Africa!: Into Namibia

Catching up as WiFi permits....
....pics may have to wait for a little while though....

Anyway, here we go:

From Zimbabwe, we drive across the Botswana border into Namibia, not far south of Angola at Ngoma. It's the Zambezi region of Caprivi, which has been (is?) a narrow corridor of disputed territory. After filling in more forms, more customs and police checks (quite understandably) we visit Katima, the buzzy local town and pay the vehicle tax before settling down for our stay at the Zambezi river lodge, which is a really nice site, and gaze over the river at Angola.

The next morning at 6.30am, we're off again on a 350km drive, arrow straight again, past well tended settlements of reed-covered circular huts. It's election day and, everywhere, people are walking or being ferried, mostly in trucks, to their local (temporary) polling station. Great to see all this happening and listen on the radio.

Following advice, we're travelling with friends now and, as we travel, we see warning signs for elephants and a strange creature that I recon is a giant mouse but it turns out that it's supposed to be a kind of dog. Forever more this creature will be known as the Mouse-Dog.

We're staying this time on the river Okavango at Mahangu safari lodge. We take another!! evening river cruise (sounds grander than it is) on the river (wonderful) and eat with friends at the lodge restaurant. We're warned not to walk into a hippo on the way back the the 'van....

And so to today.....

.....Off at 6.30 for a longish drive of some 420km to ( believe it or not) Roys Rest Camp near the town of Grootfontein. Sue and I rotate as we stop with friends for tea/coffee so arrive fresher. A few people are beginning to feel the strain of driving these distances in 30+ degrees though. After a 100km drive into Grootfontein and back We finish the day with a great braai with friends.

Great times...

Cruising....spot the wildlife