Q: After COVID ended, where did you choose to travel first?
For my first trip, I went back to Africa because I was constantly thinking about the very positive things I had been hearing about Botswana, and I finally decided I would go there.
I planned a three-country trip, going to Zambia and Zimbabwe in addition to Botswana. In the end, I was very pleased I did this because when I went to Zambia in November 2022, it was simply a step across the border from Zimbabwe to see the Falls from the other side. This time, I arrived and departed from Lusaka, the capital, and I got to see a bit more of the country.
I was also very glad that I went back to Zimbabwe because during my earlier 2022 trip, the country was on the verge of collapse. It has since recovered and appears to be on its way to becoming a successful nation.
And Botswana! Most of the noise I had been hearing was about the game parks and the wildlife. Sorry, Botswana. I had been to 13 game parks in eight African countries before visiting Botswana, and I would honestly rank Botswana’s parks possibly 11th out of 14. The parks across Africa are simply superb, and Chobe cannot quite measure up to some of the others I have seen.
However, as a country, Botswana is looking really good. The economic growth and development since Independence when it was the second poorest country in the world has been astounding. As a Black man, I felt proud of the country’s success over the past 50-odd years.
Well done, Botswana… I promise to come back again.