The beginning of a fantastic two days out on the Delta. We had to be very organised and early as we were being picked up at 0730. We were taking all the kitchen stuff, food for two days, stools for all of us, our tents, mattresses, sleep gear, personal wear & food for lunches ... this was going to fit into 12 mokoro (the local "dugout canoe" although now made from fibre glass). It was remarkably lacking in chaos.

We were picked up in two safari vehicles with trailers and everything and everyone (20 people) fitted. We undertook a 35 minute drive to the boat centre. The last 20 minutes of this was on sandy roads through small villages. The mokoro business is licenced to & run by the local people. Each Mokoro had a poler - most of whom had grown up on the Delta. And each took two people. Our poler was "Kabe", a young man who has been doing this work for 3 years, has a good singing voice and a great sense of humour. He would be our poler for our time in the Delta.

We poled for over an hour to get the island where we would be camping. It is incredibly beautiful and peaceful out here. Kabe helped us put our tent up and get all our gear sorted out. A latrine was dug and were taken through the guidelines for our stay - which boiled down to respect your environment and be aware that we are in the home of wild animals. The afternoon was for relaxing as it is very hot at that time to be out and about - Tessa tried her hand at poling and went for a swim. Vikki read.

In the late afternoon we got back in the mokoro and went to another island for a game walk. Tessa joined Hector's group whilst Vikki went with Patrick. Wild life sightings included zebra, Maribou crane & for Tessa an elephant. We learnt about termite mounds, aardvark holes, various flora and paw prints. It was lovely to be strolling in this wild untouched landscape.

Upon return to camp we found that Ali had prepared a delicious dinner. An early night followed.