Gweta then Nata

I booked an extra night at the well appointed Gweta Lodge. It was comfy, meals and bar available and they have me a decent rate. About $60/night. That's pretty good for this style of accommodation and only a little more than in town guesthouses. Of course meals and a couple of beers not included, but still around $100 per night. My legs were still feeling the 2 hot long days from Maun so another day before the next 100km was sensible. I met Kate & Jarrod a 30s Aus/Nz couple from Melbourne. Kate invited me to sit with them at dinner, rather than no mates Nigel. With them was Sam their Zimbabwean safari guide. I spent dinner answering Kate's questions about my travels. They were 1 week into a safari experience covering Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Earlier in the day I'd wandered the small central town block, got a local feed of chicken & chips from a food stall and had the cheapest haircut I can remember, P20 or $2.50. I'd also spoken with a couple from Japan who were 4 months into a 2 year community development volunteering stint, to help rural development. Similar to NZs VSA programme. I'd considered an overnight sleepout at Netwe pan from Gweta Lodge. For pretty basic arrangements it was substantially overpriced. I could achieve a similar outcome just finding a quiet spot along the road. Might not experience the meerkats which are roaming around but I could give that a miss. That might have under considered the night time wild life consideration. I did wonder if that, like the persistent questioning about fear of wild animals, was overstated too.
Waking early the next morning, I again rode into a moderate NE headwind. Instead of the usual 17 - 18km/hr it was 13 - 14, sometimes 11. Pretty straightforward route, same main highway until the little town of Zoroga at 60km. The sole shop only did drinks and junk food so I grabbed the local version on Red Bull, 1.5L of water and entertained the local kids. Not too many white people stop, obviously. No real wildlife, not counting livestock, horses or donkeys. I did traverse the area of the Netwe pans, and then onto Nata at km 100.
Rupert the owner at Nata's Eselbe camp was a Cape to Cairo group favourite. A very chill Botswanian with some South African/Botswana heritage and UK family. Had a cool dinner with him and German companion Gudie. Got a tent upgrade for camping prices and once sorted mossies, via my net, reasonable slumber.Läs mer