Day 3.
Got up at 5:30am for a (thankfully warm) shower, packed up and had some muesli and toast for breakfast. Managed to get everything packed up and back on the road again by 7am. Another big travel day, but Botswana is pretty flat so the truck managed to cruise along on the straight roads. We driving on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, so the terrain gradually got drier and more arid, and then we finally stopped at a petrol station for a break. Saw some local kids pushing homemade toy trucks made out of old coke cans.
Had some leftover macaroni from the previous night and some local maize snacks from the shop. Back on the road again and arrived at our destination of Maun at 3pm. Went to the airport to pickup some luggage, and then went to the local shops for supplies. Abit more developed than Kenya & Tanzania, actually had not one but two supermarkets. We then cruised to our campsite on the edge of town. Part of a hotel complex, so quite flash with a bar, pool and wi-fi. After setting up the tents, put on the running shorts and went for a jog down the road. Got called a 'Bloemfurt' (spelling?) by a local, i.e. white guy
. For dinner we had roast beef cooked in foil over the camp fire, with some chakalaka, a South African spicy sauce. Alfred the driver is also a pretty good cook
.
Day 4.
Got up at 6am and packed up a small daypack for the 2 nights in the Okavango Delta. Jumped in a couple of 4WD's and headed out to the delta after breakfast. We then loaded up the Makoro's, small canoes with 2 passengers and a local standing up at the back with a local pole to push it forward.
Our very capable Poler crew navigating through the reeds.
Close together in convoy to ward off any errant hippo's
.
Our poler, Odie, managed to get us ashore without getting too wet
.
The ladies after reaching base camp.
Making lunch using an unpside-down Makoro for a kitchen bench
.
Some afternoon Uno
.
Spotting some Zebra during the late afternoon trek on the island.
Managed to track them down again after our initial encounter.
And some more
.
Another amazing African sunset.
Back at base around the campfire.
