Blogs from Botswana, Africa

I had been to Botswana before, during my first ever backpacking trip when I was 21 and travelled from Nairobi down to Cape Town over three months. On that occasion, in 2001, I crossed over from Zambia and visited Chobe National Park before continuing into Zimbabwe. I remember that Botswana was quiet, relatively affluent, and full of wildlife. I discovered 22 years later that thankfully it hasn’t changed much. Although, if I had visited Gaborone back then I might now be telling you that it had changed a lot. The country, and Gaborone especially, have been developing rapidly, which has driven a construction boom. Therefore, construction materials are needed, especially sand – the most mined mineral in the world. And where does the sand come from? Often from ephemeral river systems (they flow only once or ... read more

It had rained overnight and that was not a good sign for the day ahead. Many of the roads that had just opened as the rain had stopped would become impassable. We got up early and made our way to the north of the delta. The road was plagued with hundreds of washouts and water up to ½ a metre deep but Nelly did well until we got stuck. The water was higher than the doors when we did get stuck and I stupidly opened the door not realising and it flooded in and then even after I shut it it started coming through the floor and the seals in the door. Also the water was grey and absolutely stank, likely as a result of the animal poo in it and more besides. Alain and I ... read more

We kicked things off early as usual to try and get to the border with Botswana early. The border itself was the usual combination of mayhem and we got our passport stamped and car paperwork sorted but then for reasons beyond understanding had to pay a £2 council tax. Finally we had to get a ferry across no-man’s land to Botswana. The ferry was old and tired but rather impressively carried us, another car and a massive road train of a lorry. In Botswana the process was very slick and well managed and also very happily we didn’t have to pay for another visa. In Botswana the road was a glorious tarmac wonder and we made good progress south. We even stopped at a shopping mall in what seemed like nowhere and got something for breakfast. ... read more

Breakfast with a view this morning - of the sunrise!! Am a little bit over these early mornings ?. Left the hotel at 7am for about an hours drive to the Zimbabwe border. Everybody off the bus, through passport control (a little faster than the airport), then back on the bus, drive a little way, everybody off the bus again, through passport control to enter Botswana, then back on the bus headed for Chobe Marina Lodge where we transferred to 4WD vehicles for a morning game drive through Chobe National Park. We were not too hopeful of seeing many animals, it was very windy today and apparently that makes them stay sheltered. But did come across a few. Firstly a herd of female kudu, who decided to cross the road in front of the jeep. Lots ... read more

VRIJDAG 20-09-2019 8e vakantiedag We doen vandaag wat rustig aan. We hebben nog een reisdag te gaan vandaag. We maken koffie en dan poog ik nog de laatste foto's voor mijn blog te uploaden. Nadat ik ontdekt hebt dat er midden op het grasveldje de wifi versterker zit en ik vlak daarbij ben gaan zitten, gaat het eindelijk wat minder langzaam.? Dus de laatste foto's, nog snel wat bijschrijven en dan klaar! We zoeken de laatste spullen bij elkaar, checken uit en gaan dan naar de Choppie om nog wat boodschappen te doen. We kopen wel wat groente en fruit en water. Vlees is er niet en we wilden ook nog een blikje bier kopen, dan onderweg nog maar eens kijken. We rijden Selebi Phikwe uit en rijden richting Francistown. Dit is vooral doorrijden op een ... read more