Botswana: Experience an eco-friendly animal tour

When the first ray of sunshine in the morning climbed to Chobe National Park in Botswana, a group of us got on the Land Rover and started an animal sightseeing trip. On other safaris in Africa, you may hear the noise of a diesel engine, which certainly breaks the tranquility of the dawn. However, this morning, the tour guide led us quietly away on an electric car to see the sleeping elephants and lions.

This wildlife viewing is a unique trip because all vehicles involved run on electricity, which is supplied by South Africa's Victoria Falls hydro grid. Including electric vehicles (modified Land Rover) and electric boats. This method not only does not affect the surrounding environment, but also gives travelers a better perspective. When we got on the Land Rover, everything around us was very quiet, and we could clearly hear the chirping of birds and the rustling of the wind in the jungle. It feels really good. On the way, the tour guide will let us stop and take some memorable photos, the most beautiful of which is the orange sunrise. Continuing on, we heard the sirens of baboons and the calls of guineas flying out of their nests.

1. Huge elephants

Qiaobei National Park is famous for its huge elephant herd, consisting of 120,000 elephants. The picture is very spectacular. The best viewing season for this scenic spot is from May to October during the dry season, because most elephants gather by the river at this time. When the rainy season arrives, they disperse into nearby jungles, and there will be fewer wildlife and tourists upstream and downstream. In front of the zoo, upstream of the river, there is a boardwalk that separates the viewing and seating areas. Visitors can see scattered hippos, warthogs, blackbucks and different species of birds here.

2. Liz Taylor’s Honeymoon Suite

The famous American movie star Liz Taylor likes this forest zoo very much. She has visited it many times and even met Richard Burrows by the river in the park. A romantic wedding was held. Taylor's room number here is 210, with a private balcony and separate plunge pool. Since her wedding in 1975, the hotel has been upgraded to a five-star hotel, but unfortunately, Taylor's aura is no longer there. There are new creative designs, oversized mattresses, wooden frames, ancient lanterns.

3. Kasani International Airport

There is a small international airport called Kasani 15 kilometers away from the zoo. It is only a 2-hour flight from neighboring Johannesburg, South Africa, and Gaborone, Botswana. Kassani International Airport is the only airport in Africa with a parking lot for electric vehicles. Mountain hotels can use Land Rover electric vehicles to pick up and drop off tourists. In addition, it only takes 90 minutes from the national park to Victoria Falls on the border, which is very convenient.

4. Ecotourism, Sound of Silence

Most hotels are located on the borders of national parks. Visitors staying here need to leave half an hour in advance. There are electric car tours in the morning and electric boat tours in the afternoon. The tour guides here are all women, which is a major feature of African tourist hotels. Albert, 62, is an experienced tour guide who is generally responsible for ecotourism. Her tour guide has a unique style and often takes tourists to some wonderful places, such as kitchens, laundry rooms and other places that tourists usually don't set foot on. Albert became excited when he mentioned ecological protection. This is our park and we have a responsibility to protect it, she said. I lead my visitors to recycle glass bottles, reuse wastewater in the park, and turn discarded food into biogas for cooking, which is very meaningful.

In the afternoon, we took a boat trip and once again felt the tranquility of nature. When the electric boat came to the corner, we saw elephants, African fish eagles, and crocodiles basking in the sun by the water.

Special Recommendations

Situated between Kazungula and the northern Botswana town of Casane, Cavarape Safari Lodge is an excellent base for exploring the natural wonders and wildlife of Chobe National Park and the Chobe River. It has a variety of accommodation facilities to suit different travel requirements and styles.