Hi everyone!

We finally moved onto Botswana after exhausting most of the things to do and see in Namibia! Our first stop was the Okavango Delta which was going to be our home for the next 2 nights. We met some local guys who were going to look after us and punt us along in the makoros - kind of like canoes. We had a 1.5 hour ride to the island that we would be camping on and it was so nice. As we had all our tents etc we had our mattresses laid out to make really comfy seats and it was so peacefull gliding along the water through all the reeds! We even got to see some elephants that lived in the delta - a herd with quite a small baby!! I think all of us would have happily stayed in the makoros for hours longer but soon we were at our island - real bush camp, they even had to go and dig the hole for our drop loo!!! The local guides got a fire going, was still quite warm by then but apparnetly it was to keep the animals away! We put our tents up and settled into the camp before we got back in the makoros for a sunset cruise! Again it was so peaceful and looked lovelly with the sunset reflecting off the water! Our peace was disturbed slightly by the grunting of hippos!! We didn't see any but they must have been fairly close because they were so loud!! Once the sun had set we headed back to our island for dinner - still amazed at the yummy meals our cook makes us up from a camp stove!! When I was trying to sleep and during the night I could here animals walking around the camp and making noises - we had been told that animals walk through and it was proven by the piles of droppings (even elephant dung) that was around! Was quite glad that I didn't need to get up in the night and leave my tent!!

The next morning we had an early start (up and ready for 6:30) for a game walk. We split into 2 groups and for a few hours we walked around the island, which is a game reserve. We got to see a few animals and it was nice to be free to walk around and not confined to a truck. We saw zebra, baboons, elephants, warthogs and lots of different birds. Once we had finished with the game walk we packed up our camp, had some brunch and headed back on the makoros to where we had left the truck. At the truck we grabbed a change of clothes and headed off to another island for our camp the next night (one with warm showers! :) ) The camp was lovelly and we were in permanent tents which was so nice not to have to put our tents up and down!! The showers were also nice but a bit odd as they were open outside with bamboo like walls - felt like being in a herbal essence advert!! lol!! We spent the afternoon relaxing on the island, making the most of the sunshine!

Our next day was a long driving day, we had to go back into Namibia for a night and stopped at a campsite on the Kavango river. There was a swimming pool at this campsite so managed to have a nice dip and a sunbath.

The next day we headed back to Botswana to Chobe National Park - one of the best highlights so far!! We had a morning game drive where we went out in small open jeeps - which at 6:45am was quite chilly, they even gave us blankets!!! We hadn't been going long before we spotted some elephants - 2 adults and a baby! They were so close to us, eating the leaves of trees and walked across the road in front of us! When we went further on we saw a lot of trucks had stopped so we went to investigate! There was a big herd of elephants headed our way! We got lucky as we waited for longer than the other trucks and the whole herd walked right past us, so close, to get down to the river to drink. One even looked like it was going to charge at us but luckily changed its mind!!! We watched the elephants (around 20 of them, with some babies) walk down to the river and then drove downstream a bit where we were allowed out of the truck to watch the elephants drink. It was amazing watching them all at the river, especially when we noticed there were a load of hippos wimming nearby and baboons playing in the background!! Further on in the gamne drive we saw a huge group of baboons running along the road and a big family of hippos wallowing in the river!! Was so good we were all a bit disappointed when it was over!!! We had a few hours break where we made the most of stocking up on some snacks and enjoying the pool, watching the monkeys run around the camp!! In the afternoon we had a sunset cruise where we went on another animal hunt - found crocadiles, elephants and more hippos. Was very pleased as I managed to get a photo of one of the hippos yawning!! :)

That day was also one of our groups birthdays so we had a few drinks in the bar and our group leader had gone out and got a very yummy chocolate cake!! Was a nice bit of comfort food!!!

Next stop, Zambia and the mighty Victoria Falls!!!

xxx