Adventure in Botswana

What a trip! Last week we were on a camping holiday in Botswana, first Okavango Delta and Moremi National Park and then Nxai Pan National Park. The week was absolutely incredible - scary, hot, beautiful, nerve-wrecking - but above all a fantastic adventure with lots and lots to remember.

We flew into Maun, where our fully equipped camping car was delivered from South Africa. After a thorough presentation, we were off to buy groceries and fill-up the tank. Our first night was at Thamalakane River Lodge in Maun, because it would have been too tight to make it into the bush before darkness. 

Next morning we drove into Moremi National Park and had our first challenge with a flat tyre just before the South Gate, which is already in the wildlife zone. Tyre was quickly changed in the scorching sun looking out for hungry animals, but we saw none. At the gate we showed all our bookings and payments, lowered tyre pressure and headed into the bush with its deep and sandy tracks. Suddenly the first elephant was next to the car. We immediately stopped but he was alone and did not charge so we continued. Impalas, giraffes, kudus, baboons, more elephants and a hippo was sighted before we reached Third Bridge camp after traversing two wobbly bridges made out of wooden sticks. 

Tents up, quick showers, braai on, trying to get everything done before darkness. A lonely giraffe was wandering nearby and our neighbours told us about lion sightings. I didn't let little I venture far from my side…We ate dinner around the campfire and after some time all kids went up to the tents, while K and I washed dishes and cleaned up. No food items should be left outside the car not to attract hyenas and baboons. 

Suddenly we saw branches moving near the car - two elephants passing by. Something moving on the other side - K spotted a hyena. Calm for a while, but then noise, this time a snake - a black mamba! We almost got a heart attack and decided to climb up to the tent. A hippo was growling just a few meters away, he had decided to spend the night near us! In the middle of the night K woke up to see a giraffe eating leaves from the tree next to our car! 

 After our adventurous first bush night we enjoyed a hearty breakfast, packed up and crossed Third Bridge and had our first deep water experience, after which we almost
banged into a giraffe. The route continued through beautiful bush landscape with plenty of animals, another bridge crossing and finally reaching Xakanaxa camp, where we stayed two nights. Our camp site was a 500 metre walk from the ablution facilities and we set the rule that nobody walks there alone! Surrounded by grassland on one side of the road and water on the other, it was impossible to know who you would meet. 


Braaing, chilling, reading, playing cards, enjoying life and family time and the two days went quickly by. We managed also to arrange a boat safari on the river, which was really nice. Lion roar in the night and hyena tracks on the road, but the only close animal encounter was a hippo passing our tents at night. Actually quite a relief not to meet the predators face to face!

Our trip continued back to Maun for one night, a scenic flight tour over the Okavango Delta and then to Nxai Pan salt flats. The sand here was much softer and looser than Moremi and the car behaved like driving in snow. Unfortunately a dutch couple had got stuck in sand and we had to help them out, which meant that we also got stuck! Luckily K's four-wheel drive talent and the help of sand mats and our firewood got first us out and then the other car as well.  

 The last night's campsite was at Baines Baobab campsite number two, where we were completely alone. At the gate we were told that there are only four cars in the park and that the nearest campsite is four kilometres away - we definitely felt isolated! As the sun set and we sat around the campfire, gazing at the stars (this is desert area so the sky is unbelievable clear)  and seeing green eyes watching us from the bush, we all agreed that this was the most exciting family holiday ever!