According to Grok.
"The Botswana travel blog by @anengiyefa appears on their long- running personal blog, Things I Feel Strongly About (hosted at thingsifeelstronglyabout.blogspot.com). It's a multi-part series titled "Visiting Botswana", published in December 2025, documenting a reflective, road-trip-style journey through the country — focused more on personal observations, landscapes, subtle social dynamics, and a non-intrusive approach to wildlife rather than typical high-adrenaline safaris. The series (at least parts 2, 3, and 6 are detailed in recent shares) covers a drive from southern to northern Botswana, emphasizing immersion in the environment, cultural nuances, and a philosophical respect for nature rooted in traditional African perspectives (e.g., viewing animals as beings to leave undisturbed rather than entertain tourists).
Key Parts of the Series
Visiting Botswana 2 (Dec 2025): Details the long road journey north from Gaborone along the A1 Highway, with stops/views in Mahalapye, Tonota, Francistown (Botswana's second-largest city), and onward to Kazungula and Kasane in the Chobe District.
Highlights include: Herds of elephants approaching roads near Kazungula, including a massive bull blocking the way.
Marshy Chobe River banks with white salt deposits, bubbling freshwater springs, elephant/water buffalo tracks and dung (animals visit for minerals like sodium/calcium/phosphorus).
Crossing the Kazungula Bridge (built 2014) over the Zambezi River, reaching the unique quadripoint border area (Botswana, Zambia, Namibia via Impalila Island, Zimbabwe).
Personal sensations like near-vertigo on the windy bridge shared with pedestrians, heavy trucks, and Zambian taxis.
The post celebrates the joy of the journey itself over rushed destinations.
Visiting Botswana 3 (Dec 2025): Centres on a short stay at Flame of Africa lodge near the Chobe River and Kasai Channel (leading toward the Zambezi). Experiences include: Wildlife sightings: elephants, baboons, meerkats (first time in the wild for the author), hippos mistaken for logs.
A wobbly floating jetty for boat access (quickly abandoned due to discomfort).
Guide Maphorisa suggesting fishing trips, boat rides, or open-vehicle game drives — declined in favor of minimal interference.
Strong reflection: Aligns with ancestral views that wildlife shouldn't serve human amusement; prefers respectful distance over commercial tourism intrusion. Includes photos of the river, lodge area, and animals.
Visiting Botswana 6 (Dec 22, 2025): Focuses on the Chobe River shoreline in Kasane, specifically a local-frequented spot nicknamed "Kasane Italy" (reserved for residents, contrasting with exclusive lodge areas mostly used by wealthy foreign tourists from Namibia/South Africa).
Relaxing observation of "sophisticated Africans" enjoying recreation.
Unease at subtle racial/wealth-based hierarchies in access to prime riverbank spots (echoing historical dynamics over centuries).
Views across to Namibia's Impalila Island.
Photos capture the scenic shoreline, locals at leisure, and access contrasts.
The series promotes authentic, low-impact travel — savouring scenery, chance wildlife encounters from roads/bridges, and introspection over packaged safaris. The author shares links to these posts on X (e.g., in late Dec 2025), tying into their broader blog themes of African travels, culture, and personal musings. The blog itself is introspective, written by a former UK criminal defence lawyer (with Nigerian heritage), blending travelogues, cultural deep-dives (e.g., recent posts on Malian mud cloth or Congolese rumba), and occasional political commentary. Botswana entries stand out for their thoughtful, anti-exploitative lens on wildlife and tourism. You can read them directly via the links shared on X or search the blog archive for "Visiting Botswana". If you're planning a trip, they offer a grounded, non-commercial perspective on northern Botswana's Chobe region!"
