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OKAVANGO DELTA
BOYS LEARNING TO USE THE MOKORO Crossed the border today to Botswana. Our destination is Maun. We got to a veterinary checkpoint hours later within the country for decontamination to protect their livestock from foot and mouth disease, all our shoes have to be soaked in this solution thing. we arrived late at Sitatunga Croc Farm and Campsite where we got the talk about the possible excursions we can do here, most of us signed up for the 2 nights stay in the Okavango Delta. Anna's birthday as well tonight and she got wasted very quickly after downing shots at the bar, we had a few more drinks before turning in for the night, Craig owes me 5 beers from the Cheetah farm so he bought them all here.
Early rise we got ready for the excursion, hopped on the truck that will take us to the Mokoro boat starting point, sleeping gears, food and tents we brought along with us. It was a pleasant 2 hour boat ride along the Okavango delta, very relaxing, w arrived at our bush camp in an island. We chilled out most of the afternoon, after lunch of measly pancakes, we are all still hungry but we have to make
CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
SUNSET BOOZE CRUISE food last, we have to cook our own. In the afternoon, we did the walk along the delta, saw a few animals but nothing really to write home about, We also had our own swimming hole, we ar not allowed to swim elsewhere but here or risk being eaten by crocs or mauled by hippos. Th water is cold and refreshing, We also get our drinking water from the delta. Some people tried to learn how to punt a mokoro. Dinner was again not enough, we did not bring enough food!!!
We have an early morning guide walk, we got split into 3 groups as it was yesterday, our group was lucky to see more wildlife, but it was almost a 6 hour walk, worthwhile though as we saw a herd of bull elephants grazing, quite a spectacular sit, we cant com closer as a few of us are wearing bright colored shirts, apparently the bulls might get agitated and charge us if they see such bright colors.. Cam back to camp and everyone else is there already, when they found out our luck they were disgusted they did not luck out... Washed my cloths in the river, no
soap allowed, then swam some more, and went on a mokoro ride with Andy punting it. In the afternoon w took our mokoro for sunset cruise, not a single animal was seen perhaps some of us were quit noisy and getting drunk in the mokoro! Stopped at an island to see sunset then back to camp. M and Craig were soaking wet in the bum as the boat we are on is leaking, the reed beds did not help.
Next morning some people went to morning walk again, the night before I went to bed early after a crappy dinner, the guides did a performance, dance and singing, I listened inside my tent too tired to get up. Craig did the walk and he came back dissapointed as thy did not see squat.. We quickly packed our things and all got on their mokoros for our return back to Maun, Another pleasant boat ride. We were given sodas and beers on the truck on our way back to the Maun camp. We went to town for lunch and internet then we got dropped off at the airport for the scenic flight over the delta, well worth the flight as
we saw loads, including the elusive hippos which from the top looks like upturned boats!!
Washed my clothes soon as we got back to camp, chilled at the bar and went to bed.
Next morning is a driving day to try and gt to Chobe National Park, got stopped a couple of times for veterinary checkpoint. W met another Oasis truck with full passengers on their way down to Cape Town , we xchange tips and things, and then we headed off, couple hours later another Oasis truck we encounter going the same route as us, This is Doc's truck. Saw lots of elephants on the road, we bush camped at a picnic area again, This is really Dave's last cooking so we made it special, sausages again!! we cooked for 3 extra persons, the crew from the other truck, it pissed m off really as thy are not part of the kitty, Di asked us if we could fit them in, not even offering to compensate say extra budget the next time around, we fed them with our kitty budget, nothing against the crew they are all cool but our budget is tight and we cant even
afford to buy enough meat at times!! Some locals stopped by to let us know this is elephant territory and that it may be dangerous to camp here as they can trample us during the night, some trucks parked next to us as they cant drive the night in fear of hitting an elephant which had happened before. They also told us lions abound in these roads so going to the toilet was really risky and frightening!!
We continued on the next day we said goodbye to the other truck, on th road so more ellies and babboons. We ar staying at the Thebe Camp sit, we immediately signed up for a game drive and sunset cruise. The game drive was awesome, lots of elephants, the driver/guide said the park is overpopulated with them and they failed to contain their population, some got sent to Kruger in South Africa but they returned back on their own!! Hippos and antelopes abound as well. we encountered an angry bull elephant that is poised to attack our truck/jeep, we managed to avoid direct contact but was frightening. We got dropped off at the river for th boat ride, most of us are
in the small boat and we cruised to find game, we got close to hippos having a fed and wading in the water, saw a big nile croc and a few other things, beautiful sunset once again. The next morning some did another game drive thy came back beaming as they saw lions eating a smelly elephant carcass, their truck stalled so they have to get off and push the truck! Luckily no one got mauled.
Left for the Zambian border the next morning after a brief stop in town to rid us of local dibdobs, me Chris and Craig and Jack, pooled our coins together to buy booze for the upcoming birthdays.
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