Wednesday, 3rd October  DAY 14

Wednesday, 3rd October  DAY 14 We leave Modimolle at 4am so as to avoid the Gauteng traffic. We time it just right as the cars are beginning to clog up as we slip through. We are soon on the N3 to…

Tuesday, 2nd October  DAY 13

Tuesday, 2nd October  DAY 13 Last night was the coldest night of the trip and I sleep fitfully. Warming quickly in the rising sun, we break camp and leave Tantebane at 7.30am. We thread our way through a quiet Francistown and…

Monday, 1st October  DAY 12

Monday, 1st October  DAY 12 Today we begin the long trek home. After enjoying coffee at sunrise, we begin packing up which at this stage of proceedings we can almost do with our eyes closed. By 7am we are ready and…

Sunday, 30th September  DAY 11

Sunday, 30th September  DAY 11 A howling east wind develops during the night but fortunately we are all in one piece in the morning. Today is to be a day with a difference. Thanks to Chris and Dudley’s efforts in the…

Saturday, 29th September  DAY 10

Saturday, 29th September  DAY 10 Later during the night we hear the unmistakeable grunts of a leopard close to what should be the camp perimeter fence. Such is its state of disrepair that a person could walk over it. A herd…

Friday, 28th September  DAY 9

Friday, 28th September  DAY 9 I did make a list of the bird species that I would like to photograph whilst here in Hwange. So this morning Chris and Dudley take off for a drive in the bakkie whilst I stay…

Thursday, 27th September  DAY 8

Thursday, 27th September  DAY 8 Before sunrise we set out southward through truly impressive woodland. At Kennedy 1 Pan, the trees make way for grasslands that mark the course of “fossilised” river courses. Some of you may recall that it was…

Wednesday, 26th September  DAY 7

Wednesday, 26th September  DAY 7 We have made friends with other campers at Mandavu and it is interesting chatting to them. One is running a tourism business out of Vic Falls whilst another has a building business in Vic Falls and…

Tuesday, 25th September  DAY 6

Tuesday, 25th September  DAY 6 We have put a mattress in the back of the bakkie and take it in turns to snatch a nap with the other two left on duty. So wide awake am I that I only sleep…

Monday, 24th September   DAY 5

Monday, 24th September   DAY 5 If ever one wants to find out the advantages of sleeping under canvas then this is it. The still night air is filled by Water Thicknees calling, hippo continually snorting and four different types of Nightjar…

Sunday, 23rd September   DAY 4

Sunday, 23rd September   DAY 4 After coffee in camp, we set out towards “Big and Little Toms” with the rising sun behind us. The landscape is spectacularly beautiful with the long grass and trees. After a while Chris spots a lioness…

Saturday, 22nd September   DAY 3

Saturday, 22nd September   DAY 3 We are up with the sun and after our condensed milk coffee we quickly have everything packed and ready for an early get away. But first we spoil ourselves to a good breakfast at the restaurant.…

Friday, 21st September   DAY 2

Friday, 21st September   DAY 2 We leave Dave’s home in the dark at 5.30am and head westward to Lephalale (Ellisras). The cold front that we left behind in KZN has followed us and it is cloudy and cool. Through the attractive…

Thursday, 20th September   DAY 1

Thursday, 20th September   DAY 1 Dark, wet, windy and cold, Renette drops me off at Dudley’s house at 4.45am. We do our final packing into the sturdy, diesel Mitsubishi and soon after 5am we are on our way with the…