - 0, endangered species - 1)
 |
| (CNTraveler.com) |
Now these safaris are HIGH-END. I mean all-inclusive luxury travel "tents" (if you can even call them that). They look amazing. In this region you will find so many different types of animals and birds, every one you'd imagine on a safari. Here is a list if you aren't too imaginative: elephants, buffalo, hippos, giraffe, crocodile, lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena, black/white rhino, zebra, baboon, ostrich, and ibis. Oh man, there are so much more but that list gets me excited! Where else can you go and possibly see all these types of animals (besides a zoo, I know its cheaper!) in just a couple days? Amazing. If you also think that clicking language is fake, that is real too. Spoken by natives (San Bushmen) who live along the Delta, Bushmen is the world's oldest contemporary culture and have very little population remaining.
 |
| (View from a Safari-lodge) |
Fun facts: no vaccinations (or Visas!) are required for entry, however the CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends all these fun injections - Hep A, Hep B, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, and Yellow Fever. Malaria (especially during the wet season) runs high in Botswana (par for the course) so an anti-malarial medication should be prescribed by your doctor before heading out. P.S. Season 7 of the Amazing Race (Also on my bucket list - life goal to be on that show!!!) got to stay in Botswana in a safari lodge. Not fair. XO~
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