South west safri Africa day 11-15

Day 11- Early start for a change where we drove for 2 hours in an open top safari jeep with our sleeping bags still on as it was bloody freezing. Today we were on our way to the Okavango delta.  We met our pollers who would be pushing us through the delta in the canoe. Everyone was hoping for the new and improved fibreglass canoe and not the traditional wooden one that let in a lot of water. 

Early start

all ready in our Canoe

The cruise down the river was great, a little scary at times when you thought about hippos etc but our poller Mary was great. After about 2 hours we reached out camp…it was just a section of land that we needed to make into our home for the night. Looking for a flat bit of land to pitch up our tent, while others went and dug our loo for the night just round the corner behind a bush, you had to take the shovel and loo roll with you so others would know it was occupied.  It was getting hot by then so some brave people (everyone except me) went for a swim, I cooled down with a shower in baby wipes.  Dinner was delicious spaghetti bolognaise, it amazed me how dinner was prepared on an upside down canoe and cooked on the fire. Then the pollers played a few games around the campsite and sung us some songs. We were advised not to leave our tent after the fire was out , if your really needed the loo that badly you must sit and look out for red cats eyes first…sod that! Surprisingly I had a good night sleep even though I went to bed thinking of lions and leopards that could be outside. 

getting dinner ready

Camp

Swimming in the delta

Delta

Us and the pollers

Day 12- We survived the night whoop whoop, only one nutcase got out of their tent for a wee. We had a relaxing canoe ride back and sad I goodbyes to the pollers.  Back to the same campsite as before the delta for a well deserved shower, even if it was cold and in a cattle shed. At sun set we paid to do a scenic flight over the delta that was truly extraordinary. We saw herds of elephants and zebra and the sun set turning everything a tinge of orange was amazing. The day was topped off by a yummy dinner under the stars and a few drinks in the bar…what else could you want!….well maybe a hot shower

Our plane over the delta

Delta from above

Day 13 Our next camp was a Bush camp where Matt and me decided to go for an upgrade in a little hut. It was very cute with an outside bathroom and a BED!!! We had an organised bush walk with real bush people, the translator explained how they use the different plants and trees to heal themselves from back pain to using the plants to wash their clothes with. It was a nice experience and was fascinating listening to them speak as it is all a click language. That night we had Kudu lasagna, hot chocolate and bed… zzzzzzz.

Our hut upgrade

Day 14 we crossed though into Namibia today and had three hours to explore the city of Windhoek. Some of us headed straight to the Hilton and up to the sky bar to enjoy some cocktails by the roof top pool…sometimes it’s just nice to dream we are not smelly backpackers. That night we stayed in a hostel called the cardboard box and all 14 of us went out for a group meal. Most tried the game platters experiencing food like Crocodile, Ostrich….. Zebra was the nicest. Some of the guys headed out for the night, Matt and I went back early passing out and not even waking up as the drunken room mates come through the door. 

hostel room

group meal

game platter 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 15 Crossing into Etosa National park we stayed in Etosa campsite. It was a beautiful camp with lovely swimming pool, which we all headed for as soon as the truck stopped moving. After our very delicious camp curry we headed down to the watering hole, which was a huge perk for this camp. You all sit around very quietly hoping for an animal to appear. We were in luck…Lions, Zebra, giraffes, rhinos and a herd of 25 elephants. It was hard to drag yourself away back to the tent, but as you lay there in your tent you can here the roars of the mail lions in the distance.

Game drive

Sunset over the watering hole

Lions drinking

Rhino drinking