Date of Entry: November 11th-12th 2016
Date of Writing: March 25th 2017
It’s a long drive today from Windhoek decently deep into Botswana. As we enter the kalahari desert any sign of a cool breeze vanishes.
The border goes smoothly after a brief stop in a supposedly dangerous town in Namibia to fill the truck with gas and buy ice for our cooler. We know the next few days are going to be very hot. We also make a few stops in Botswana but there is nothing much worth photos just a small mall where I pickup a sim card and some snacks.
About an hour before sunset we get to our bush camp and set up camp finishing up just in time to catch the after glow of yet another amazing african sunsets. I also catch a glimpse of one of our hosts, the bushmen of Botswana, or in this case bush woman and bush baby.
We eat a nice dinner and then head inot the centre of camp to watch the bushmen perform a lot of strange and interesting dances in the eery glow of the campsite.
This is a strange and odd experience and while fascinating has traits of feeling like a human circus. Still I rise early the next morning and pay roughly 10 usd extra to go for a nature walk with the bushmen from last night. I’m not sure what it will be like, but figure it has to be better than sitting around. I’m right, and this walk is fascinating as we learn about the individuals as people as well as how the bushmen use what is around them to repel mosquitoes, carry water, start fires, make soap and so much more. We also learn the girl with the baby has only just turned 17 as well as some secret viagra type plants as well as a natural fertility drug.
The photos are cool but cooler than that are the videos that follow where we also learn the oldest man in the group was once attacked by a leopard and has big scars on his head. Him telling parts of the story in his language is fascinating.
Once our walk is done we join Honary and those who opted not to calm on the walk and get to driving. From now on the day is basically a driving day as we speed through the barren Botswana highways watching carefully for goats and cows. Lots f times Blessing is forced to hit the breaks hard and the road just winds on and on through the desert until the last hour or so. We reach our campsite which is beautiful and has cats, a pool, a beautiful river and even wifi (paid). We make camp and spend the late afternoon relaxing around the campsite before heading to bed early. Tomorrow we begin our two day excursion into the world famous Okavango Delta. I’ve heard so many good things so naturally I’m excited. Check back soon for those stories.
