Cresta Lodge Gaborone

... waiting a few of the drivers were getting quiet agitated and sort of shouting to each other. I am not sure what the argument was about but they kept pointing at different minivans which made it quite confusing for us as we weren't sure which one to get on!! It was all a bit messy but we eventually got on a minivan, it was not the brand new one that was next to us unfortunately but a rather old one. Having said that, it did have brand new wheels and tyres which, I guess, is fairly ...

... like Nevada to me as we take off from Windhoek at daybreak. It even seems more like Nevada in the little mini-bus we take to Botswana, because we’re flying, speed no apparent obstacle. We make it to the border in no time, everybody spending their last Namibian dollars before we cross. But there’s no forex facilities at the border, so if you don’t have ZAF rand or Botswana pula, you’re **** out of luck. That’s me. Rand are ...

... zebras, and, of course, warthogs. A dry spell hits in the afternoon, but on our way back, around 4.30pm, we turn a bend and we finally see elephants! I've never been too much into game drives, and especially if you've got to pay good bucks to a private reserve that is into the business for mere profit. I sort of dislike also all the collaterals that come with it: limited space for the animals to roam, lots of 'Sunday ...

... we are nearly there - we'll find out when they arrive 9.20am Tuesday! We are booked in to Mokolodi Game reserve just outside Gab Monday night & also the following 2 nights to give them a taste of Africa. We'll then move on up heading for Kasane in the top right corner by a route yet to be determined. I'll also put this on the travel blog (www.travelpod.com search for malcolmcollis) Take care all Love Malcolm & Judi (Collis) For the benefit of ...

... now, anybody who calls this a "hill" is really just out of their mind. After our rest, we find the path (it's on the other side) and proceed to climb down. This goes a bit more smoothly, thankfully, and I got some great shots of mini-Bertha. There was also this really awesome preserved insect exoskeleton that I found. I named it Andy. Am I strange for doing that? Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time. When we finally ...

Wow, so here we are! I guess I should talk a little more about last night, as all I really saw fit to do was complain about bugs. Well, to be fair, there were a TON of them. And bugs love me. And that makes me itch. There were also two lizards that I forgot to mention, one in the bathroom and one on the window pane in the bedroom. We figured they might eat the bugs if we ...

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... green vegetation has turned into brown shards of wood. This of course means there is nothing for the animals to eat and outside of the park, as well as within it, I have seen several dead animals by the side of the road (including a donkey!) that appear to have starved to death along with hundreds of skin and bones animals barely surviving- not a sight I think I would ever be able to get used to. This country is so in need of rain. The only plant which seems to be ...

... on his eyes with their heads right in the socket. Lovely!!!!! Saw so many animals and sights and took about 300 pictures (I kid you not) so be prepared to be bored sh*tless when I get back ;o) Have the girls over from Zambia this weekend so will be a messy one and its also Eileen's last weekend as she is only here for 2 weeks. Real shame cos we get on so well and she is soo funny. Think a trip to New York may be on the cards. ;o)

... p;nb sp; Just completed the Delta part of the trip---saw threatening elephants, an intimidating Cape Buffalo herd, giraffe, zebra, kudu, a great variety of colourful birds. The trip is with 3 German tourists and I feel very fortunate to have lucked into this alternative.