Week 37: SAFARI!

My first visitors from the states arrived! My adventurous parents arrived in Botswana and the visit was complete with dancing at a traditional Wedding, my dad inadvertently agreeing to take people back to the States, and an amazing Safari trip. We spent three nights at the Mosetlha Bush camp in Medikwe Game Reserve, which is just over the border into South Africa. On our game drives we saw Lions, Cheetahs, Elephants, Giraffes, Zebras, and a slew of other exciting animals. The camp we stayed at is sans running water or electricity but at night it is lit with a plethora of oil lamps that gives the camp a magical feel and through the owners ingenuity there are hot showers (this involves a donkey boiler and some jerry rigged buckets). The cabin that we stayed in was complete with a friendly welcoming crew of bush babies, a small nocturnal primate that has huge eyes and is a very respectful roommate. Our days started with a 5:45 wake up call from our ranger and a 6:15 departure for our first four-hour game drive of the day. On the drive we usually got to watch the sun rise and midway through we would stop for tea and rusks (a somewhat biscotti like breakfast bar). Then it was back to the camp for a relaxing communal breakfast, downtime, lunch and then at 4:00 it was time for the second four hour game drive, where we got to watch the sun set and track leopards!, see various animals at the watering hole and enjoy the breath taking views. After the second game drive it was time to sit around the fire, share stories with the other guests and enjoy dinner. Highlights included following a band of male cheetah’s as they prepared for a hunt, seeing wild dogs (which are an endangered species due in part to rabies, however all I could think of was Brigette Jones “To be eaten by wild dogs”), and baby elephants learning how to use their trunks.

Thank you to everyone to sent school supplies and other treats. The kids are very excited for the supplies and I am already happily munching, decorating my house, and wearing my new goods.