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Peter Craig
Peter Craig

Peter Craig

Travel organiser and tour director at Viv’s Travel Bug
Former founding staff member and Deputy Headmaster Oxley College, Bowral Читать далее🇦🇺Australia
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  • Peter CraigOxley in Botswana 4Путешественник
    11

    Day 10 On an Okavango Delta island

    6 октября 2019 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Mr K woke the entire camp at 5.00 am and we were soon up . The kettle had been boiled on the fire so we started the day with a hot drink and a rusk. By 5.45 we were down at the mokoros and we were soon ferried the short distance across the channel to start our morning walk.

    Breaking up into the same 4 groups as the previous day we headed off in different directions, led by a guide, with an assistant bringing up the rear. The walk lasted 4 hours in total with frequent stops to observe the wildlife and a mid-walk halt where we sat in the shade on the side of a termite mound.

    Most groups saw the same animals but obviously in different circumstances. Our group came across a herd of 12 giraffe, with a similar number of zebra nearby, as well as impala. Continuing our walk we saw warthog, a Secretary bird, 3 bushbuck, a large herd of buffalo and a herd of wildebeest. In the distance we saw elephants.

    On our return we saw smaller groups of the same animals as the heat of the day began to rise and animals sought cover. Back at camp we were welcomed by one of Munya’s amazing breakfasts.

    For the rest of the day, apart from lunch at 1.00, we either sought shade and read or played loud, noisey games, or dozed: while some did wash/swim in the waterhole or try their hand at poling a mokoro.

    By 5.00 pm we were all aboard our mokoros and were taken by our polers along a nearby watercourse . Round the corner we sat and watched 5 elephants move across in front of us from one bank to the other. There were herons and long-tailed shrike, and water lilies in the wider sections of the channel.

    As the sun neared the horizon we arrived at a large expanse of water inhabited by 8 hippos. We sat, in our mokoros, close to the reeds and watched the hippos sink and resurface, and the sun ball slowly disappear. It was a beautiful setting and a stunning scene.

    In the gathering gloom, we returned to camp where Munya had prepared a great ‘African’ meal. He has certainly done us proud and there has always been ample available.

    After dinner water was sprinkled on the sand around the campfire and the polers gathered for songs and dances, entertaining the group. There were some great acts, the highlights of which were ‘the old man’ dance and the ‘frog dance’. We ended the polers contribution by having a black and white song (polers and Oxleyans mixed),’Beautiful Africa’.

    Oxley decided to sing to the polers and they were entertained by the School Song and the School Hymn, followed by Advance Australia Fair.

    It had been another day of memorable, but exhausting , experiences and it was not difficult to persuade everyone to go to bed.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxley in Botswana 4Путешественник

    Day 9 Into the Okavango

    5 октября 2019 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C

    The camp was ‘on the move’ by 6.00 and all tents were down by 7.00 before breakfast. We organised our water and backpacks for our morning’s 2 hour drive to Daunara. After breakfast we said farewell to Brian whose role as additional vehicle and driver was over and he left to return to Johannesburg.

    We were also welcomed by the Sitatunga Camp owners Karina and Gerald, and the manager, Ollie, all folk who have got to know the Oxley students well over the past 3 years.

    Soon after 8.00 the Sitatunga troop carrier was loaded up with tents, camping gear, food and students and we were on our way. With a jeep and trailer as well, we headed back to Maun and northwards, before turning west and driving on a dusty, sandy, bumpy road that often required the use of the lower gears of the 4WD. Eventually we reached Daunara, our mokoro ‘port’ and unloaded everything.

    Our party consisted of 20 mokoros, usually with 2 passengers, and a poler, but also camping gear. We manoeuvred in the narrow read-choked channels between the islands for an hour and a half seeing elephant and giraffe in the distance. It was very hot (Mrs Marnoch’s wristwatch thermometer read 43C) so we welcomed our arrival at a treed site where we could put up our tents and relax

    Munya provided another of his special lunches and we relaxed in the heat of the afternoon, playing cards, ready and sleeping.

    At 5.00 we crossed the narrow channel by mokoro and broke up into 4 groups for a short evening game walk. There was a spectacular sunset but most of us were also fortunate to see a herd of 10 zebra and a mother elephant and 2 calves, with lechwe, wildebeest and warthog in the distance.

    We came back to camp for another of Munya’s meals, consisting of various African components. It was such a hit that a line for seconds occurred very quickly. What an amazing skill he has to feed over 30 of us with such basic camping facilities.

    After dinner we had the usual debriefing, led by Mr Craig, with Mr “K”, the leader of the polers talking about the next day and also how the toilet system worked.

    By 9.30, grubby and tired, we were in our tents. It had been a hot but rewarding day.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxley in Botswana 4Путешественник
    1

    Day 8. Meerkats, the Makgadikgadi plus

    4 октября 2019 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    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 9.45    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxley in Botswana 4Путешественник

    Day 7. Planet Baobab & Gweta

    3 октября 2019 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Not in a hurry this morning, so it was a slow start to the morning. Everyone now knows the routine and tents came down, bags packed and the vehicles loaded without any problems.

    After breakfast we drove the short distance into Nata and went shopping in Choppies for water plus. We also filled up with fuel before starting our drive westwards, a road that will eventually take us Maun tomorrow night.

    The countryside was very, very dry and the road deteriorated in patches. About an hour and a half later we turned off and had reached our destination, Planet Baobab.

    We moved into our campsite, tents went up and we were soon in the swimming pool. For lunch we had a traditional meal in the dining room, starting with a hand wash as used our fingers rather than cutlery. On the menu was sadza (a thick maize porridge), native spinach, beans, mapani worms, tripe and shredded beef. Everybody had a go and tried their best.

    After lunch we piled on to three jeeps, driven by Bakos, Super and Chemical, and were taken to a nearby cattlepost. Cattle are not allowed in the village of Gweta and so families set up a base further out in the bush. We explored the compound and talked to some meel players (a local board game).

    From the cattlepost we were taken to the village of Gweta for a slow drive to the spring around which the town developed, and then on passed the school, the library, the hospital and the post office. We were back at Planet Baobab by 4.30 and were soon playing Marco Polo in the pool.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxley in Botswana 4Путешественник

    Day 6. South to Nata & the Bird Sanctuar

    2 октября 2019 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    The whole camp was aroused by 6.00 and within an hour all the tents were down, bags packed and the trucks loaded up. After another of Munya’s breakfasts we were ready for the morning’s drive south.

    As the truck and the minibus rolled southwards, the view was of dry bush and occasional grasslands. We saw a baboon troop and elephants in the distance. An amazing sight interrupted the card game in the front of the truck as the vehicles came to a sudden halt. We had stumbled upon an eland migration with the herd numbering an estimated 80 beasts. These are extremely rare and generally only found in small groups. Our much-travelled support staff had never seen anything like this before.. We had been so lucky!

    At Pandamatenga we stopped for a toilet break before pushing on, passed huge agri-business farms irrigated by bore water. There were several roadside giraffes after that as well as ostriches, steenbok, and vervet monkeys.

    We drove through Nata an additional 10kms to Nata Lodge where we set up our tents while Munya prepared lunch. After that we headed for the swimming pool and a lazy early afternoon followed.

    At 4.30 we left for a visit to the Nata Bird Sanctuary . Unfortunately there was no water in the Suwa Pans and the flamingos and pelicans had gone elsewhere. Nevertheless we did see wildebeest in numbers.

    We watched the sunset from the middle of the saltpans and were getting back on the jeeps in the increasing gloom when Sarah noticed her phone was missing. The Jeep was searched and then we had an ‘ostrich parade’ out on the pans as torches began to be used. Just when the search waswas abandoned the phone was found by Nick and we headed back to camp in the dark- very relieved!

    A late dinner followed and a different sort of day ended on a good note.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxley in Botswana 4Путешественник
    2

    Day 5. Elephants without Borders

    1 октября 2019 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    It was luxury to lie in bed this morning and watch the sky colours change. The camp slowly came to life as everyone caught up on the sleep they had missed since leaving Australia. Breakfast was at 8.00 on a mild morning but the temperature is due to rise.

    After breakfast we did a bit of laundry before leaving the campground. We bought water for the day before moving to the nearby Elephants without Borders compound at Kasangula.

    We were welcomed by Old Oxleyan, Tempe Adams, and later met her bosses Kelly Landon and Mike Chase. Immediately we were split into groups with one group observing a 6 week-old elephant orphan being fed while the students met the 3 older orphans, Tuli, Panda and Morelo.

    Tempe gave us a PowerPoint talk about the activities in which EWB is involved and also her own role in the small but important NGO. There was so much more diverse activity than anyone realised! Which made it all the more significant when Tempe was presented with $2141 raised by the Year 9s to be spent as EWB saw fit. Yanni made a confident presentation speech and the EWB staff were amazed at the efforts involved.

    Afterwards, the two groups roles were reversed: followed by lunch sitting on the lawn.

    EWB has been given a large riverside land grant to reforest and establish a Chobe Culture and Wildlife Centre. There are plans for a Culture centre, a board walk, teaching areas, reforestation, threatened species care (the Chobe bushbuck) and educational programmes. A visitor last week was Prince Harry who is a close friend of Dr Mike Chase of EWB. We drove to the site and watered the 250 trees planted by local school children at the time of Harry’s visit. Harry had planted a small baobab and we followed suit in our own area, planting 6 trees representing the six Oxley houses. Afterwards we celebrated this little part of ‘Oxley in Botswana ‘ with a photo at Harry’s baobab.

    We left the property late afternoon, bought water in the supermarket, and returned Thebe River Camp. Dinner followed, where we were joined again by Tempe, before she headed off again to mind a baby elephant.

    It had been a different - but most rewarding - day, enjoyed and absorbed by all.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxley in Botswana 4Путешественник

    Day 4. Kasane: game-viewing from jeep& b

    30 сентября 2019 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C

    It was an early start this morning as we wanted to be at the Sedudu Gate for the 6.00am opening. A warm drink and a rusk started our day before we walked to Reception in the red-tinged dawn to board our park vehicles.

    It was a cold ride but we there on time and we warmed up as the sun rose. None of the elephants or giraffe of yesterday but we did see hippo and their babies grazing on the land adjacent to the Chobe River. Again we were fortunate to see two different lion prides (something not seen by last year’s Oxley students). Yesterday’s concern for a large sick elephant we found lying on the ground proved to be this morning’s meal for a lion pride.

    In this morning’s drive we saw some different species, including fish eagles, drongos, vultures, alarmed baboon troop and some warthogs. There were several mother and baby combinations of grazing hippos. After a stop in a ‘Stretch Point’ we slowly headed back to the Sedudu Park Gate, seeing groups of male and then female kudus on the way.

    Back at Thebie River Camp by 9.30 we enjoyed a late breakfast prepared by Munya. After that we had a lazy morning as the temperatures climbed toto the mid-30s. Some washed clothes, some played football, and all swam and adjourned to the restaurant for a cool drink. Lunch followed at 1.00 with more R&R until we left for our river cruise mid-afternoon.

    Our pontoon craft, after checking in to the park boat office, slowly explored the banks of the Chobe River. We got close to hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, lechwe, waterbuck, maribou storks and a pair of solitary elephants (where had all of yesterday afternoon’s gone?). As the sun dropped we completed our circumnavigation of Sedudu Island and followed the Namibian bank waiting for the sunset to develop. And it was worth the effort!

    We were picked up by Bheki and Brian and returned to camp to find Tempe Adams of Elephants without Borders visiting us. Tempe joined us for dinner before leaving to take up her shift with a new arrival in the baby elephant orphanage.

    It had been a hot day (37C) but a good one. The country had celebrated their 52nd Botswana Independence Day and we had seen a beautiful part of Africa.    Читать далее

  • Peter CraigOxley in Botswana 4Путешественник

    Day 3. Vic Falls, Botswana & our first g

    29 сентября 2019 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    What a day! The Falls were great and a pride of lions at the end of the day was the icing on the cake!

    We started the day soon after 5.30 as the camp gradually awoke in the unfamiliar setting. Tents came down before breakfast and bags were packed. Munya produced a great meal which was most welcome.

    After breakfast we left the Shearwater Explorers Village camp and drove the short distance to the Falls car park where we met our guide, Innocence. He talked about the falls in front of a large diagram and then took us, walking on the back path, to the Victoria Falls bridge. From there we walked to Danger Point where we looked down at the Boiling Pot and the Zambian side - which had no water going over it.

    Gradually we made our way west to the waters on the Zimbabwean side where there was water going over the Main Falls and the Devil’s Cataract. We finished our visit with a look at David Livingstone’s statue.

    From the Falls, we left the township and headed west, reaching the Botswana border over an hour later. Formalities there finished with a walk through a ‘foot and mouth’ prevention chemical mixture, designed to protect Botswana’s cattle industry.

    From the border we drove the 20 minutes to Kasane where we had an hour in town while our crew shopped for fresh food. Once completed, we moved quickly to the nearby Thebe River Lodge campground, our home for the next 3 days. We put up our tents while Munya, aided by Bheki and Brian, prepared the ingredients for our DIY sandwich lunch.

    By mid-afternoon we were ready for our first game drive of our tour and were soon heading for the Sedudu Gate of the Chobe National Park in a Jeep and larger viewing truck. The landscape was incredibly dry with the only greenery on the floodplains and river bank of the Chobe River.

    However, in the 3 hours we were there, we saw some amazing game - including dozens of elephants , impala, kudu, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, Maribor stork, lilac crested rollers and vultures. The best was saved to last when were lucky enough to see a pride of 5 lions, dominated by a magnificent yellow-maned male. Fantastic!

    There was mad rush afterwards to exit the park at the mandatory 6.00 pm but we just made it. Back at camp, exhausted but happy, we unwound before dinner and then showered before bed.

    It had been a special day for all involved    Читать далее

  • Peter CraigOxley in Botswana 4Путешественник
    Joburg airport
    Braiding resultsOn the Boma dance floorOxley at Victoria Falls hotelBoma welcome dance

    Day 2. Arriving at Victoria Falls townsh

    28 сентября 2019 г., Южная Африка ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    It was a long night - 11+ hours of flying time - and everyone tried to get some sleep. The plane was full but South African Airways looked after us well.

    We landed at 4.45 a.m., passed through Customs into a very quiet airport, and headed for a cafe to use as a base for the next few hours. Everyone did a bit of exploring to kill time. Even managed to introduce kudu and ostrich biltong to a few prepared to experiment. At last our flight time to Zimbabwe crept closer.

    It was a full flight on a SAA Airbus 320-200 that took us north on the short trip (about 1:20) to a very dry Zimbabwe. The Customs there have to be one of the slowest in the world. It took us longer to get through Customs than it did to fly from Johannesburg !

    Once through we were met by the ATC safari team of Bheki and Munya (last year’s cook), and the minibus driver, Brian, and taken into the village and our campground at Shearwater Explorers Village . Our tents were already up so a quick move into them followed and we were soon ready for a walk into town.

    We visited the beautiful old colonial Victoria Falls Hotel, with its flags still at half-mast for Robert Mugabe. It has a great ambience and the view down the Zambezi Gorges below the Falls never fails to impress. From the colonial-era hotel, the destination of European flying boat passengers in the mid-20th century, we walked to the Outlook Cafe, perched above the first of the rapids below the Falls. Unfortunately the rebuilding program after a disastrous fire there had not been completed and our visit was brief. On our walk we had seen mongoose, monkeys and baboons.

    From there it was a case of curio shopping, bargaining with the vendors, or returning to camp for a swim or shower. By 6.30 we had all changed and were ready for an evening of fun at the Boma Restaurant. The venue gradually filled up and throbbed to the sound of bongo drumming. To their credit, most of us tried some of the local foods on offer among the international fare - crocodile, and impala cold meat, eland meatballs, kudu steak, guinea fowl stew, mopani worms, etc. The food was good and once that was over everyone was given a bongo drum and the fun started. Hair-braiding experiments were tried. Exhaustion began to set in but most managed to get on the dance floor before it was time to head back to camp and a welcoming bed.

    It had been a very, very long day and the group had done remarkably well. A quick debrief with plans for tomorrow discussed and soon the camp was silent.

     Our first day in Africa was a huge success.    Читать далее

  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    Final leg of the journey

    15 октября 2018 г., Англия ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    It was a smooth overnight flight through to Perth with most sleeping.

    Going through Australian Customs in Perth those with woven items as gifts had them taken away from them. Arabella managed to set off the security with her knee brace but apart from that everyone is now looking forward to getting home and seeing family.

    They were a great group to take to Botswana and represented Oxley with pride. The relationship with the Maun schools has grown stronger and everybody has benefited from this.

    My thanks go to all the students and Tim Dibdin and Rani Ritchie for making this Botswana OSSO a success.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    The return home

    14 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    It was a very quiet start to the morning as we were in no hurry to leave Sitatunga. Breakfast was 8.00, bags packed by 9.00 and tents cleaned soon after.

    We were in Maun by 10.30 and visited Peter Craig’s friends’ shop, opposite the airport entrance. Dr Tim Liversedge, and wife, June, have an upstairs video viewing room above their shop and we watched a biographical account of Tim Liversedge’s life. He has been internationally recognised as a naturalist and cinematographer and his contribution to the growth of tourism in the Okavango and Maun regions is enormous. The film was both fascinating and inspiring.

    We said goodbye to the Liversedges, and to Senatla and to Dany who came to the airport to wish us well.

    Our SA Link flight to Johannesburg was an hour and a quarter and we landed on a wet runway and a considerable drop in temperature. Through immigration and security we headed for the cafe we knew well and based ourselves there for a few hours, killing time until our flight to Perth.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    Horses & game

    13 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C

    We split up today into two groups, with one riding in the early morning and the other in the late afternoon. This was to beat the heat of the predicted 37C (fortunately there was no humidity) so we managed quite easily.

    So, it was a 6.45 breakfast for all with the riders departing soon after on a truck while those remaining at Sitatunga went about their chores (some washing, repacking of suitcase, etc) before relaxing by the swimming pool or in the restaurant area.

    It was a lazy day in part, an opportunity to unwind after a busy school week. When the first group returned we all lunched together and then roles were reversed and the second group departed at 3.00.

    At the horse stables, managed by Welsh girl, Liz, half learned to groom a horse while the others rode out in search of game in the private reserve. During the day riders reported seeing giraffe, eland, zebra, springbok, ostriches and impala and often at quite a close range. After an hour, roles were reversed so that everyone rode and groomed .

    It was a memorable experience, well-coordinated by Dany Hancock of Rides on the Wildside who was enthusiastically with us all day.

    At dinner that night, back at Sitatunga, well-prepared and presented by Shah, we were joined by Sedie School Head, Senatla Mokobela, and Dany and Liz from our horseback experience. It was a most suitable grouping for our final dinner in Botswana.

    Everyone had enjoyed their ride (in most cases their first ever) and the experience of seeing wildlife close up on horseback was something special. The farewells to Dany and Liz were genuinely touching.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник
    1

    Our last school day

    12 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    We had a slightly earlier start this morning so that we could be at Mathiba Memorial Primary School by 8.00. As usual, our 40 minutes ride on the back of a centrally-benched truck through sandy scrub, dry farmland and Maun’s urban spread, was accompanied by waves from children heading to school.

    We arrived at Mathiba with the school gathering for assembly and waited until it was over. Then we split up into our teaching groups, some going with Std 3s and others with Std 2. Since the morning started relatively cool most groups were soon out of their classrooms and playing games in the sandy surrounds. Much fun, laughter and shrieking.

    By 9.45 we were reluctant to leave Mathiba but we were required at the Sedie School Form 3 Presentation ceremony and so said our farewells. It was the final day of the school year for the Sedie Form 3s as they had completed their exams and next year will attend a senior secondary school somewhere else.

    The programme showed an 8.00 start but things started to happen from 10.15. Apart from handing out academic, leadership and sporting awards (Peter Craig & Tim Dibdin did the Bronze Awards - a certificate and dinner sets) there were several entertainment activities.

    A DJ kept music playing whenever nothing was happening. We had a student bible group choir, professional dancers (polka, hiphop and traditional), a guitar-playing singer, a guest speaker, Mrs Mokobela (the Head) and a past student.

    Nearly 5 hours after it started, Oxley were invited to sing to the large group still assembled. They rose to the occasion by adapting a song the polers had taught them in the Okavango, a repetitive song that started with ‘Beautiful Africa, I will never forget beautiful Africa’.

    We left Sedie with the ceremony still going, having felt that we had fulfilled our obligations. An hour in town gave everyone a chance to drink, eat and buy gifts to take home .

    Back at camp we either swam or played volleyball before dinner and returned to these activities afterwards. In our tents by 9.30 with all in good spirits.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    Maun's educational institutions

    11 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Today started, after the usual breakfast and truck trip into town, with a visit to the Maun Senior Secondary School. Set on a large campus which included administration and classrooms but also boarding and staff houses, we learned that the school was run by a Protestant church and was government assisted. Students from Sedie Junior Secondary School could advance to this school .

    After an introduction by a Housemaster, we walked slowly around the premises, and the library/computer room in particular.

    Unfortunately, towards the end of our tour, Arrabella slipped and her knee dislocated. After consultation with their staff, an ambulance was called and eventually Arabella was treated by paramedics and later seen by a doctor. She, Mr Dibdin and her friends rejoined the group after lunch.

    The rest of us were bused north of Maun to the University of Botswana Okavango Research Institute, along with an equal number of Sedie students. We were told how the Institute operated (post-graduate studies or scientific researches) and we were shown the library and the herbarium.

    From the Okavango Research Institute we all returned to Sedie School where we had our packed lunch (in the Heads of Department staff room).

    After lunch, we walked along the road to nearby Mathiba Primary School where we were enthusiastically mobbed by the Std 2s who had finished school for the day. Once we were able to extract ourselves from them, we were allocated two Year 3 classes to teach. Breaking the classes into smaller groups we taught in pairs and had great fun for the next hour. Nobody wanted to stop when school ended for the day at 3.30 - but we have been invited back for another session tomorrow morning.

    As with our earlier arrival, our departure was somewhat chaotic with hundreds of primary students enthusiastically surrounding us. Eventually we got on to our truck and we left the school pursued by excited ‘Mathibans’ running after us.

    We stopped in the mall in town to stock up with drinks and snacks before heading back to camp at Sitatunga.

    Within a relatively short time, we were all aboard a couple of jeeps which transferred us to the local football field and netball court adjacent to the highway. As news spread that we were there, villagers emerged from all directions and before long the boys were involved in a football match refereed by Tim Dibdin and the girls took on the locals at netball. Everybody had a lot of fun!

    A beautiful sunset brought the games to an end and we returned hot and dusty, but satisfied , to camp for dinner. Waiting for us there was Dany Hancock (of Rides on the Wildside, our Saturday’s horse game ride) who had just popped in to say hello.

    After dinner we did some preparation for our last day at school tomorrow and were all in bed at an early hour - totally exhausted!    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    Mathiba Primary, the clinic & the old br

    10 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Breakfast was at 7.00 in the camp restaurant and we were ready to depart at 7.30 for our first day of teaching primary students. 40 minutes into Maun and we entered the school gates to find all 1100+ students waiting for us.

    The Mathiba Memorial Primary School Principal, Noah, and his Deputy, Patricia, greeted us and the students sang several songs of welcome. From the outside Assembly, we all moved into the staff room, for further introductions. We were told how much Mathiba appreciated the link with Oxley and the funds that have been raised for their projects.

    Noah took us on a tour of the school including their computer facility and the kitchens that fed the 1000+ students at lunchtime.

    When we arrived at the Std 2 (our Year 2) classrooms we were allocated groups of about 4 students to teach. Much beneficial activity took place in the next hour as the Oxley students provided something different and interesting. It was a great success.

    By 12.00 we managed to extract ourselves from the excited Std 2s and we walked across the road to the local clinic. Although it provided support for any medical needs, the main emphasis in the talks given by the medical staff was HIV/AIDS. Three different staff talked to us and there were plenty of Oxley questions. Several Oxley students added information to their research projects.

    From the clinic we walked along the road the 800 metres to Sedie Junior Secondary School where we relaxed in the shade until the change of class bell occurred. Allocated a ‘buddy’ everybody went off to two classes before a late lunch: which was held in the smaller staff room, with food provided by Sitatunga.

    (News came through at lunchtime that the Ritchies had arrived back in Oz and had been able to visit Mum/Grandma)

    After lunch we climbed aboard our truck and followed by two minivans carrying Sedie students, we drove out to the Old Bridge over the Thamalakane River, north of Maun. The idea here, in this picturesque setting, was to walk slowly across the rickety bridge with your buddy, getting to know each other. After a while, everyone returned, collected a rubbish bag and gloves, and wandered along the river bank in pairs improving the environment by picking up rubbish.

    About 5.00 the mission had been accomplished and we said goodbye to new friends and headed back to Sitatunga. The locals challenged us to a game of football before dinner. The Oxley girls provided a cheer squad and the boys were allowed to win. Challenges have been issued for a return match tomorrow evening, with the girls playing netball.

    Pizzas for dinner tonight (a great effort by camp cook Shah) and we were joined by Sedie School Head, Senatla Mokobela who came out to say hello.

    It had been a good - but busy - day    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    School & Community introductions

    9 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    We woke up to bad news this morning. Rani Ritchie had received a message that her mother had been hospitalised and transferred to intensive care: and the decision was made that she and Luca would return to Australia on the first available flight.

    We all breakfasted in a very somber mood. The group travelled into Maun on a benched truck (which went to Sedie School) and a jeep which went looking for a travel agency in town to book the Ritchie flights.

    Once the flights were settled we all met at Sedie and were introduced to their Sedie ‘buddies’ in an introductory meeting in the computer room. There was an M/C, and speeches by the school head, deputy head, and a primary school representative. We were made to feel most welcome.

    Afterwards the student groups intermingled before we all left the school, Oxley students going to the town museum and the Ritchies to the airport. It was a sad farewell and we all wished them a speedy trip and a successful outcome.

    An interesting tour of the museum was followed by a picnic lunch in the museum grounds.

    From the museum our truck took us to the Maun tkotla (tribal meeting place) where we were the guests of honour at a formal ceremony acknowledging how important our link to the schools is regarded locally. The paramount chief’s representative was there, as was the Sedie chief, the school head and other dignitaries. Much of the welcome was spoken in Tswana but it was interpreted for us.

    At the end of a long afternoon we were taken to the local mall where we all shopped for drinks and snacks. From there it was back to our camp at Sitatunga and a swim or volleyball before dinner.

    There were bush babies in the nearby trees. After dinner we rehearsed our lessons for our first day at Mathiba Primary School tomorrow.

    It had been a emotionally taxing day - both at farewells and at very formal occasions - and the Oxley group came through it most impressively.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    The return to Sitatunga

    8 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    It was a more leisurely start to the day this morning as most enjoyed the sleep-in to 6.30 . Tents came down before breakfast and backpacks filled.

    The camp was left clean as our 17 mokoros made their way through the reeds. There was plenty of light-hearted conversation between polers and passengers as each had become friends. By 9.30 we were back at Boro, the waterside village from which we had set out 3 days earlier.

    All our gear was loaded on to two Delta Rain trucks (our supplier) and we drove slowly back, through Maun, to Sitatunga Camp. We had to reconfigure the tents but eventually all was settled and we moved in.

    Before lunch we said our farewells to Laban and Munya. They had looked after us well but their role in our itinerary was over: and shortly afterwards they departed on their return trip to Victoria Falls.

    After lunch we swam and then came back together for a mid-afternoon talk/presentation, given to us, most generously by Drs Leanne van der Weyde and Jess Isden of Wildcru. Leanne talked about cheetah conservation in Botswana and showed us slides as she talked. Jess discussed how her organisation was trying to change the perceptions of farming communities to predators living nearby. Both talks were most illuminating.

    After the talks the volleyball court and swimming pool again became popular.

    At dinner, in the camp restaurant, we were joined by Mrs Senatla Mokobela, the Head of Sedie School. She was welcomed by all.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    A game-viewing walk & a mokoro sunset

    7 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    A really sleepy group slowly emerged from 5.30 in preparation for this morning’s walk. Morning tea/coffee and rusks to start the day. Everybody carried plenty of water.

    We walked in groups of 7 or 8 with a guide I in front and an associate at the rear. Within a few minutes we had seen a group of 4 giraffes and then, in the course of the walk, hippo (in pools) lechwe, impala, reedbuck, zebra, warthog, wildebeest and baboons.

    After 2 hours of walking we had a break before making our way back to camp. The island we walked on was generally flat grasslands with occasional termite mounds. There were occasional palms, sausage trees, and mapani and then reeds and grass around the pools from which the early summer heat was causing the waters to recede.

    In all, our walk lasted 4 hours and the brunch we returned to was most welcome. Munya had done a great job. After that we retreated to the shade to relax, to doze, read, or play cards with the polers.

    Late afternoon a few were taken by the polers to a pool where they could take a refreshing, and cleansing, swim.

    Just before sunset we all travelled in our mokoros to a large pool and we sat on the reed periphery watching a pod of hippos cavorting and kingfishers dive-fishing as the sun went down. It was a beautiful scene. After the golden globe dropped below the horizon the colours in the sky reddened.

    After dinner around the campfire, a space was cleared, the fire stoked up and we were treated to some local singing and dancing. It was great fun with some of us joining in; particularly the frog dance.

    In return, Oxley managed several group songs including a interesting rendition of the school song and the national anthem.

    It had been a very hot day but everyone coped.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    Mokoros & the Okavango delta

    6 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Probably the best night of our trip - cool but not cold - and everybody slept well. By 6.00 the camp was astir and packing items into their backpack for our mokoro safari into the delta. Tents and mattresses came with us while our suitcases remained in the truck with Laban at Sitatunga.

    We loaded up 2 vehicles (a truck carrying 16 of us plus camping gear, and a Jeep plus trailer brought the rest). The trip to the nearest point of the Okavango delta at Boro took us through Maun and northwards before turning westward along a twisting dirt road. The whole journey took us 1.5 hours.

    At Boro we loaded up 17 mokoros with passengers, camping gear, and food, and were poled for 2 hours through narrow channels in the reeds to the island on which we camped. On the way we saw Maribou storks, water lilies and a pod of hippos in a lagoon.

    We settled in by putting up our tents and then it was time for lunch. It was an extremely hot afternoon and we relaxed in the shade, reading, playing cards or games, swimming or napping.

    As the afternoon cooled, we broke up into 4 groups and with a guide walked into the interior of the island looking at local fauna and flora. In the course of our 1.5 hour walk we saw a herd of elephants reasonably close and buffalo, wildebeest and zebra in the distance. On our return, walking into the dying sun, a reedbuck went passed us.

    Back for dinner around the campfire. Munya had done another great job. After dinner we sat around talking before heading for bed.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    Meerkats & Salt Pans

    5 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    (The wifi has been too weak to upload or the satellite dish has not been working)(and now the campground at Sitatunga is full and everybody is trying to get on!).

    We were up again at 5.00 but this time we didn’t have to take our tents down. We had an early morning drink in the Planet Baobab lounge before boarding our jeeps (one had a puncture before we even left the camp.

    Two hours of a bumpy dusty sandy track and we were in the desert grasslands close to the pans. Splitting into 2 groups, we visited seperate meerkat colonies and spent an hour observing their fascinating behaviour. Several insects were dug up and even a large scorpion was consumed by an excited meerkat.

    From the meerkats, we drove a few kilometres to the vastness of the dry Ntetwe Pan (part of the Makgadigadi Salt Pans) and way out on the flat, crusty pan we had a breakfast picnic. The vastness was eerie but breakfast was most welcome.

    The return journey was much the same - sandy, bumpy tracks and clouds of dust - but it had all been worth it.

    Once back at Planet Baobab we took down tents and packed the bus before a late lunch. As soon as we could, we were on the truck for our 3 hour drive to Maun. The road deteriorated in patches but at least we saw the occasional pairs of ostriches.

    Once in Maun we had some free time while Munya and Laban bought the food we would be taking with us to the delta. So some exchanged money, others bought water or snacks and some engaged with a group of kids congregating near our truck.

    From Maun we drove to Sitatunga Camp and pitched our tents before dinner was served. After dinner we had a debriefing and an informative session about requirements for our delta camping

    It had been another interesting day, with everyone tired but happy.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    Flamingos & cattle posts

    4 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    The whole camp rose before 5.00 am, packed their bags, rolled up sleeping mats, breakfasted and were on the game-viewing jeeps before 6.00.

    We headed south down the main road for about 10 kms before turning off through the Nata Sanctuary gate, passing into dry grasslands.

    On the way to the Makgadikgadi Salt pans we stopped to look at herds of wildebeest and zebra. Then we drove across dry pans before emerging on the water’s edge - and hundreds of flamingos. We worked our way closer to them - Lochlan and Jamie even wading knee-deep - but they remained elusively out of reach. After a while we returned to the jeeps for coffee and rusks.

    From there, we moved along the shoreline and up on to a promontory and there in front of us was a huge body of water - and pelicans, ducks and more flamingos. Apparently a cyclone in the Mozambique Channel dumped a lot of water on Zimbabwe and Botswana last year: which had reached the pans via the Nata River.

    On the way back to Nata Lodge we saw coran (the helicopter bird) and several ostriches.

    The truck was packed and ready to and soon we were heading westwards out of Nata. After an hour’s drive, just before Gweta, we had reached our destination, Planet Baobab. This is aptly named as there are several huge baobabs on the property and when at night, as they are, there is an element of interplanetary travel.

    Their guides were waiting for us and soon, in 3 jeeps, we were taken on a tour, which included Gweta Primary School (into a couple of classrooms), the village pond, and a sorghum beer maker (just a taste). From there we visited a cattle post before returning to Planet Baobab for a traditional local lunch. This consisted of sadza (a thick maize mash), wild spinach, fried mapani worms, tripe, beans, smashed beef and polenta.

    It was a hot afternoon which we spent in and around the pool., waiting for the heat of the day to abate. When it did, up went our tents and we moved our bags in.

    Munya prepared another filling meal with dessert, and we sat around talking until the evening debriefing.

    It had been another good day with several saying that they had enjoyed it the most so far .    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    Driving south to Nata

    3 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    From about 6.00 this morning, everybody was moving and tents were down before breakfast at 7.00. We were on the highway heading south from Kasangula just before 8.00, which was a really good result.

    It took us about 4.5 hours to reach our campsite with stops on the road after 2 hours for a toilet break, then a stop to go through a Foot & Mouth station, followed by a camp fresh food shop in Choppies supermarket in Nata.

    Tents up, lunch eaten and we were ready for a swim at the Nata Lodge pool as it was a really warm afternoon. It was a very pleasant, lazy afternoon at this oasis in the dry Botswanan bush. Most swam but there was also a bit of shopping.

    Dinner at 7.15, cooked by Munya and a happy birthday rendition for Rosie. Since we had a very early start the next morning it was an early night for most.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    Elephants without Borders

    2 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    It was a pleasant slow start to the morning with everyone up well before breakfast at 8.00am. We all made our own lunch sandwiches and fruit choices. By 9.00 Laban had driven us the few kilometres to the Kasane town shopping centre and we went looking for money exchanges (it has been the Botswana Day long weekend and not everything has been open), bottled water and snacks.

    An hour later we were off to nearby Kasangula where Elephants without Borders has its property which consists of offices, accommodation for some staff and a baby elephant orphanage.

    We were welcomed by 2006 Old Oxleyan Dr. Tempe Adams with a presentation that explained how EWB operated and what they did. As an NGO, they have made a huge contribution with arterial surveys, community involvement and education, and now orphaned elephants.

    At the end of the presentation Tempe was asked where they got their operating funds from (part government, part fundraising). She was delighted to receive the funds that Ollie, Will, Archie and Jonny had raised at their sausage sizzle.

    While half the group had lunch, the remainder went to visit the three orphans in their enclosure. It was great fun being able to touch and watch them, and see them being fed.

    After lunch we all helped Tempe make noise deterrents (groups of 3 used drink cans tied together to rattle in the wind when attached to a farmer’s fence) and chili bombs (a mixture of elephant dung, cooking oil and chilies which will burn for long enough to scare off an elephant herd).

    Once that was done we used our safari truck to visit a local farm and helped the farmer by attaching the ‘noise makers’ to his fence to protect his cabbages.

    Tempe joined us for dinner that night (after we had had a swim). For dessert, we celebrated Bella’s birthday with a cake.

    It has been another great day - and a most worthwhile addition to the tour itinerary.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    Game-viewing on land & water

    1 октября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Everybody seemed in good spirits as we assembled for a 5.30 am early morning drink and breakfast. By 5.45 we were on our 3 jeeps heading along the road to the Sedudu entrance gate to Chobe NP.

    There followed 2 hours of searching, of scanning the surrounding river frontage and adjoining banks for any signs of wildlife.

    There were no elephants like yesterday as the elephants do not like to spend the night by the water. But there were buffalo, hippo, baboons, and a fascinating variety of birds (spoonbills fishing, fish eagles, hammerkop, lilac-crested rollers, carmine bee- eaters, vultures, etc. We watched young impala males practicing their fighting and a troop of baboons going about their family business ( mothers fussing over babies, youngsters playing catch & seek).

    We stopped for a break in one of the Stretch Sites before slowly making our way back to the park gates. It had been a morning when we just missed Painted Dog on one occasion and lions swimming across the river on another. But that is the luck of attempting to see game in the wild.

    Back at Thebe River Lodge, we waited for brunch by using the wifi, doing some washing or generally relaxing. After our meal it was time for a swim.

    We left the camp at 2.30 for our cruise on the Chobe River. We had the flat-bottomed, two storey game-viewing boat to ourselves and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon until sunset.

    On the cruise we crept close to animals drinking in the river (kudu, impala, warthog, elephants) and those on the shoreline (buffalo, elephant, crocodile, lechwe, hippos). And there were spoonbills, herons, storks, spinners and fish eagles to watch.

    Our cruise ended with the usual magical sunset, the sun’s red ball disappearing into the Chobe River, tinging the flowering reeds in yellow.

    A good meal from Munya followed and we headed for bed, tired but happy. It has been a great day, enjoyed by everyone.    Читать далее

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  • Peter CraigOxleyinBotswana3Путешественник

    From the Falls to Chobe

    30 сентября 2018 г., Ботсвана ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    We anticipated an early rise this morning but the next door campsite beat us to it when they started pulling their tents down at 5.00 am, instructed by someone who sounded like Peter Craig (but wasn’t).

    So we easily managed our own early start with tents and bags packed and breakfast over by 7.30.

    With the truck packed we drove the short distance to the Falls car park, where we met our guide ‘Innocent’. He took us on 2 hour visit in which we started at the bridge viewpoint and worked out way backwards to the statue of David Livingstone. There was little water going over on the Zambian half of the falls but things improved on the Zimbabwe side. They are a spectacular sight!

    After our visit we left the town and drove for an hour to the Botswana border, and after going through the Foot & Mouth prevention chemical pan, we drove to the nearby town of Kasane. We bought drinks and snacks while Munya & Laban went food shopping.

    Lunch was late and shortly after that we on our jeeps heading for our first game drive in Chobe National Park. We were lucky enough to see large herds of elephants, kudu, impala, hippo, waterbuck and zebra. There was even a distant sighting of a pride of lion which we hope to improve upon tomorrow morning.

    Dinner back at the camp, a debriefing and an early night as everyone was exhausted. It had been a great day!    Читать далее

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