Brent’s parents arrived on December 26 and after a few days to get over jet lag, we headed to the northern part of Botswana to explore Chobe Game Reserve and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. We had an amazing time!
On our journey north, we stopped at Nata Lodge to stay the night. It was so peaceful and relaxing and we had our own little cabin.
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Beautiful rainbow at Nata
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We got to see our first chameleon there
From Nata, we drove about 4 more hours on to Kasane to stay at Chobe Safari Lodge for the next 5 days. We were able to go on 2 boat drives on the Chobe River and 2 game drives in Chobe Game Reserve. Driving on the road to Kasane, we saw many elephants and giraffes just roaming in the wild. It was so great to see these animals in their natural habitat, not bound by fences.
![IMG_6706 IMG_6706](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2V2sA9yjpTQqu3YeFbq0XjgEHQKiG1Xg64xB9wIn55huba9B1vZiJfXwTU72BxkewvxUQzHZCojMIxkhJGOMZ2MXfcqsa18jzXduGdpFHowrmrIqtJ4YxvunIBj6kIm3yg2gQqA1dS9tM/?imgmax=800)
The open dining hall where we ate breakfast/dinner
![IMG_6709 IMG_6709](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlcNpW_TZkhQNLVJvF3a5ZbI0-rEVqFy1AoFY8O8qRFHr5j-RpeosdFCft_167yMhAaG_MGEs_3UNpUKOLqm5kXu2AgYhH7n12Ibiyy1q1FDfOW0FVVQY21dvQAPMcdDRErT9Rakd95yP/?imgmax=800)
Sunset on the Chobe River
![IMG_6701 IMG_6701](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Oev1GueLx-NY2oeJXJsDCpGRVPPj3QJc858QpUexG2JUdv6lRioD_mY9tCuT9vdwqxW8i3mqmldOWSm83DpzI8Ud6Gkw97uQMIsxj747FG2MNYBCke5dVUS2gxtWqIhNvH8lO62PwWAh/?imgmax=800)
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New Years Eve dinner
![IMG_6725 IMG_6725](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGjxr3_ANFmY0_ScnMdaso8vUdgCY5xc06GZyZRALhVXbjpstM4q0cfQ88oGPruG8zyjhMS_Wajuy9cvnUL3lU8b-GpxtFPLG70dxvOi5GZSwIpTehaMpc5ApmOuKj7yhMFHWdirqWamR/?imgmax=800)
On our first game drive
![IMG_6754 IMG_6754](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC08caUioWHdONzRSaW35VuXZ-wzyzNjYHGMha_EcSYykSWHlu3Pca67ZFLdYHH1HRUIZ9hOP3peLxd2pHOh9OqgqxzKjMtl1Hdhjvn2YWYOnedSOHnt1qkBQWtrD7_ZXVQb-KHYhcJD9o/?imgmax=800)
We saw a puff adder snake just moments after getting into the park
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Cape Buffalo
![IMG_6826 IMG_6826](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AkxHaV0kG4exnFwN-PETy5hF1KFPXS-C9cuVEYV0bvOAts1f1eJfp8IIZ5wzJqZS_CxgAU2smAIFPghOROy3_oD9XufUzIkFDt-tUQ2ancV0QqU6Bb4pzgvlYyWni9Bnr61ZCN4s1rF6/?imgmax=800)
Baboons were all over the place
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Botswana has the more elephants than any other country. We saw between 150-200 elephants in a single day.
![IMG_7587 IMG_7587](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUeoBIxXBXsmITkKf5JmINENWs_H1W9PmhkY4JZzOTJj1OujNbYaX-pAnJXVo0o5BrIMvbwmKRY5i6w-Kn5sBgsNc4aTphlcimNtcS5jpCPuPAJR-LAbHXi0tjXIUXq61d8v5MIHxy9oo/?imgmax=800)
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We were looking for the big cats all day and on our way out of the park we ran into this mating pair. Too cool, they truly are so majestic
![IMG_7690 IMG_7690](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoaI3DMA984WkRi_kdlLbv9FrLBK9azFmWB4sXXUKgKb09ciRsrtBKsQ9ZvC84mkg3bHqbI2QcxFm6YK8Y9xS9LAlUkPn7U1crAnUglUf1ipLS2n7VbDBs9xg5nqBxCWCgh_-covM_GaU/?imgmax=800)
We also were able to do some boat drives. We were able to get up close and personal to some hippos, elephant, and crocs
![IMG_7238 IMG_7238](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLNYJfipEnr7N1ad5S32MUb1azJOJGviVjSy0L6Sq7ax4l5Mw0iGjVqfK7GoUe2WCi-0f3u2G3F4RHJYhZqbxLLSKKLkeZeykWVvG5zjB7eeyBd8N28Dn3yVRzV0SpZHheoaljlDxkiFp/?imgmax=800)
The above picture was taken and about 2 minutes later this hippo behind us decided to charge our boat. We were chased twice by hippos and these big fellas are faster than you think.
![IMG_7251 IMG_7251](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwt7dfSujpeXUmJygvdZnN-cvLGAGI6YLQWuWdhsAkEbFQldfpgR-9tJOIns7_Qu-nwjYXo1NeIuihuXgaz0zDp8kS8heKF2pkzwSniBh7KRK5EX4wE3CAEAa9BsbB4vRNZhzcy-4QWF6/?imgmax=800)
Yikes we were very ready to get away from this guy.
![IMG_7056 IMG_7056](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wL9KD3K8E8z1wGWur3hwY4m826sJho3pr8fVfKXm5fhkn1lztX6y8SoyY_3hvF2_aryarMM96H9pmvjqvVi3Ahpu99A_z-jT1Rd9_m9s9SuakJbEJ2oQNvYmgqe4y8vhzz9Wz-PIm64R/?imgmax=800)
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A croc basking in the sun
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Taylor feeding our hungry fella on the boat. I really need to learn to rub in their suntan lotion!
![IMG_7869 IMG_7869](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP91Nz6AA42XcJpBaGZLKxeLA3uCfLuwNq0LOeJ29TLxoqteIHyBCQU62rcAMOFC7RjYL8DvnU_NsrBSd-EMwCcTRC0V6PGlG9w2ssg5Ip36dpX4M7nc6d5RgZJbF_czcP4hUyuLRCwXlQ/?imgmax=800)
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Elephants love to play and swim in the water
![IMG_7943 IMG_7943](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4Ei708fxkWZ9v8F2CKBqS7-KKF5WidGplpBkVI41GRynR589_yu-6xurDBhBQYYqLCdHhN_f3a0M4t8ln_t4XxsVdtvxfBzrc2AeKG8cIjGKgsbDoLvOc_0ZqYJT7T86P1WOJhcBykAQ/?imgmax=800)
Brent and his dad got to go fishing and Brent caught a catfish
![IMG_7376 IMG_7376](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFyqIHHsOwGSp7GmrHlziEMsbz4Y77jDXhXRUwikv8Mz3sVD_lXP_bAglxbL9eymg7MyJuZRgIBhLO3Xcizm0D6OeuKHgseLpOE83o-T86e3C3rb7esoc7cO4am5OjP7Ypo5NKG7TF1Gt/?imgmax=800)
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We also enjoyed the pool at the lodge, especially Taylor, but Bradyn was also a good sport in letting us hang out by the pool.
![IMG_7387 IMG_7387](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPft_nzAhkyXhpJBvONQG5NxKiNFY-yGRZjIN3yWjehsN0B3-ByrYjrDyoc9pwtm8DZAvWXIFoHrUzHBWarOvFjFuQnq3XfuvtT7awLcNIPYkGwxV7TTZWvnG-oazkPt_KEBtXYmajuKhA/?imgmax=800)
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Taylor loved wearing her mask from new years eve the rest of the week just around the lodge. She was “super Taylor” when she wore it and could jump higher and run faster with it on. Love this girl!!