This morning we mostly traveled by Jeep on sections of the delta that have dried out.... vast grasslands like the savannah in other parts of Africa, except for the prevalence of reeds with the grasses. We did drive through some sections of road that were still underwater; the bottom of the Jeep got a good washing! We also saw a lot of “shorebirds” except their shire was the edge of the road puddles. Altogether we saw 20 new species today, including a new bee-eater and a tiny reed frog, despite having already seem so much. One of the favorite group activities is to encourage red lechwe (a type of antelope that likes swampy places) to stampede, splashing and leaping through the shallow water. This afternoon we learned from some of the lodge staff about the beautiful local basket weaving techniques, including how they use the palm fronds, how the create the colors, and the symbolism of the patterns.
After high tea, we went out in the motor launch for a sunset ride again including hippos and a colorful but elusive swamp hen. We ate dinner outdoors on the stargazing deck and enjoyed the rising of the orange super moon. As we were getting ready for bed we heard the characteristic slosh slosh slosh of a hippo feeding on land, and sure enough there one was right off our tent porch munching through the swamp.
Pictured: long reed frog, stampeding red lechwe, swallow-tailed bee-eater
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