Up early, rusks, coffee and a quick Game drive that amounted to nothing exciting. Heading north to Francistown a place we visited last time round and reminisce about getting supplies for crossing into Zimbabwe and the epic football stadium and 100s of 1000s supporters we had to navigate through.
No time for stopping as on a mission to get to our home for the night. 6hr drive, roads quiet so could stick to 120 mph but the roads seem to have some pretty deep potholes so full eyes on the road for spotting/dodging at such speed.
Arabella is the only one who can supply us with Spotify she's the only one who thought ahead and took up free trail. Pleasantly surprised with her collaboration of tunes to appease all members of the family from Metallica, Fleetwood Mac, Cage the Elephant, Abba, Radiohead, Queen etc.

First fill up of the Hilux with diesel, we have double fuel tank 160 litres which takes about 15 mins to full up. £1.10 a litre not bad you think from UK standards, but the fuel crisis has hit here causing increased prices too that will be impacting locals.

We have arrived at the giant sign "Where Elephants Rule" home for the night. Off the main road down a track we spot our first sightings of elephant tracks and pooh we are onto a good thing, then we see an elephant, the car jolts to a quick stop and we start taking photos, he is only 10 metres away and seems calm in our presence before he wanders off in a similar direction to what we are heading. Still excited we continue on only to spot a whole herd of elephants around a waterhole enjoying a refreshing drink. Circling the waterhole is a line of bungalows, our home for the night, we are able to sit on the veranda and have the waterhole is our bush TV tonight, better than any wildlife channel can offer unscripted. We have a perfect afternoon observing and relaxing in balmy 27 degrees winter's day. We settle into the lodge quickly and walk around to the car right next to the watering hole having followed clear instructions from the staff that you must keep out of way of the elephants as they rule the area. We spent a few hours treating ourselves to drinks and watching the elephants in close proximity just amazing to see at least 30 elephants come down late afternoon and observe their behaviour some herds aggressive to others, some guzzling water, some inhaling water and spouting it over their bodies, some enjoying the coolness caking themselves in mud. Maddalena is in heaven she absolutely adores everything about elephants and to see her happiness in this environment was something that makes all our decisions for adventure worthwhile. Sun sets and instead of walking to the bar we are under strict instructions to drive the 400 metres we still have elephants at the watering hole but more then before and enjoy an evening meal with fantastic surroundings then back to the lodge to observe the watering hole from afar and the magnificent milky way of stars the perfect end to the day.