#Okavango16 Journal Day 2
“Kuba!”
After a full day of calling out bird sightings (“Fish Eagle!” “Goliath Heron!” “Blacksmith Lapwing!”) we were both relieved and a little bit nervous to hear Steve warn us that there was a hippo ahead. It was the first one of #okavango2016, and with a few first-time Delta crossers in the crew, there was reason to have heartbeats racing.
As always, out strategy was to approach with caution, to give the hippo plenty of room, and to give him (this one was a lone bull) time to find his way to a safe place– usually a pool of deep water. So we pulled the mekoro to the edge of the channel, and waited. A few minutes later he let us pass.
“Kuba!”
Then, Steve called out the warning again. A group of about nine hippo were wallowing in a deep pool next to a small island ahead. We drifted closer, already planning how we’d skirt past this group.
“Wait. There are more kuba.”
This, from Water Setlabosha, one of the most experienced polers in the Okavango Delta. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned after working with Water for the last two years: when he speaks about wildlife, you listen. Sure enough, five more hippo came around the island and into the water.
Then five more.
Then ten more.
When the splashing had subsided, there were twenty-nine hippo in the pool, all watching us with bobbing heads and consternation. This was the largest group of hippo we’ve seen in seven years of Delta crossings. We all marveled at these beautiful animals for a few minutes, feeling lucky to be here in this remote and incredible place. And then we drifted closer again, and we waited.
And then we passed.
#Okavango16 is an 18-day National Geographic expedition into Botswana’s Okavango Delta. We are collecting biodiversity data and installing a sensor system to monitor the health of this stunning wilderness. Follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and explore with us at IntoTheOkavango.org.
