Where Time Flew By

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Geo: -23.5122, 24.175

This morning we got up at first light and drove around Moreswe Pan. The only animals we saw were a few springbok. This part of the reserve had disappointed us this visit, but we had great sightings in the rest of the reserve. We arrived back at our camp site at 7:30am. After breakfast we packed up and drove in a north east direction towards the gate.

For the next hour and a half hours we saw nothing! Except for a bird or two- it was a very boring drive. Finally we saw animals when we arrived at Khutse Pan II. I still enjoy watching the ground squirrels, as they are interesting, always active, not scared of the vehicles and love posing for my camera!

There were other animals at this pan - red hartebeest, wildebeest and springbok. Further along the road we came along a little tortoise that was trying cross the sandy road. He was doing well until the starting sinking into the sand, so I got out of the car, pick it up and put it on the other side of the road. I also didn't want to leave it on the road, in case the next vehicle didn't see it.

Our last sighting for our visit was a family of ostriches on a side track. This time we did not drive behind them, instead we turned around and exited the park. This trip to Khutse had gone way too quick, we could have easily stayed here for a few more days – I hadn't finished reading my book! The good thing about leaving here is that I am in need of a real shower - one with more than a bucket full of water. We did really well with our fuel consumption this time, as we didn't need to use our jerry can.

The distance to the petrol station was 43km, it took us just over an hour to get there. Here we filled up and enjoyed a cold drink. I was hoping to buy an ice-cream, but the shop was very basic and did not have a freezer. On the way back to Gaborone we stopped and bought lots of groceries, as we were going to be working for approximately 6 weeks until our next leave. We were provided all meals by the lodge, it is just that not all the staff meals are to our taste. Luckily we have a kitchen and have the option to cook our favourite meals when we don't like the staff food. We hid our fresh foods around the car, as we were not allowed to take fresh food through the border.

We quickly passed through the border once we told them we were going home from our camping trip. They assumed we had nothing of any use to them. Just before 5pm we entered Madikwe Game Reserve, saw a dagga boy and got back to the lodge an hour later.

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Photos

01 Morning Light
The soft morning light is on the springbok at the pan.

02 In the Middle
The springbok is in the middle of the pan.

03 Campsite
Our camp site for the past two nights.

04 Driveway
The driveway that leads to our camp site.

06 About to Bite
The squirrel is about to bite into the fruit.

07 Nibbling
It is nibbling the fruit.

08 Back to Back
Two squirrels standing in the long grass back to back.

09 Grass
A pretty piece of grass.

10 Under a Tree
A Blue Wildebeest and a herd of Red Hartebeest standing under a tree.

11 Eating
A herd of springbok busy eating grass.

13 Nearly There
It was nearly across the road and then I gave it a helping hand.

14 Mother & Babies
The mother ostrich and her babies walking along the track.

15 Family
The father has now joined the family.

16 Village
A village we drove through on the way to Gaborone.

17 Village
A village we drove through on the way to Gaborone.

18 Buffalo
A buffalo that was busy eating.

19 Back to Eating
After looking at us, he went back to eating.