Category: Botswana

Got the fridge fixed in Maun, we think we got fleeced but we needed it fixed. It was fixed in African time i.e. sometime after the promised hour! Spent several nights in Chobe National Park both at Savuti and by the river. We met up with Seagal, our guide when we last came to Botswana. We tracked him down first in Moremi and then again in Chobe (we are getting good at tracking!). It was really good to see him again and catch up (although I think we rather surprised him!). We had our first flat tyre, not bad after thousands of miles in the bush. However we were looking for the big Savuti pride of lions who were in the area at the time. Fastest wheel change I have ever done with the thought of 20+ hungry lions in the vicinity who hadn’t eaten for a week!! These guys catch elephants for goodness sake!! Got the type fixed in Maun for a cost of 20 Pula (around 2 pounds sterling)

Also used the winch to get us out of the sand-ridge in Chobe, very soft indeed. So rather glad we had one.

Saw more Leopard in Chobe (we have been very lucky indeed). We did also see the big Savuti pride, so many it was difficult to count. They didn’t kill while we were there but the young males spent hours play-fighting and the dominant male was either roaring, sleeping or mating. We also saw Lion with a giraffe kill near the Kasane gate in Chobe (sorry for the photo but this is life in the raw).

We are now in Livingstone for a few days. George the Land Rover has sprung a fuel leak again (got the last one fixed in the UK before we left). There is a weakness in the solder on the tank around the vent pipe and it shakes apart on these roads. We are going to get a service done at the same time as we have done 9,500 miles now.

6 amazing nights in Moremi. The game viewing was absolutely stunning. Lots of photos uploaded! Particularly proud of the Leopard pictures, from only a few feet away we watched a young female Leopard for almost an hour. The fridge is broken (shaken to death!)

A long drive from South Africa up to Botswana. Trouble trying to reclaim VAT at the border (Accountants have to do this sort of thing!). Stocked up in Francistown to go into the bush. Tried to sort out mobile internet access through Mascom and Orange but neither an option (former doesn’t work and latter wont allow it on pre-pay). Spent a restless night at a site near Francistown (near the Zim border) where security has been a problem with vehicles being broken into at the campsite. Thankfully there was a guard on duty though. Then spent two nights at the Makgadikgadi Pan (photos on the site), saw first Hippo of the trip and met a couple of British overlanders, Mike and Jackie who had been away for 8 months via the western route. Quite a lot of driving in sand here which is quite challenging. Then moved onto Nxai Pan for a couple of nights down a very sandy track. Saw our first Cheetah here (a group of 4 males) as soon as we arrived in the park. Found them again the following day but on both occasions they were some distance from the track (which you are not allowed to leave). We also met another British overland couple here Steve and Michelle who have been away for 8 months via the western route. On the last day we saw a honey badger and two bat-eared foxes (photos on the site).

On to Moremi and Chobe reserves next after re-stocking in Maun (safari ‘capital’ of Botswana).