Wildlife

Five minutes on a ferry and we are over the Zambezi and in Botswana—TDA 2008’s seventh country.

Botswana’s Elephant Highway Section was kicked off with a 40k time trial. Jos Kaal places first for the men with a time of 0:58.22 and Chris Willie takes second with a 1:00.06 finish. Natalia, an expedition rider turned racer, finishes first for the ladies with a time of 1:09.18 and Deb Corbeil takes second place with a 1:13.05 finish.

As each day passes, our cycling tour across Africa feels as though it is becoming a cycling safari. Just before leaving Zambia, one rider spotted a giraffe and upon cycling the few kilometers between the Botswana border and tonight’s camp, a few others watched as an ottoman sized warthog foraged along the roadside. As I type, a group of ringed mongooses are scurrying along tents, every so often pausing to poke their pointed heads above the grass. The electrified fence encircling the camp is a promising sign that even bigger animals await our discovery.

After our refreshing rest days in Livingston, we’re thrilled to be in a new country and cannot wait to spot more of Botswana’s wildlife.