American World Traveler Spring 2018 Issue

Four Rivers Route of Namibia with Blue Crane Safari
by Olivia Balsinger
When travelers picture Namibia,
the southern African country
that sits on the eastern coast of
the continent right above South Africa, they
likely imagine sprawling sand dunes of the
Namib Desert that the country is so famous
for. However, equally enchanting are the
Zambezi and Kavango regions of the country,
home to the four rivers route and
named after the river systems that flow
through the area, the Zambezi, Okavango,
Kwando and Chobe rivers.
Known as one of the best kept secrets in
Africa, I had the chance to explore the
unusual water ecosystem with Blue Crane
Safari Tours. And what a stunning exploration
it was—with over 30 bird species,
free-roaming wildlife and numerous culturally
rich villages and attractions, each day
provided new opportunity for discovery.
And this secluded part of the world is still
easy to reach—from North America, a
flight on South African Airways (via
Johannesburg) to Namibia’s capital of
Windhoek is just a short flight away from
the first river lodge, where the adventure
begins.
Chobe River Camp Gondwana Collection
The Chobe River Camp sits in sublime solitude
upon the banks of the Chobe River. It
is the same area that forms the northern
border of the Chobe National Park — a
world famous reserve whose vast and varied
wildlife offers extraordinary game viewing
opportunities. The reserve is an ideal
haven for nature enthusiasts, opportunistic
particularly for bird watching. It also boasts
one of the largest concentration of elephants
on the entire African continent. With
a little bit of patience, I saw herds of these
majestic beings, as well as buffalo and
antelope, pass through the grounds from
the comfort of my tented chalet.
Transcendent and resplendent, the design
of the camp ground draws in on the natural
environment that surrounds it. In fact,
the twenty chalets offered for accommodation
were built by Mopane timber and canvas
indigenous to the area. And while this
serves a stunning aesthetic purpose, its
more significant role is an environmentally
conscious one. Being green is of upmost
priority to the luxury complex, which uses
solar energy to power its chalets.
The chalets themselves are gorgeous units
that embody the conveniences of moderni-