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WE GO!!!!
Entry 7 of 13 | show all | print this entry |
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Well, i enjoyed a week off in Pretoria. Didn't realized that i was still tired from my other trips but
the time was nice. I didn't need the whole week off but it was good anyway. Stayed in a place at the
Edge of Pretoria and met a few people while there. Did a big shopping day with a couple of them and a lot
of walking that day but it was great to be out and about. Didn't really buy much but that doesn't matter.
I got a couple boxes but together while i was there and mailed them home. So cross your fingures that
they arrive. I had some fun shopping in Swaziland on the last trip and do not have room to be carring it
all around with me so i thought i would see how the postal system works. I was surprised at the cost of
it, not as much as i thought it was going to be, but it is to take about 35 working days to get there. So
mom might get a package sometime in April or May. The funny part is they require a return address so i
put my brothers. Ha, one way or another it should make it to the right street, as both the return and the
mail to address are on the same street......
Ok, So the 23rd of Feb i was still at the hostel in Pretoria and that day slowly people were arriving for
my next tour...The Backroads of Botswona. Well one after another one Australian after another arrived.
Out of 15 of us, there was 2 USA, 2 Brits, 1 Canadian (me) and the rest were either Australian or living
in Australia.
We started the trip out late though the next moring. The Brits were having a hard time getting there.
They were backloged getting out England with problems at the Airport, so they arrived about 3 hours after
we were to be on the road. We all felt bad for them as they arrived after many many hours either waiting
for their plan or being on the plane they got on the ground and right onto the truck for a full day of
driving. But it wall worked out and we didn't have anything planned for the day except driving. But we
did manage to get to set up in the dark for the first night. Plus, we were at a new place for our guides
that night as well and we were having fun navigating the new campground. Which in my opionion is not made
for truck that size. It was an interesting start for this trip.
Well from South Africa we didn't waist any time in crossing over to Botswana, that was first on the list
of things to do. I had been through this border before i knew about the big bugs. And i finally got a
picture of them. Kinda was told no photos as the borders but whatever, other were and notbody stopped me.
I was only talking the bug not any builders or poeple or anything. Anyway, i also had to go to the
bathroom and i was going to use the one there, but at the last minute before i opened the door i noticed
all the bugs around the door. I did the girly thing and got squeemish and walked away slowing as they are
big and there was like 5 of them at the door way. I know only 5?? but comeon they are really big.... So
lets just say i held it a bit longer.... And yes ther have been a lot of other bugs and i have for the
most part gotten somewhat used to sharing the shower, the toilet with few flying things. non to happy
about and some don't make it that long either as they sqashed if they get to close......shoes are a
wonderful thing in the shower... But not really that bad, most places are cool, and some really cool, no
roof and at night you can see the stars while you shower.... WEll enough of that. Some of that was just
from past places and hasn't happened on this leg of the journey...
Back to where i should be....we started with visiting the Rino Sactuary and it was great. We had this
driver that kept asking if we were ready to move on after we stopped to watch the rino's, but his english
wasn't as good as some are and he kept asking We go?? We started answering him back with yes we go!! We
got up really close and saw lots of Rino's that day. And one non to pleased that we were watching i think.
See the video....
Then we were off to Maun so that we can go into the Okovango Delta. Yes i have mentioned this before as
this would be my third time now in Maun and then my second to the Delta. This time the Delta would be
different and i was glad to be doing it again as it was so great the first time. And last time i only
have one night in the delta this time i was getting two nights. YA
Well the trip to the Delta could have been better. The open air truck that took us 2 hours inland to the
water was ok, except that I ended up getting a migrane at that particular time. YA. :-( I think the
only thing that helped me was that knew that the mokoro ride down the water was going to really benifit my
headach. I managed to hang in there untill then and when i got in the mokoro i layed back and covered my
eyes and relaxed and hoped the 2 hour smooth and quite ride was going to do the trick. I also managed to
get some meds from someone else to help the pain of the headach as i didn't bring mine with me that day.
I was awake the entire time and listening to things around me, which wasn't much, but then when i heard
the loud hipo call i confirmed that it was a hipo, and i thought i was a bit too close. Yes it was only a
little bit away from us, we were on the edge of the pool, river, and the hipo was just over in the deeper
parts of the water. That's ok, they know what their are doing so i relaxed, not like we could do anything
anyway... right?? Well we arrived at camp safe and sound, and my head was still tender, and was glad
Rebecca had help to set up our tent, and then i went to bed for a couple hours hoping i would be good
enough to go on the 3 hour walk later that afternoon. I managed to get up and go, and the walk was good,
and i felt much better for it. I was good to go again.
The next moring we got up bright and early, up before the light then started out our 4 hour walk just as
the light was up. We got soaked from the tall grass and dew but kept on going. We came to see Impalas
walking about and ververt monkeys in the trees. As we continued our walk we could see Giraffs in the
distance and they remained there as we walked closer. We got quite close to them considering we were
walking. No not that close you touch them, but we were in their land, and they just watched us and moved
on slightly when they felt like it. We walked on past them and though a tree line and much to our
surprise and happiness we came to see Elephants. There was herd of them not far from where we were and
moved up to a slight incline and stood watching them. They got a glimps of us or a scent or something and
moved away but only to do a semi circle and ended up moving closer to us. We stood very still and quiet,
except for the cameras all going snap snap snap and we were all thinking the same thing i think. What to
do if they charged!!! Again not much we could do but the guides weren't worried, that we could tell, and
things were all good. They eventually got moving and moved on and we continued our walk. it was GREAT!!
We got back to camp and relaxed for the day and were suposed to do a sunset boat ride but the lightening
and thunder storm put a stop to that and the rain. It was directly above us but didn't last to long.
some of them a much more intersting time as they went down streem for a swim and some of us didn't go, but
we to meet up with them for the sunset ride. But we saw the clouds and didn't go. It took them some time
to realize that we wern't coming and that the clouds are likely the reason. So they finally started to
come back to camp. But not soon enough, they got caught in the rain. And did i mention there was
lighting. Well they got a bit of an adventure that's for sure. Some of the them pulled over to the side
and ran the rest of the way instead of being on the water. (so much for single file walking in paths and
watching for snakes and things) They picked up there feet and were flying.... And then when they got
back to camp they didn't see anybody and really wondered where we all were. ( we had taken cover in the
tents when the water came pouring down. But we came out again and got wet with them, and the lighten
moved away as well. That evening was then spend around the camp fire and our group of polers did some
singing and dancing for us.
While sitting around the camp we listed to the hipo's talking and once there was a herd of Elephants that
wondered past us as we could here them. We didn't see any of them at those times but it cool to hear them
and know that were in their land.
Morning we woke up for another 2 hour walk before getting in the mokoro's at 8am to get us back on the
road again. We didn't really see anything that day but it was a nice walk anyway. We were glad also that
one the main guild was with us the one in training really didn't seem to know where he was going. But it
was all good.
We stayed at the camp near Maun for another night there after getting in from the Delta. I am getting to
know a few of these camps as it is the same one i have stayed in twice already. It's kinda cool to be back
in some place you kinda know, so it's not all new all the time. Some went for a flight over the delta in
a couple planes and four of us held down the fort at camp and had a few drinks. we just enjoyed the
evening, siting around chating. Some went on to the bar and others on to bed. I went off to do my teeth
and bed but made the mistake of saying hi to the ones in the bar. Well, 5 shooters or so and a couple
drinks later, and a couple of the guys jumping in and out of the pool, we were a bit loud appearenlty.....
But it was all good do and they all got their clothes back exept a pair of sun glasses. There are a few
pictures somewhere but they might have been erased already.
Ok, didn't think we were going to make our leaving time in the morning. There were several that really
didn't look so good the night before but with some help from others and a wake up call we left on time.
We were leaving later then as we had to make a stop in town at the bank as one of the guys had his card
taking in the bank machine, so we were tying to time it for the bank to open and get there at that time.
But as we left the camp, just as we reached the highway, we turned around. It was maybe only 10 minutes
max. Our tour guid left his phone at the bar charging it and forgot, so we turned around to go back for
it. Well, it was already gone!! he was not to happy and were all bit mad about it as it had to be the
people that worked there as there was no one else around, and no body new anything about it... we go! so
then it made us think that the sunglasses were stolen too??? hmmmm
We made it into town and the bank wasn't opening for a bit yet so we got to wonder around a bit, and when
it did open he got his card back. Appearently the back machine was taking cards all night and the the
girl behind the desk had a pile of cards to go though, but he got his card back and, we go!
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