A Botswanan Adventure.

[drron]

After our cruise up the West Coast of Africa we flew back to JNB and overnighted at the Sheraton Pretoria.On Saturday morning we set off on our Botswanan safari.There was one slight problem.I had had the buffet dinner the night before and on the morning of departure the intestinal hurry began.It has only just settled 3 weeks later.
After a quite reasonable brekkie in the lounge of the Sheraton we were off to the airport.One word of warning if you are going to drive her.We saw 3 white VW golfs go roaring past.Down the road they each had flashing headlights and had pulled over a car.As well as those we saw 5 marked police cars as well.No problems at all until we got to the airport.Showed our tickets to the staff at the premium boarding entrance who directed us to an agent.Problem-ours is an SAA Airlink flight so we must go nearly to the end of the terminal.Line up at their business class checkin and wait and wait.Thirty minutes go by before the group leave.However another Afrikaaner couple walk to the front of the line and go straight to the agent.There were 2 people in front of us who said nothing so i said-hey there are people in front of you.The fellow turns around and sneers-"nice try".So I speak to the agent who says she is the supervisor and she is the only person that can fix these people's problems.Talk to the two in front who say they have been waiting an hour.So I take things into my own hands and take one of the pax in front and those behind and form a new line so we can get the next available economy agent.

Finally checked in and no queues at Immigration and security.Through to the SAA Baobap lounge.Huge and is well set out.not much in the way of food but we had eaten.nice cappucinos.get a card for 30 minutes free wifi.didn't bother.The only real problem was that in the male restrooms there were only 3 cubicles-1 out of order,1 with no paper so it was a bit of a wait with legs crossed.

Went to the gate just before boarding was to start.the locals obviously must know the system as before the flight was called there was a mad rush to line up.We were one of the last of those there to get out the door and on to the bus.Where we waited for 25 minutes for the last 2 stragglers to get on.Out to our plane-An Avro RJ85.As the bus pulled up there was an announcement that when the bus doors opened we were to wait on the bus until told to board.also that rows 1-8 would board by the front stairs-only 1 problem with that there were no front stairs.

So the bus doors open and naturally everyone piles out not listening to the calls to get back on the bus.So again we were near the last to board and had to wait whilst everyone got themselves organised before we coould get to Row 2.Two rows of business class and we were the only 2 in it.We only paid $A100 as against $65 for Y.

SAA 8300. JNB-MUB. ETD-1125. Push forward-1133. Take off-1140.
ETA-1300. Landed-1304. At gate-1308.
SEATs 2A,C.reasonable legroom and European type set up with vacant middle seat-

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We were served lunch.The service was good.however only 2 J meals loaded-1 chicken,1 beef.Mrsdrron chose the chicken but it came with pasta with capsicum and chilli so she swapped for the corned beef .the pasta salad with this came with mushrooms and cream-

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A reasonable SB with it but glass taken after 1 serve.

Fortunately deplaning is via the front door so we are first out.Everyone though was handed their Botswanan entry forms as they entered the terminal.We were still first through Immigration but our bag was last off the trolley.The Sanctuary resorts guy was waiting and took care of everything.We were handed 2 bottles of cold water but as it was a weekend domestic and international pax went through the same security so we immediately handed them back.Also had to take our kindles out as well as the computer.However despite regular shouted warnings re LAGs we left them in and our hand carries went straight through.Ah the consistency.
Then it was a short~ 10 minute flight in a GA8 Airvan at 500 feet.Saw elephants,impala and 2 rhinur guide,July,was waiting and loaded our bags onto the waiting vehicle.he asked if we wanted to go straight to the camp or go on a drive.Four hours later we reached the camp.First it was a variety of birds-

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Those on the right are a local starling.If you get the light right they look totally different-

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Then more birds before our first close encounter with a shy Kudu-

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From here the TR should mainly be pictorial.

 

[drron]

It wasn't long before we began seeing what we came for-

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Then the impala-

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The black M on their rear signifying their role as the fast food of the Delta.but so graceful.Another feature here were the large termite mounds-

 

[Major]

Wow...an interesting start to the trip...looking forward to more

 

[drron]

Then some more birds.A roller-

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Then the redbillid hornbills-

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Before seeing the common but ugly warthog-

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Before more giraffe-

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This one being groomed by the red billed oxpecker ridding it of parasites-

Some of the country is quite open-

 

[drron]

Then we came across a burnt out area with an island of green.July spotted some tracks and soon we were face to face with something we had looked forward to.But it took a bit of getting used to-

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This fellow appeared but wisely retraced his steps-

The 3 young males didn't stir-

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It was already a wonderful day.

 

[zig]

A wonderful day indeed drron. I had a short trip to Botswana last year and just loved the place. It is just magical and your photos have me itching to plan another trip.:mrgreen:

 

[drron]

Ah zig the day was not finished yet.soon after we came on the second of the Big 5-

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Then after leaving the Cape buffalo it was literally around the corner for number 3-our first elephant-

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And the day was still not over.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Fantastic. I spent three years in the continent and this has revived memories..

 

[drron]

Just a few minutes later and our second elephant-

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We now set out for the lodge.on the way a nest of the hamerkop-

But still more wildlife.The Warthog's preferred method of grazing-

Then some wildebeast-

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Now the day was nearly over.

 

[drron]

Four hours after we arrived at the airstrip we finally arrived at Baines camp.We had seen elephant,cape buffalo,lions,giraffe,greater kudu,baboons,impala,warthogs,wilderbeest and tree squirrels.We arrived just as the sun set-

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we were greeted by the music of the hippos,and the local manager and deputy with refreshing towels and a stiff drink.this camp is unfenced,animals do wander through so after sunset you have to be escorted to and from your room.After unpacking it was back to the main building for pre dinner drinks in front of a roaring fire.Only one other couple.german.i can only get about 6 words out of them.They rarely talk to each other so.
No problem the staff put on a show-singing and dancing,magic.Then dinner-a really tasty butternut soup and then BBQ-I have crocodile tail,impala,kuduwurst and chicken.Standard drinks are included and the South african SBs are fine.Escorted back to the room.really tired so you sleep well.However we are to be woken at 6am for brekkie and the morning drive.
I am awoken by a knocking noise so I get up waking mrsdrron.she looks at the clock and berates me for being stupid.i can still hear a knocking noise but fainter.She of course cant hear it.But at breakfast the other guide says-"did you hear the elephant going through the camp just after 2?"YES.

Being up early we see the sunrise-

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At breakfast a bird is scurrying around getting the scraps from the BBQ-

The view so peaceful-

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[Simo]

You have done one of my trips that is on my bucket list to do.

 

[Magpie10]

Thanks DrRon great TR, after reading all the Alexander McCall books Botswana as been a country on my must see list. ThanksV

 

[drron]

So it was off for our second game drive.But first back to our room-

As usual a bird was sitting in the tree outside-

The first animal for the day was the baboon.now what was this fellow thinking?

Then the rest of the troop came by-

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Then it was the storks-

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Then a hawk and a different species of stork-

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[drron]

Next was an elephant herd-

Before coming to a Hyena den.The first picture is a juvenile then his lon suffering,pregnant again mother-

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Some more birds-

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A splendid male impala-

And some more buffalo-

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[drron]

It was turning out to be a big day for the birds-

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Or their nests-

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Unfortunately this bolt hole looked abandoned-

 

[drron]

Then we came across these fellows-

I had been looking forward to seeing hippos and this was a whole bloat of them-

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[drron]

Whilst watching the hippos we were being watched-

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It was now time to head back to camp for lunch.On the way a close encounter with giraffes-

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[LadyC]

How magical! It looks amazing - I hope you were feeling better so could it enjoy it.

 

[drron]

Thanks LadyC I actually didn't feel sick.And because of my little problem did not put on any weight for the trip so definitely a silver lining.
Baines camp has permanent water.Although we came at the time of the lowest water levels you still had to drive through 3 lots of water to get to the camp.

At the main area the walls were lined with local crafts-

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That round one just called out to Mrsdrron.also in the main area is a cutaway to show the construction method-the core is empty drink cans-

This is the lounge area where you could access wifi but there was too much else to do.In the middle of the communal area was also a big termite mound-

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There was a small pool-

But we had a routine.A couple of wines with lunch and then sleep until high tea.though we always had their homemade lemonade then.After that we went on a boat ride through the delta.A maze of small channels at this time of year-

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[drron]

Sometimes the channel would open up-

And we did see some wildlife-

But most of the time we were surrounded by vegetation-

The water was flowing into the Delta at a great rate.At our furthest from the camp we again came out into a large area of water where there were several hippo-

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there were many birds.A couple actually remained still for a while-

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On the way back to camp the light was much better-

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