Everybody knows what happens when you drink a beer.  Among other things, it makes you have to pee.  I did in fact know this at the time.  Though I was 16 my parents had allowed alcohol on trips abroad as a part of the travel experience.  This story takes place in Botswana.  On a boat.

Having been to Africa with groups on several occasions, I’ve had the good fortune to see all the classic animals:  The Big Five (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, cape buffalo), giraffe, hippo, cheetah, and all manner of hooved ungulates.  And often in spectacular fashion.

Victoria Falls was the second natural wonder of the world I’ve experienced in my life.  As I approached the falls, I could hear the water roaring in the background and I swear it was the most powerful sound I’ve ever heard.  Have you ever heard a sound that you can actually feel in your body?  It made my skin tingle.

I left home with the excitement of a child.  I was about to see African animals in the wild.  The journey was longer than any other I’d endured in the name of travel, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. 

Botswana has become my favorite African country to visit.  It exudes a fresh, progressive, successful vibe that distinguishes it from its neighbors.  The Chobe region, Botswana’s most famous and accessible wildlife area, is close to the borders of Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Namibia. 

I have been guiding tours abroad for almost a quarter century.  And I firmly believe we recently completed the fullest, most spectacular single day of any tour, any time.  I was still catching my breath the next day.