Day 16……..Okavango Delta. Back by a large body of water ?, this was one of the days I had been really looking forward to. We were going to be in canoes (Mokoro) and being ‘poled’ through channels and lagoons of the Delta. Although I had a bit of concern about getting in and out of the canoes, nothing was going to stop me doing this. We had a short, bumpy, drive to the poling station, where I was paired up with Peter, again, because for some reason the others wanted to stay with their respective partners ??♀️. We were given instructions to sit still and not rock the canoe or we would be in…I obeyed. The trip in the canoe was wonderful, so peaceful and so close to nature etc. We were taken to one of the many islands where we saw hippos and crocs.
After a bit more in the canoe, we stopped at another island for a walk, which turned out to be a marathon (I maybe exaggerating). We saw lots more animals..giraffe, zebra, warthog, more hippo, springbok, impala water buffalo and loads of birds. It was starting to get hot now and the end of the walk involved me with my head down, teeth gritted and getting it done!!! A very welcome picnic under a tree was waiting for us when when got back to the canoes.
I wasn’t very graceful getting in and out of the canoe, but I got the job done, and put a few smiles on faces ??
Day 17…..Maun to Nata The drive wasn’t too long today and we stopped on the way to see various animals at the road side and a Baobab Tree. Our new lodge was the best yet. Apparently it had burnt down recently and was rebuilt. My room was beautiful and had an outside shower ?
Later that day we went in a safari truck to see the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans (Nata Sanctuary). It had been raining quite a bit in recent days, so there were big puddles and some places that were impassable. Great drive learning about the Pans and migrating birds. We saw pelicans, flamingos and terrapins in the puddles again. Part of the tour involved stopping and having a drink!! This gave the men a chance to be all masculine and look under the bonnet of the truck ??
Day 18……Nata to Kasane I’ve no idea what time we set off today, but I bet it was bloody early ?? We saw loads of animals again on route to Kasane, this is mainly because Botswana doesn’t have any fences so the animals can just wander where they like.
The accommodation that night was a ‘sister’ hotel to the one we had just stayed in, so another lovely room, this time overlooking the river, but no outside shower. There were many more people at this lodge, which felt so strange being back with ‘tourists’ after so long. Our activity for today was a river cruise in the Chobe National Park. Not having done very much research before my tour, this was a delightful surprise. The river was huge and full of life (and death). We were in Botswana but could see Namibia. Look at a map and see how strange the boarder of Namibia is…I could tell you all about how it came about, but it would take too long, but basically I think the British stitched the Germans up ? We saw so many hippo, up really close, as well as crocodiles and some old friends.
Day 19…. Kasane to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe As we were getting close to the end of our tour, as an act of solidarity, I set my alarm for 4:45am for the early morning game drive around Chobe National Park, with the promise we would see the elusive big cats!!! No big cats were seen, but plenty of our old favourites, some shagging baboons (again…the circle of life) and a baboon that took a liking to Pat.
Back to our lodge for breakfast and to collect our luggage and my favourite sight yet of a family of warthogs, up close and personal ??
Shortish drive to Victoria Falls and another boarder crossing (I love a boarder crossing) and a new stamp for my passport. Also lots more animals on route.
Our last night together as group and we had dinner at the hotel. They did a really lovely table for us with fresh flowers and we were entertained by a local Acapulco men’s group. They had wonderful voices and Mel may have noticed a couple of them looked quite pleasant too. Speeches from Norman and Pat and maybe a lump in my throat as my journey with these wonderful people was coming to an end.
Day 20……Victoria Falls The next morning was our official last breakfast and end of the tour. We collected t-shirts that we had ordered and said our goodbyes to Norman and Chris who were leaving to take the truck back to Johannesburg. This time I cried properly. Norman made such an impact on me, his kindness and support through the tough times!!! (Basically anything active ?). He said I had 2 new African sons, so Jake had better watch out ??. I also said goodbye to Per and Helena (the Danes) as it was unlike I would be seeing them again. I walked into the town to sort out a SIM card for my phone which turned into a 2 hour marathon. Basically Zimbabwe has no physical currency so you need a SIM card to electronically buy a SIM card, but you cant buy a SIM card until you have a SIM card ?Eventually a really nice woman in the shop just transferred me data from her phone, and I gave her American Dollars. I then went to a local cafe to get lunch when not long after Pat, David and Peter turned up. Shortly followed by Steve and Claire, and then finally Steve and Mel. It wasn’t planned, but the gang were back together ??
After lunch, us girls walked to the Victoria Falls Hotel, a famous old colonial hotel. We sat in the garden and drunk pimms And basically had a lovely time. After pimms, we went back to our hotel and I picked up my luggage because I was moving hotels for the rest of my time in Victoria Falls. We planned on meeting up later that evening for our last meal together. We went to a restaurant called Mama Africa, and I thought I was very brave ordering something I couldn’t say…. it turned out to basically be chicken satay ?
Final goodbyes to Pat, David, Mel, Steve and Peter (other Steve and Claire are still around for another day). Maybe a few tears. I’m really going to miss being part of this gang. 20 days ago we were strangers and today we separate as friends. This group of people were supportive, interesting and funny. My travels are continuing, but this tour has been such a highlight. I never thought my time away was about ‘finding myself’ but that day on the dunes….something really changed me. I knew things had been tough since my motorbike accident, but I think I had not appreciate that I just hadn’t been looking after myself properly. I’d just been getting through each day at work, with nothing left to give myself or my family (being in constant pain, leading to being constantly tired). I’ve still got 8 more months off work to really get my shit together. Watch this space. And Mel, Steve, Claire, Steve, Pat, David, Peter, Marion, Wietze, Chris and Norman, if you are reading this…. I love you guys ??
