"Elephants have killed tourists here before!"

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After all the thrills and spills of Victoria falls we moved into Botswana, where the pace didn't really slow down. Botswana is famous for the Okavango Delta, a huge number of small waterways that move through reeds, with a great number of wide life in a concentrated area. We were taken through these waterways by Mokoro, or hollow canoes by the local people where we set up camp for 2 nights. As we arrived at our camp, there were 4 bull elephants grazing on the grass only 30 metres away!!

We went for a guided walk with one of the locals around our camp and came across elephants, giraffes, zebra and came across a small lake with about 20 hippo wallowing in. They were very close to the waters edge where we were standing, and made a number of huffing noises that Kris took to be a challenge, so she as quite pleased when we had moved on. I went walking early the next morning, and had a lion jump up only 10 metres away, roar and run away. Pretty scary, yet our guide thought that it would be a good idea to go and try and find it again!! Our last night saw Kris talking to one of the guides and hearing stories about elephants killing tourists not far from our spot, and hippos being woken and attacking Mokoros!! What made it even worse was that that night we had a herd of elephants that were grazing (even though wood was being snapped) only 10 metres from our camp. Needless to say Kris almost bolted out of the Delta on foot had they come any closer!!

From the Delta we moved into the Etosha National Park were we also had two nights. We saw a large number of lions, elephants and hippos as well as cruised on the dry lake bed. The heat has steadily increased since our arrival into Botswana, and Etosha, it was very warm. At our camping ground there was one of the watering holes for the animals, and we were lucky to see a number of elephants and Rhino's by lamp light drinking only metres in front of us.

After Etosha we went to a place called Spitskoppe which is a climbing mecca for many rock climbers. It was a beautiful place, and some us went trekking into the mountains, only to become search and rescue for one of our truck mates who jumped and ended up breaking her tibia and fibula. She has since returned with a metal plate and 5 screws in her lower leg!!

From there we moved into Swakopmund, where we have been taking the extreme route again. I went Sky Diving - throughly enjoyed it and that I'm considering becoming a jump master! Kris joined me in the plane, but almost thought that she died when the pilot dropped a huge number of metres after the last jumper had gone!! We have had a crack at sand boarding down some of the dunes not far from town, and I was clocked at 70km/ph down one of the dunes by a radar gun. Great time, and there were a few stacks, one that snapped the board we were lying on. Also went Quad Biking in the Namib desert.

From there we spent a night in a place called Cheetah Park - for obvious reasons. There we were able to pat cheetahs and see them feed some as well.

From there we drove to Africa's biggest sand dunes where we were let loose for a couple of hours to explore, then moved onto Dune 45 where we trekked up and watched the sun set. At the going down of the sun, a couple on our truck had become engaged, so that was pretty special to be there to witness that happening. That evening we found a place in the village near where we were staying and watched the All Blacks quarter final. We happily sat on the concrete floor of a village hut for about 65 minutes, until again we came unstuck!!

A couple of big drive days have lead us into South Africa, and some absolutely beautiful scenery for our arrval into Stellenbosch - a amazingly beautiful town ringed by massive mountains but with a distinctive colonial feel to it. We go on a wine tour tomorrow which could be interesting for me who struggles to drink a glass of it, then into Cape Town where our tour finishes, and our freedom begins. More later.

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Photos

Mokoro Ride
Okavango Delta

His and her toilets!!
Ngepi Camping Ground - Namibia

Etosha National Park
Salt Plains - Some of the Oasis Crew

Before the quick drop
The only time Kris smiled during the whole trip!

70km/ph !!
Sandboarding - Swakopmund

Comments

[Rachael]

tasty
Methinks that cheetah was sampling you Scottie. 'Mmmmmm, this one taste niiiiiiiiiice, I has dis one please'...

[Jules]

Wine!!!!!
Scotty....since when have you struggled to drink a glass of wine...you big fibber!!!Can't wait to share a bottle or two with you both next year.xxxxxx

[Jocelyn]

happy days
Kris you look sooo... happy we miss ya loads ! xxxx