Botswana

Catching up....

We have no 3G card here so an update will arrive if there's WiFi at the campsite. Today there is so here it is...

The border crossing, always approached with a little aprehension , proved to be a piece of cake (gluten free). Interesting that we we charged a range of fees for the crossing. When questioned, from the manner of the reply, it was clear that the prudent approach was to pay up. Actually, our bill was quite low compared to some...and it's peanuts anyway (190 Rand).

So we drove and drove and stopped at Camp Itumela in Palapye, behind a scrapyard...but it turned out to be a wierdly wonderful place with open air toilets....pity the electricity was more off than on, but that couldn't spoil our enjoyment of a great buffet meal.

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Next day, with fellow adventurers,  we visit a rhino breeding park (brilliant) but the consequence is that we arrive too late to visit the museum at the next site (Mupungubwe Hill) where artifacts from a far-developed African civilisation are shown, including a replica of the famous gold rhino....oh well...

On Friday, we head further north to Francistown, Botswana's second largest, bustling city, although time doesn't permit anything but a brief look.

Today, a short drive, at last, to here, the Nata Lodge (near the village/town of Nata, surprisingly). Nata has three fuel stations, a Wimpy and a Barclays....but not as we know them, Jim. Interesting chats...including one with a Zimbabwean who chooses to live here in Botswana. 

Finish the day with a safari into Sowa Pan, one of Botswana's vast flat areas of ancient sea which are drying to form salt pans and sustain varied bird and animal life. It's an strangely silent, etherial place...all the more so as we watch the sun go down...the horizon flat in every direction. Magic place. 

Sowa Pan Flamingos at Sunset

Sowa Pan Magic

Flamingos Again

Onward  towards Zimbabwe tomorrow...