Today's killing machines, tomorrow's handbags.
FEELING GO - OKAVANGO DELTA
(REMEMBER: IF YOU'RE MENTIONED BY NAME ITS COS I LOVE YOU DEARLY. IF YOU'RE NOT, ITS ONLY TO PROTECT MYSELF IN THE LIBEL COURT)
I endured a ten hour unwritten battle of wits with Hans Moleman's gin soaked sister in the seat next to me, fighting for elbow superiority on the seat of the South African Airlines flght that took me from Perth to Johanneburg. Flying east for such a long time does funny things to your body clock. I arrived very tired and weary in an airport full of oppressive atmosphere. fortunately my pick-up finally found me and took me to "The Backpacker's Ritz" somewhere on the outskirts of the CBD of Jo'burg. This is the worst hostel I had stayed in so far, though not because of the facilities (which weren't up to much), but because of the arrogant attitude of the owners, two ex-pat brothers. However, more of that later on. After sleeping for a few hours waking up far too early I was soon in a VW combi with four others and a guide, northbound for Botswana and the Okanvango Delta.
The page colours are supposed to represent the colours on the Botswanan flag. Quite jolly, isn't it?
My first real taste of wildlife was at a crocodile farm near Maun. Here's a few of the inhabitants. Note how securely they're fenced in - NOT!
Today's killing machines, tomorrow's handbags.
Two days later am I'm sat in a MOKORO (dug out canoe), being punted out into the wilds of the Okavango Delta.
James, poling his mokoro into the Delta.
The Okavango is the largest in land fresh water delta in the world, and as the rest of the country dries up, the animals head toward the delta for a ready suply of water. You would think therefore that the chances of seeing animals was pretty high. Well, here's the best pickings from three game walks and a mokoro trip.
LEFT: Fairly fresh elephant dung.
RIGHT: Giraffe footprint.
LEFT: Warthog skull.
MIDDLE: James by a (sic) boboa tree.
RIGHT: Me stood in an elephant's footprint.
Sunset in the Okanvango Delta.
There was plenty of evidence of animal activity, even if we didn't spot that many animals. Also remember that this is not a game park but the real wilderness, its not like someone has fenced in a load of critters for one's shallow tourist snap-happy pleasure. Even though we didn't see that many animals on the ground, we spotted plenty from the air when we took a flight over the delta. You can make out a herd of elephants at the bottom of this picture. Just.
A herd of Okavango elephant. Near the bottom, apparently.
After three days in the delta it was time to say goodbye to our guides and also have of the group who were heading back to Jo'burg. But the sight seeing wasn't over yet. We saw a group of vultures tearing into the carcass of a dead donkey by the side of the road. Cool!
LEFT:"Goodbye!".
RIGHT: Vultures, swarming round the dead beast like vultures.
Me and the African equivalent of a Victorian Folly.
Phillip (swiss guy) and I had another trip to take to Victoria Falls the next day. We were left in Francistown to entertain ourselves for a day first though.
As you can see, there's not much to amuse yourself with in Francistown.