A typical early morning followed as we were packed up, breakfasted and on the road before 7.30. A shop stop occurred around 9am when a surprise was sprung on us that we would need to change our Botswana Pula because we wouldn't be stopping at any other exchange houses before Namibia.

This was news to most of us as we had understood we would be exchanging at the border. The 20 minute stop we were granted ended up being a little longer as we exchanged our currency to South African Rand (which is also legal tender in Namibia and equates to the Nambian Dollar) making sure we had enough Pula for one last night in Botswana.

We drove on through Botswana reaching Ghanzi at around 12.30 where we had another stop. We were approached by some street kids for money who, taking our lead from the guides, we largely ignored despite their continued presence hanging around the back of the parked truck.

The campsite was 10 minutes away from town in a beautifully remote setting around a quarry filled with water, making a unique swimming pool! We appeared to be the only ones at the campsite and after setting up tents, we all gathered for lunch of freshly-made pasta salad. The afternoon was spent enjoying the sun, reading on the grassy shore of the quarry and having a dip or two in the cool waters.

Not one to normally mention toilets and showers, the ones here were unique and worth a sentence or two. Made of vertical lengths of bamboo, each 'cubicle' was U-shaped with its own/entry exit to the outside. What made them particularly novel was that there were no doors; instead a length of string was fastened across the doorway to signify occupation. A slightly unnerving operation system at first!

At around 5pm still with the sun beating down, a number of the group were collected for a short walk with local bushmen to learn about the terrain and how the locals survive in such harsh conditions.

Dinner was a South African favourite of bobotie, an interesting dish of curried mince, bay leaves and an egg-based topping. Not my favourite but someone in the Hanes household loves it and took a keen interest during the cooking phase, meaning we now have the recipe and will no doubt try once back in England.

After a broken night's sleep we awoke at the agreed time ready for 6am. Shame not everyone kept to this schedule. As a member of the kitchen group I was involved in preparing the ingredients ready for packed lunches to be made while the rest breakfasted before we all made our lunches and got ourselves in the truck ready for the off.