Kasane

Kasane is at the crossroads of four countries (Bots, Zam, Zim & Nam) & feels like it. It is also the northern gateway to the Chobe NP between the Chobe & Zamezi rivers. It is on every tour operators route. It is a supply stop for overlanders. All this means Kasane buzzes. Open backed 4X4 trucks bound up & down the street (singular) full of pinkfaced, uncomfortable looking caucasian types . Despite my best efforts of haggling & moving on, I ended up paying the tourist shilling & to fit in properly joined a couple of bus loads on a river trip.

The boat was a double decker with around a hundred on board. And we were not alone. Several other such party boats were on the water already. Alongside, smaller boats sped by (the rule being the smaller the boat, the wealthier you are). I was surrounded by groups of fresh faced, freshly tattooed, overly vocal 20 to 30 year somethings from every white skinned nation of the world. The exception being an older Japanese couple who said nothing but had cameras with impossibly long lens that they skillfully maneuvered around your ears. The only black faces were the three crew. "This is awesome dude...not as good as when I was in Cambodia...haven't you been? ...I've set my date to do 100 countries by.." So proceeded the conversations around me (punctuated with "what's that one called ?..). I sat on my chair on the upper deck appreciating the bird life. 

Apart from a return of my good friend the Ibis I added a Maribo stock & African Spoonbill to my list. Also added were a new swallow (wire tailed), sandpiper (marsh) & tern (caspian). The main event though was the multitude of grazing, lazing animals. The water buffalo ignored everything.

The hippos tolerated us.

But then again when all the boats arrive they were less happy. Nor were the crocodiles who slid into the water after the thousandth camera click.

The elephants watched the incoming flotilla, turned around & headed off into the bush.

With Botswana on one side of the river, Zambia on the other & an island in the middle free from predators (notably mankind), the scene provides idiot proof wildlife spotting (good job really). As evening fell, a frenzy of selfie sticks signaled the arrival of sunset & we headed back. I wondered whether I was as nauseating as that when I was young. Grumpy old man - of course I was, worse in fact.