3-9 Honey, There’s a Hippo outside our Tent

We are into perhaps our most un-luxurious portion of our trip. We’ve been living in a tent for two weeks just outside Chobe National Park and have about two more months of tent living, mosquito fighting, monkey defending, crocodile bewaring adventures.

Residing adjacent to the national park, we have nightly visits from the resident Hippo. It’s so big and gets so close to our tent window that sometimes we don’t realize we’re looking at its ass till it moves. Apparently, it’s the most aggressive animal on earth, so I don’t dare deprive it of its wishes as it vacuums up the bush around our area. The Baboons are a constant nuisance, coming up to our tent (or improvised table) and snatching the sugar packets or food from us as we eat. We cook everything by fire, so meals are to be planned, and take longer. Plus I spend good portion of my morning in search of dry wood. Fortunately right now, we have access to water, hot showers, and communal camping bathrooms. But when we move to the village and camp, Kate says we need to walk 2-4km. for water… everyday.



Despite all the challenges, I find this lifestyle fun and stimulating. Night fires are warm, cozy, and calming (especially with the box wine- “boxed” because they store better, are cheaper, and easier to transport – plus monkeys haven’t figured how to open them). Mornings are a bit more difficult to start a fire with dew-wet wood so we skip our tea. I always manage a bike ride during the day (and spot some game too*), learn new things from the locals, and soak in the beautiful Chobe scenery. I read from my USB the recent Web-news, and current interests downloaded from my last stint at an Internet Café. I always have the blog to do, books to read, and mosquitoes to kill. Kate gives me projects like interviewing subjects for her research. I manage the photo documentation she does for research. And most importantly improvise with limited tools to make our area as safe and comfortable for us.

For the last two weeks, the latest project I’ve undertaken is developing the marketing strategy and messaging for a new Safari Company here at Chobe [Flora & Fauna Safaris]. The expert Wildlife Guide and entrepreneur I work with is the husband of Kate’s research assistant and he is establishing his own company. We both have gotten a lot out of our relationship: I’ve learned wonderful insights into the local tourism industry (and in the process seen great game), and he, more focus and discipline in his marketing outlook. Ahh, such is the joy of helping people and learning new things –symbiotic, just like nature.

*oddly enough, we have not gone on an “official” Game drive yet (i.e. one that we actually paid), but from my daily 15mile bike rides around the park I have already seen Kudu, Impala, Giraffe, Elephant, Zebra, Wilebeast, Warthogs, Hippos and Baboons. It has been thrilling, and scary, at the same time since I lack the security of a car. The locals keep warning me its dangerous to ride here because of the animals (lions and snakes) but then again, so is Chicago with the four-wheeled SUV animals running rampant in the streets!