In Chobe we finally saw Zazu.
Zazu is a red billed hornbill.
These ones look more grumpy and Zazu like.
They eat insects and grubs in the dirt.
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Delta Hippos
There were a lot of hippos in the delta.
They did not like our boats and tried to scare us off.
This made big splashes.
There were a lot of hippos near our campsite.
They also yawned a lot.
Their teeth didn’t seem as big as the ones in Uganda.
The baby hippos yawn too but it’s not as impressive as the big ones.
The big ones are more terrifying. But apparently not to other hippos.
Sometimes they wave their heads around as they yawn.
And sometimes they jump right up.
They look particularly funny with their backs to you.
Sometimes they stick their tongues out at you.
Sometimes they land on other hippos and have to fall to the side.
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Chobe Crocodiles
The crocodiles at Chobe park looked particularly evil.
And chubby.
But they were just sleeping.
It’s a lot of work to move when you are that big.
Some were also cooling off while showing off all of their teeth.
We were glad we were in a boat.
And not in the water.
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Dead Elephant
Lions cannot take down an adult African elephant.
But when one gets old or sick and dies they will guard the body to make sure they get it first.
And then they will feast
They drool over even the least appetizing bits.
Eating it involves a surprising amount of licking, which you wouldn’t expect to work well with meat.
Even when she uses her teeth it’s not very effectively.
The vultures sit in a nearby tree waiting for their turn.
Watching very intently for their opportunity
The next morning the lions were gone and the vultures had taken over the body.
They ate it enthusiastically, even though they had split open the intestine and it smelled absolutely disgusting to us.
The dingos also got in there and were taking back pieces to their cubs..
In a couple of weeks it will look like this one, with nothing left but skin and bones.
Nothing eats the tough skin.
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Chobe Hyena
We saw another hyena at Chobe.
He was heading down to the river to get a drink.
But he was watching us intently because he wasn’t sure if it was safe.
So we got a good look at him.
