Romantic dusty landscapes - a short visit of Botswana
November 5th 2007 22:59
Botswana is a beautiful country. Located in the southern regions of Africa, this landlocked gem is cocooned between Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa and is home to the famous Okavango Delta, a playground for a plethora of wildlife, birds and plant species.
There is something romantic about dusty countries. The landscape seems more unique in its desolation and arid beauty and this one certainly does not disappoint. The capital, Gaborone, lies a short hop, skip and jump over the South African border entry point and is a bustling city made up of thousands of people who scour its streets in search of work, to look after their families who normally live in the surrounding rural areas. Busy markets line the streets, stalls filled with an array of clothes, colourful food and shouting voices that beckon to you, whilst noisy chickens cluck loudly from their cages and the odd tethered goat bleets its melancholy tune as it scratches at the dirt for a morsel of food.
It is not the city that we are interesting in here though. Driving out of town one cannot help but notice the sheer volume of discarded tin cans that line the road. Goats wander around aimlessly and shanty towns appear around every turn in the road, their walls made up from a patchwork of rusty corrugated iron, wooden boards and anything inbetween.
The salt pans are an amazing sight. During the months of the year when they are flooded a shallow pool of water stretches like an ocean across the landscape and its white, murky waters are crowded with the pink flashes of flamingos who arrive annually. Although they are born with grey feathers, bacteria in the water and the high volume of shrimp which they consume gradually turns their plummage various shades of pink.
During the drier months when the pans are nothing more than a flat stretch of white sand one cannot help but stand in awe and stare at the cracked earth. At night, under a starlit sky, you would be forgiven for believing you were on a different planet. Quartz stones lie scattered across the ground and by grabbing a handful and throwing them at a 45 degree angle, all of a sudden your world appears turned upsidedown. A multitude of different coloured sparks errupt from the ground, like a flash of stars instantly bursting into life before your eyes.
One thing to be aware of is dust storms. From across the salt pans a storm appears to gather. Ominous grey clouds hug the horizon and cram the sky in a choking hold. When you are told to run for the car you don`t waste any time. Within seconds the storm is around you, however instead of the giant drops of rain that you expect, tiny specks of sand blast from every direction. Visibility is reduced to a mere few metres and suddenly you imagine yourself, this tiny speck in the middle of a desert landscape, at the mercy of Mother Nature. When fear begins to grip you have no choice but to swallow it down. There is no point in driving, not only have you no idea what direction you will be travelling in but, you also run the risk of driving into a sink hole and disappearing into the soft sand. There is no choice but to sit and wait it out.
As dry as what Botswana is, it also has its share of watery wonderlands. Filled with enormous crocodiles and grunting hippos, it is a fishermans heaven and a sun lovers garden of paradise. There are a wide range of accommodation options, from luxury tents and hotels to simple bush camps and the activities are assured to keep any traveller happy. Make sure you add Botswana to list if you are in the area, it is definitely well worth the trip!
It is not the city that we are interesting in here though. Driving out of town one cannot help but notice the sheer volume of discarded tin cans that line the road. Goats wander around aimlessly and shanty towns appear around every turn in the road, their walls made up from a patchwork of rusty corrugated iron, wooden boards and anything inbetween.
The salt pans are an amazing sight. During the months of the year when they are flooded a shallow pool of water stretches like an ocean across the landscape and its white, murky waters are crowded with the pink flashes of flamingos who arrive annually. Although they are born with grey feathers, bacteria in the water and the high volume of shrimp which they consume gradually turns their plummage various shades of pink.
During the drier months when the pans are nothing more than a flat stretch of white sand one cannot help but stand in awe and stare at the cracked earth. At night, under a starlit sky, you would be forgiven for believing you were on a different planet. Quartz stones lie scattered across the ground and by grabbing a handful and throwing them at a 45 degree angle, all of a sudden your world appears turned upsidedown. A multitude of different coloured sparks errupt from the ground, like a flash of stars instantly bursting into life before your eyes.
One thing to be aware of is dust storms. From across the salt pans a storm appears to gather. Ominous grey clouds hug the horizon and cram the sky in a choking hold. When you are told to run for the car you don`t waste any time. Within seconds the storm is around you, however instead of the giant drops of rain that you expect, tiny specks of sand blast from every direction. Visibility is reduced to a mere few metres and suddenly you imagine yourself, this tiny speck in the middle of a desert landscape, at the mercy of Mother Nature. When fear begins to grip you have no choice but to swallow it down. There is no point in driving, not only have you no idea what direction you will be travelling in but, you also run the risk of driving into a sink hole and disappearing into the soft sand. There is no choice but to sit and wait it out.
As dry as what Botswana is, it also has its share of watery wonderlands. Filled with enormous crocodiles and grunting hippos, it is a fishermans heaven and a sun lovers garden of paradise. There are a wide range of accommodation options, from luxury tents and hotels to simple bush camps and the activities are assured to keep any traveller happy. Make sure you add Botswana to list if you are in the area, it is definitely well worth the trip!
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Comment by Anonymous
I had no idea that flamingos were born with grey feathers or how they became pink - I'm amazed! Botswana sounds very interesting too.
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
Well I'm definitely going to have to go there now. I want to throw the quartz into the water! Haha. I love the way you describe it.
What sort of camera do you use, may I ask? I'm planning on saving up for a better one than the one I have now.
Always
Comment by Aimzster
Health and Beauty
Reality TV
The Jeepney Stop
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Yeah it`s quite a wonder the marvels of nature. They are gorgeous swooping across the landscape.
Botswana is beautiful - takes a little getting used to but it really is stunning and so diverse.
Thanks for taking the trip with me
Ash
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
ooooh yes they are certainly beautiful - you could stand out there for hours lighting up the night floor.
I use a Pentax istD and almost always a polarising filter as it tends to make the pictures sharper and the colours much better. However, these pictures were taken with a Pentax using film many moons ago. Good luck with finding a good one - depending on what you are looking for you should be able to find a reasonably priced one (particularly in the post Christmas sales!)
Good to see
Ash
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
that`s always good - travel is a wonderful, wonderful thing!
Ash
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
I'll look those up