Day 8. Meerkats, the Makgadikgadi plus

It was a very early start for all this morning, made even earlier by a dog barking outside our tents. The ‘Oxley, we are on the move call came at 4.45 and by 5.15 all the tents were empty and we breakfasting. By 5.45 we were in the Planet Baobab car park waiting for our jeeps, and we were soon on our way.

We drove through and southwards out of Gweta and had a bumpy, dusty 1.5 hour drive to a meerkat colony.. This group of 11 (with 2 pregnant females are a couple of babies) had become habituated and were able to walk among them, watching the adults digging for grubs and scorpions while the babies played.

A light breakfast onsite followed before we drove to, and on to, the vast Ntetwe Pan, part of the Makgadikgadi ( which means very dry in the local language). We were encouraged by Super to walk alone out on to the salt pan and have ‘time-out’ by ourselves in the empty landscape. Many went a longlong way to find solace.

It was time to turn back but we took a different route, looking for some wildlife in the neighbouring concession. Huge vultures were seen at a waterhole and a breeding herd of 30 elephant at the next. That was followed by a pride of 4 large lions, and then a herd of wildebeests. We were so lucky!

A dusty bumpy ride back to Planet Baobab followed and we were tired and dirty, but happy and ready for Munya’s lunch. Finally everything was in the vehicles and we drove 3 hours west to Maun.

We parked in the centre and while Munya and Bheki shopped for the Okavango mokoro safari. We bought water and things we need and then the vehicles headed the 13 kms to Sitatunga Camp. Up went the tents and the volleyball court became popular.

We had been greeted by Tom and he came back after dinner to give us a “delta” briefing. Plenty of water, muted clothing and a backpack of necessities only. As we were fairly late, everyone was in their tents by 9.45Read more