Since dark rain clouds began to pile up in the sky on December 25th, 2020, Zane suggested that we postpone the birdwatching tour for the morning. We packed our binoculars and rain gear; Zane filled a cooler with water and beer. After a few kilometers of driving – the last on a dirt road that I don’t want to drive in heavy rain – we reached the Zambezi. There was a motorboat there that Zane had made operational the day before. Brigitta and two other passengers got on; I gave the boat a push and then jumped on board.

For the next three hours we chugged through a bird paradise. The Zambezi is divided into different channels and each one has a different surprise awaiting us. Here we encountered barn swallows resting on the sandbank; and there some king fishers, fish eagles, herons and cormorants preparing for the next fishing.

PS. Zane asked what I want to drink. To my answer: «It’s still too early for a beer», he said with a laugh: «There are places where it is later than here» …