7, 8, 9 April Thursday, Friday & Saturday

Have been out of range (out bush), not much service out here for communications........... Back online for the time being.......

Thursday

This day was just the best!

I had to pinch myself several times just to make sure I was in reality!

Driving to the Kalahari we had lots of interesting sites. We saw the huge nests on power lines and in trees made by the birds called sociable weavers.

We saw the extinct Kokerboom tree, and best of all we saw ostriches, wildebeests, springbok deer, meerkats and some pretty big antelope-gemsbok; we haven't even done any game drives yet.

On the border of South Africa and Botswana is the Kgalagadi Tranfrontier National Park, 3.6 million hectares, home of the Kalahari black maned lion.

OMG, I am in the middle of the middle of nowhere! I feel like I am in a dream!
After a long (six hours, plus or minus, that's African time!) hot (36 degrees, feels like 56) bumpy drive through sand dunes, we crossed the border at Botswana and then back to the South African side, entering the national park.

Our home for the next two days was Kgalagadi rest camp chalets - !Xaus (pronounced Kaus) Lodge, 30 km into the desert, over 91 sand dunes.

The lodge is 4 star and has 12 individual chalets, each with it's own deck, (this is to keep animals from coming up to the rooms - lions, wild cats, etc).

We had to sign indemnity forms before entering the premises because of the risk of injury or death should predators or reptiles be encountered, yes again OMG!

The lodge is powered by generators, but only six hours a day, when the lights when out at 10.30 pm it was deathly quiet and as dark as it could possibly be!

There is no telephone or Internet service (this blog was posted when we got back into civilisation) LOL.

The tranquility and isolation is precious.

!Xaus means 'heart' in the Nama language.

The ! is a click sound.

The name was inspired by the salt pan it overlooks and is a distinctive heart shape in the northwest corner.

At sunset you can view a 360 degrees horizon and hear the desert silence, the heartbeat of the Kalahari - magnificent.

The first sleep over at the lodge I laid awake most of the night, listening to animal noises, fortunately I didn't hear a lion roar but I did hear sounds I couldn't recognise - it was exhilarating and scary all at the same time!

Friday

Yay, we got to have a sleep in, relaxing day, (we needed it). Late morning we went for a walk to the Bushman craft village; locals from the Khomani and Mier communities handcraft bracelets and necklaces made from ostrich egg shells, springbok horn and seeds from plants and trees. They also displayed rock paintings.

The small children there were just delightful, they were a bit shy at first but then decided it was pretty good having their photo taken.

The sunset drive was spectacular, we sipped wine as the sun went down. Unfortunately we didn't see any big animals only a secretary bird on the top of a tree and lots of corn crickets, humungous bugs!

We are left the lodge early, and unfortunately didn't see any lions or big cats, but will have many more opportunities as we head north in the next two weeks.

Saturday

We drove all day to get to Fish River Canyon, Namibia. We drove on bumpy dusty roads for about five hours (plus or minus, that's African time) LOL!

It's very very bloody hot (I think I am having one continuous hot flush!) .......we arrived at our next accommodation, we have two nights here and it has air-conditioning! YAY! (well at least until the generators are turned off at 10 pm).

We headed west from Kalahari region to get to Namibia and we are staying at the Vogelstrausskluft country lodge. It is nestled in amongst one of the most awe inspiring canyons in the world-Fish river canyon.

I have some Internet connection again, not sure for how long but I will keep you posted. I am having a great time, and its only the first week!

I have taken some fantastic photos and plenty more to come, click on the photos tab.

Go well, Go safe....... (that's what they say over here and everything is on African time, which usually means you are running late).
xx