We had our last mokoro trip and saw the smallest green long reed frog sandwiched between two reeds and two other painted reed frogs (today's photo) one of which jumped into the boat. The tranquility of slipping quietly through the water was both calming and invigorating - our last stop was an island close to camp for a quick coffee before we headed back for a very light brunch and the motor boat trip to the airstrip. Our plane arrived bang on time - 1140 - so we said our goodbyes and headed off on the 20 minute flight to Motswiri where we were met by James, our Botswanan guide, and the two minutes to camp. We learnt that Mossi the relief camp manager worked with Doug - our old Footstep's guide and a real character of the industry - he had been a hunter and then MD of Kerr & Downey - he was apparently now a business consultant for a lodge in Maun.
When I saw the refreshing pool I had to
go for a quick swim before we headed back to the mess for a late lunch at 2pm. We waited for the riders to return from a long ride - it suited us as we were still full from our earlier meals! The good thing was we met our companions for the next 4 days - Sophie from the UK and Jo from Australia who were riders and Paul Sophie's husband who was a walker and photographer - and also gamely and very positively recovering from throat cancer. We also met their slightly eccentric guide 'Jonno' who was originally from the the UK but much travelled across Africa and now based in Maun and Carmen the South African horse manger.
In the afternoon the riders and Paul went for a boat trip but after three days in a mokoro we headed out for a short walk with James to a recently expired male elephant carcass - the whiff in places was seriously bad but as we approach upwind the location was given away by the vultures - the lioness who had a free meal had left several days ago and left it to the scavengers - there were no hyena around albeit you could see tracks - and overnight we heard them.
We soon learnt why you walk in trousers - the spikey grass was very spikey and it was not long before my legs looked as if they belonged to a hedgehog- it did however not take much to remove them.
We were back in camp by dark ie 1830 - and went for a refreshing shower before being collected - from our honeymoon tent - at 1930 for dinner.