We left a few footprints, we took more than a few photos.
Six guests were in the very capable hands of Pete Oxford Expeditions. Pete and his wife Renee are energetic, knowledgeable and passionate. Pete is charismatic, a biologist and renowned photographer (it’s worth visiting their web page just for the stunning headline images). Renee is the organisation and in her spare time godmother to the baboons of Bettys Bay on the south coast of South Africa, and they are probably more easily managed than Pete.
Botswana is one of Africa’s success stories. It has a population of 2.63 million, the capital is Gaborone. You’ve probably not seen the president in the news – for all the right reasons. His name is Mokgweetsi Masisi. Most people speak Tswana but English is the official language and is spoken very well indeed.
The country is landlocked, surrounded by Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It touches Zambia at a single point on the Zambezi River and is separated from Angola by the narrow Caprivi strip of Namibia. It is largely an arid land. The exception is the Okavango Delta which receives its waters from the Angolan highlands.
The expedition started at Maun and visited three lodges, Qorokwe, Little Vumbura and Chitabe Ladiba. Little Vumbura is situated on an island accessed by small boats. The other two are savanna camps. All were comfortable, the service was impossible to fault. I have a fondness for timber and thatch. The latter two were the epitome of rustic charm.
So much for a few details. Stand by for some highlights.
This is how our days started …
bobmcgee 