Advertisement
Published: April 5th 2011
Edit Blog Post
So from Livingstone we headed through the foot and mouth checkpoint (felt like the UK circa 2001) and over the border into Botswana. Botswana is the size of France but has a population of just 1.8m. The Kalahari desert dominates the most of it which has led to some hot bus journeys and some monotonous scenery – but the people are very friendly and the places we have been have been beautiful.
First stop was a place called Kasagne where we did an evening river cruise in the Chobe National Park, at the point where the Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola borders meet. We saw loads of hippos, elephants, a crocodile and Monitor Lizards and had a few drinks so it was a very good evening. The next day, Carrie and I went on the optional game drive and saw more elephants, lions, warthogs, baboons and some wild dogs (apparently very rare) but the highlight was the 4x4 getting stuck in some soft sand – we all had to get out (remember the lions and wild dogs) and help dig the car out. Finally, with the help of a car pushing from the front and one pulling from the back
we made it out and avoided becoming lion food!
Next stop was Maun – the gateway to the Okavango Delta (18,000 sq km ish of marshland). I went on a Cessna tour of the Delta in a 5 seater plane (Carrie didn’t fancy it – to be fair, if you think Ryanair is no frills then tiny planes are not for you). The views were amazing and saw hippos, elephants and giraffes from a distance of just 600 feet. The next day we headed into the Delta for 3 days and 2 nights of ‘wild’ camping. Wild camping is as it sounds – no toilets, showers, wifi – just a tent, some poisonous snakes, wild elephants and a hole to poo in. Anyway, to get there we took a 45 min speedboat ride through the narrow channels which was just up my street, then a 2 hour Mokorow (canoe/punt) through even narrower channels to the island which would be our home for the next 2 nights. On the island, we went on two nature walks where we got very close to hippos and elephants, swam in the creeks (we were promised that there were no crocs or hippos close by!)
and learned how to ride the Mokoros – let’s just say that Carrie is better suited to a career in Law, but at least she didn’t fall in. I was a natural, as you would expect!
Well the wild camping was an adventure – very proud of Carrie for coping with it (especially the toilet arrangements) and getting down with nature was definitely an experience – especially waking up in the night and not daring to go to the loo (or hole) as you can hear lions and elephants making sounds fairly close by! We were happy though to get back to a flush toilet and a shower.
So after the delta we headed to Ghanzi, right in the desert where we had an evening with the bushmen, who showed us how to hunt/gather and make a fire, then they did some dancing round the campfire. It was fairly interesting but I can think of several better things to spend $30 on. We are now heading to Namibia and we are due to stay in a hotel tonight in Windhoek – whoo hoo!
PS – I am now fully fit after my malaria. Thanks for the get well soon/come
home at once messages! Also, thanks for all the messages/comments that people keep leaving on the blog. We really enjoy reading them and apologies for not replying but the time we have online is limited! Anyway, 2 weeks to go in Africa…
Advertisement
Tot: 0.045s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 9; qc: 23; dbt: 0.0257s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Irene and Graham
non-member comment
Hi you two. Great to hear Danny is fully fit again - gave everyone a scare, but hey Cheryl Cole got over it!!! Can't be that bad. I am with you on the Cessna flight Carrie. I suppose the nearest thing was a flight on a 12 seater from New York to somewhere in New Jersey. Not quite the same I know but in my mind it is. Oh no, have just remembered we flew from Southampton to Alderney on a similar aircraft and once we were all onboard someone got on asking for a screwdriver to repair something or other!!!! No upgrades on that one. What amazing names these places you are visiting have. Might give you a test on your return. All well here. Everyone melting down ready for Easter, Royal Weddings and things. Uncle Graham and I are off to Lytham next Wednesday for a few days to visit my sister. Will give it your regards. Love reading your news, Luv now as always, Auntie Irene and of course Uncle Graham xxx