Day 13 - Lesoma Valley Lodge Tree Planting and Chobe Game Drive

In the morning, the team planted 10 trees at Lesoma Valley Lodge as a gesture of friendship and as a sustainable gift. Having to manually dig out holes to plant the saplings provided us with a very personal experience. Despite the physical taxation, the sense of fulfilment after pouring in the topsoil made the tiredness worth it.

In the afternoon, the team departed for the game drive at chobe national park. After paying for the tickets, we adjourned to a nearby Chinese restaurant for lunch, where we found out that the manager of the restaurant, who was from China, had been living in Botswana for twenty years already.

The local meals we ordered gave us a refreshing taste of home. She even offered to drive us from our lodge for dinner that night. We were touched by her hospitality and friendliness, and this further supported the notion that the Batswana are a very friendly people.

During the game drive, spotted giraffes and lions, while maintaining a respectful distance from them. The jeep did not horn at the animals and slowly approached them to gently scare them off the path. They coexist with each other and mutually respect one another.

Overall, a very eye opening trip where we not just managed to see the animals that Africa was well renowned for, but also experience the balance of co-habitation between humans and animals.