'Delta Rain!'
Trip Start
Nov 13, 2005
1
10
17
Trip End
Dec 22, 2006
Maun,
Botswana
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
5.30am start the following morning as we set off on our two night trip into the Okavango Delta. We brought the bare essentials as instructed and packed plenty of sunscreen following our guide Michelle's last words, 'Everybody leaves the delta sun burnt'. Bet you maybe beginning to see where this entry is heading!
Drove 2.5 hours into the delta where we met our polers
01 Traditional makoro
. A further 1.5 hours in a traditional makoro brought us to our campsite. The canoe like boats were extremely comfortable, we both lay back, stretched out our legs and had a little snooze. Just as we had located our campsite and luckily pitched our tents it started.... yes you guessed it, it rained, lashed, poured, bucketed whatever you wished to call it. It stopped for a few moments which enabled lunch and a quick game of Okavango Rounders. The rules where made up as we went along while the polers looked on in hysterics. Mid game a lone elephant was spotted in the distance.At 4.30pm we donned long trousers, closed shoes and a raincoat for some of us fortunate enough to bring one and began our guided walk into the delta. Half an hour into the walk it rained again. We were all soaked through, cameras were destroyed (thankfully not ours, we've been there done that) and humors were dampened. All the animals had obviously sought shelter and we had to settle for plantlife, trees and hoof prints. We returned to the camp at 7pm to discover that Nicholas had cooked what was supposed to be coleslaw and potatoe salad. Good on him, despite the elements a plate of boiled potatoes, cabbage and carrots was passed into our tents!
Rain is not common in southern Africa as we all know, so our tents were not up to it
02 Dom and Liz
. The fly sheets are too close to the mosquito nets which means drops of water fall into the tent itself. Alot of sleeping bags and ground mats were soaked. Despite going to bed at 7pm, Liam woke a few times during the night. Most people who needed the toilet (or should we say hole in the ground) settled for a bush beside their tent incase an elephant or lion decided to visit. It made for some interesting meetings during the night.The rain held off at 2am on Day 16. We all got up at 5am. Nicholas once again did a top class job and cooked beans and eggs over the fire. He hadn't even served it up when the rain commenced again. Everyone fled for their tents while Grant and himself passed breakfast through our tents. It rained heavily all morning and because everyone had only brought two sets of clothes (remember... 'everyone get's sun burnt in the delta'!!!) we decided to attempt a return to Maun. There is after all only so much national anthem singing one can do to amuse ourselves!
Brian and Mike our guides we later discovered travelled miles to get us transport out of the delta. After 7 hours we began to accept the fact that we'd be spending another night confined to our muggy, dripping wet tents. But just as the lads finished a game of delta donkey and the sun was just about beginning to dry our clothes, a truck appeared like a mirage
03 Nicholas in the makoro
. Michelle changed out of here tankini top and pyjama bottoms (desperate times) and the camp was packed onto the truck in record time. Our disappointment of having to give into the elements was lightened by plenty of giraffe, elephant, zebra and even an ostrich family on our evacuation journey. Return to Maun and got the chance to upgrade to a nice dry chalet.Day 17: should have been our return from the delta, turned into a lazy day drying to find shade, get washing done and a quick trip into Maun. Following our hot dog lunch we drove to the local airport and boarded a small aircraft. Lara kindly gave Michelle the front seat. Liam quickly got over his first time on a small aircraft nerves and we all enjoyed the hour long flight over the delta. It gave us a good impression of what we could have seen. Unfortunately due to the recent rains the animals have no need to visit the waters so we didn't see as many animals as we would have liked. Did however see elephants, giraffes, zebra, impalas, our first sighting of hippos and even a person.
A top class roast chicken meal was served once again by Grace. Another early night because we've a long drive ahead tomorrow...
