Day 30 Friday 8 May Camp Okavango

We had our first lie-in for ages and relaxed into the morning.

Breakfast at 8.00 all by ourselves as most other guests were out on activities. Chatted to the cook and waitress. After breakfast strolled to the viewpoint along raised board walks.

Final packing ready for our flight south. Viv browsed in the lodge shop.

Taken by boat for about 30 minutes to the nearest airstrip. Winding channels edged with varieties of reeds and birds.

Direct flight from Xugana to Laroo la Tau took about an hour. A very competent female Botswanan pilot handled the little GA8 Airvan extremely well. Plenty of water in the Delta so few islands and large vistas of green reeds.

As we crossed the main road from Maun to Gaborone the landscape became considerably drier and acacia thorn bushes dominated.

Finally saw the Botete River and a landing strip came into view. Met by Kets and with 2 others from another flight (joined later by 2 more), we went on a game drive. Very different sort of country compared to most of our previous travels. Dry, sandy and we had to watch out for acacia thorns. Our vehicle had to cross the Botete by pontoon while we were taken by boat. At the top of the bank was the Kumaga Gate into the Makgadikgadi National Park.

Stopped to watch 7 elephants drinking from the river. And they were soon joined by dozens of zebra. Continued on and saw elephant and steenbok. Stopped for a sundowner and then we made our way back to the exit and the pontoon. A bumpy ride on a dirt road got us to the lodge, Laroo la Tau.

Shown around in the semi-dark and finally taken to lodge 8. Mix up with bags was sorted out and we showered before dinner. Collected and taken to the dining room by a torch-bearer. A full table of residents but not a particularly interesting conversation.

Bed by 9.00 exhausted.Read more