Fishing the Chobe River, visiting a local village & Chess

This morning we were all grated for breakfast and as it was being prepared Dad says... "they already caught a fish". I presumed he was talking of a local fisherman. Little did I know he was talking about Tristan. As I walked over to the side of the boat I see Tristan on the little jetty with one of our guides totally realing in a fish. We all run down stairs with excitement to see Tristan real in a 26 pond catfish caught with bacon, yes bacon. The smile on Tristan's face was priceless. 

After breakfast we were able to visit a local village. This was simply incredible. We took the jetty and slipped in a grass byway that looked like it could have been a water roadway. We were greeted by one of the members of the village who took us on a tour of the village. He first took us into a home enclosed by a fence. Those are that of a family. The home is the duty of the wife to take care of which includes the mud walls, this has to be done once per year. If the home is not enclosed by a fence then these are the homes of the village bachelors. We saw local produce & small animals such as chickens. We were introduced to the village children who were at school. After touring the village we were invited into an area with a sacred tree which was sure to lead you to an immortal life if you hugged it. There we were greeted by dance as well as a market that the villagers had set up for us to buy some of their local hand crafted goods. This was a truly humbling experience. 

Following our trip to the village we went on a short cruise in the jetty to look at local wildlife. We saw hippo's and giraffes along with many birds. 

Once back to the house boat we spent some time relaxing and it was then that Tristan talked Dad into a game of chess.  Tristan and I had been playing chess since the last resort and Dad had been intently watching. Tristan was so patient. Dad remembered some moves that Tristan and I had learned incorrectly and Dad was first to make the correction. Dad and Tristan played for a good hour and a half. It was awesome to see them playing together. 

After the chess game wrapped up the crew took Tristan and I trolling for fish but we were not as successful this time. It was however a wonderful was to watch the sunset. Upon return we were seated for dinner and then there was time for another game of chess with Dad and Tristan. Needless to say Dad won and Tristan took it great.

Another wonderful day on the Chobe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THURS 21 JUN                        ONCE I KNOW WHICH BOAT YOU ARE ON I WILL PHONE THE CAPTAIN AND ASK HIM PLEASE TO ORGANISE TO TAKE YOU TO ONE OF THE LITTLE FISHING VILLAGES FROM WHERE HIS STAFF ORIGINATE SO YOU CAN SEE HOW THE MAJORITY OF FOLK LIVE IN AFRICA.      NORMALLY YOU ENJOY BREAKFAST ON BOARD, AND,  WHEN ALL THE OTHER BOATS BELONGING TO THE LODGES ON THE RIVER GO BACK FOR BREAKFAST,  OFF YOU GO TO GAME VIEW WITH A PACKED COOLER BOX.     RETURN FOR LUNCH ON BOARD AND A LITTLE WANDER AND THEN OFF YOU GO AGAIN IN  YOUR TENDER TO DO SOME MORE GAME VIEWING OR A SPOT OF FISHING, OR VISITING OF A VILLAGE  BEFORE RETURNING JUST AFTER SUNSET.  

YOUR LAST NIGHT IN AFRICA ENJOY.           

-->