I gave my tummy one more morning to acclimate while Jan went on the morning game drive. Most days at the four camps saw us doing a morning game drive after an early breakfast, not long after sunrise, when you are likely to find more animals out and about, and an evening game drive up until just past sunset, again when the animals were out. Then we would have a few hours in early and mid-afternoon to relax or snooze, or whatever.
I had a great time in camp that day as it turned out. I was feeling good, so went down to the dining hall and meeting area and had a coke at the bar; I was the only one around other than some of the staff. I chatted for a couple of hours with Jost, the overseeing manager of this outfit's 2 local camps... we talked about everything from animal habitats to politics and world affairs. Jost had only received a primary education, to about grade 7, but was incredibly bright and informed. We shared some cold pizza that 'Auntie,' the camp manager had brought back from a doctor's visit to Kasane, and solved a myriad of the world's problems!
Our next camp was in the Okvango Delta region of Botswana and, up until the turn of the millenium, had been rather exclusive as a safari experience, catering to only the very rich. One of Jost's proud moments was that he had prepared a meal for Bill and Hillary and Chelsea Clinton right at the end of Bill's second term when they visited Kasane, Botswana. Jost was incredulous at the amount of security... they had told people who had booked safari's and vacations in the area during the Clintons' visit that they should probably reschedule elsewhere, as they wouldn't have too good an experience with all the intense security in the area. Many people were rebooked in the Okvango Delta area, and this was credited with opening up this incredible region to we mortals of modest means, and remains one of the popular, affordable destinations to this day.
Auntie was the camp manager here at Baobab Lodge... simply 'Auntie' to guests and staff alike.. the quintessential maternal archetype. She would do this 'trilling' sound to get everyone's attention... vibrating her tongue against her upper teeth... many of the various staff people we would meet would do this, but Auntie had it going on! I was sleeping that first morning, not feeling well, while the others were off on the game drive. About mid-morning I heard a melodic, 'Hello... Michael' outside the tent. It was Auntie wondering what I wanted to eat for lunch. I said nothing, I was fine. Mimicking Jan and my mom, Auntie said, 'You have to eat, Michael.'
I did the afternoon game drive, my first to this point, and wasn't disappointed. It was like being in a Disney movie or National Geographic special! Elephants, giraffe, zebra, a dozen different species of antelope, everywhere you looked... enough that you could snap some pictures and then just sit back and enjoy the experience. The guides are incredible at spotting the more elusive critters and birds, and things of interest. Our group of fourteen people split into two groups for the game drives, into land rovers with stadium seating so that there isn't a bad seat in the house. Towering giraffe, charging elephants, mating lions, all literally a few feet away. Wow!
That night we had our goodbye dinner with the staff... an outdoor braii, the African version of our barbecue, replete with singing and dancing. Jan and I were to later note we hadn't seen an unhappy person anywhere. These people love to sing and dance and smile. They requested we sing them a song, so we gave them a spirited, if not on key, rendition of 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame.'
I was taking photos of baboons and learning the settings on my camera when I happened to catch this video...
Scroll down for the G rated photos.
A Marabou Stork...
Periscope up... they say hippos cause more human death than lions or any of the other critters because they are often submerged and not seen until it's too late...
The crocodiles were elusive but prevalent and quick...
Sable Antelope...
These girls at the Victoria Falls Market wanted Jan to take a picture of them...
One of the staff members at Chobe... Chris Rock???
Choose another day below --- or click 'Newer Posts' at bottom for next day - or click 'Older Posts' at bottom for previous day.
To view blog from beginning to end, click 'Day 01 - Sep 07' - Then you can click 'Newer Posts' at the bottom of each successive post to go to the next day. Or you can choose a day from the list below.
Home
- Nature Imitating Art
