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Sorry its been so long. Getting stable internet has been hard. Here's my journal fr the last few weeks.
11/02/2010 Chobe Safari Park, Botswana
Early start as we wanted to get across the Zambezi river and through Botswana immigration. Queues and queues of trucks waiting to cross and hundreds of people milling around waiting to cross or selling stuff. The ferry only took 2 trucks at a time and even though we were fast-tracked as tourists we had to wait for 4 ferries. I chatted to a lovely African man called James who wanted to sell me a wooden Hippo. It was like a scene from Blood Diamond and despite the heat of the midday sun it was exhilarating. This is the Africa I was expecting.
We then drive to Chobe Safari Park passing Elephants eating grass at the side of the road. I pitched my tent only to be surrounded by Warthogs and Marmosets! They were having a squabble over the Warthogs using a mud bath by their burrow. It was funny seeing Marmosets chase away big Warthogs.
Lazy time by the pool and an early night as i have to be up at 5am for my first Safari.
12th Feb 2010 5.50am
Took an open jeep into Chobe park. Saw Hippos, Elephants, Giraffes, Antelopes and the biggest Dung beetle in the world. We stopped on the way back to watch a bull elephant eat grass at the side of the road. He was no more than 20 feet away.
One of the group, Rod, has fallen ill with heat exhaustion and been taken to hospital. I hope he’s ok.
Sunset cruise on the Chobe river. Saw lots of Hippos and Elephants and even a crocodile. My first. Also the sad sight of a baby elephant mauled by lions. Still alive but abandoned by the herd Can’t bring myself to post the picture.
13/02/2010 Chobe to Ngepi
Long driving day! Rods not got heat exhaustion but a low pressure problem. Thankfully there’s a doctor on holiday in our group. Our overland truck is Orange and White and called Claudia. She’s very old but we love her.
Stayed in Ngepi camp and upgraded. Made everyone jealous as I had a treehouse looking over the river. 6am sunrise viewed from the bed and a lie in as the tent was already packed and so didn’t need to be cleaned and dismantled. Campsite had the strangest toilets which ranged from the ‘Loo with a View’ which was outdoors looking over the river to the ‘His n Hers’ toilet which was two sit down toilets side by side! My all time favourite though was the ‘Garden of Eden’ which was a single toilet placed in the middle of the African bush on its own. I’ve put them in the Africa photo album for you to see. Hopefully will post a couple of videos soon as well.
14/2/2010 Ngepi to Okavanga Delta
Crossed from Botswana to Namibia and then back. Apparently this is quicker than driving through Botswana to get to the Delta. Long driving day and my back was really hurting by the time we got there. Am a bit worried my back problem will flare up again so am doing daily exercises. Daily temps of around 30-35 degrees. Met by Bushmen in Makoro canoes and we poled across the Delta to a rough island camp. Toilet was a hole in the ground – oh boy! Check out my picture in the photo album for Africa.
We went on a sunset pole into the Delta and I saw my best ever sunset. I have decided to print the best 3 sunsets from my trip on canvas and put them in my flat when i return.
Got caught in the rain and the tent leaked overnight. Ended up huddled in the middle with my stuff packed around me. Bloody rainy season. As a consequence our walk out with the Bushmen was cancelled and so we went straight on to Umvuvu camp.
Katy and I were given a big safari tent so lots of room to sort our stuff in the rucksacks and dry our clothes. Traditional African meal at might with shredded Goat meat and Maize mash.
16/2/2010 Namibia – Roys camp
Long long driving day. Left at 8am and arrived at 8pm. Couldnt be bothered to put the tent up so decided to upgrade to a bungalow - £15/night so not too expensive. Also chose to skip the ‘traditional village’ visit the next day as it sounded like a tourist experience rather than a real village. I needed to rest and wash all my clothes. Best decision i have made so far as Katy came down with a stomach bug and was sick all night. Spent the next day resting, swimming, updating my journal and going for short walks. Feel very rested but annoyed as this is the 6th day without internet access so cant update the blog. Will have to post all of last week in one go when i get to Swakopmund in a few days time. Ate Kudu steak last night and looking forward to an Africaans version of beef stroganoff tonight.
Love to all at Stockley Park, I really am thinking of you, though usually it is with a smile while watching some amazing sunset with a cold beer in hand instead of doing the Bill of IT
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