Today (New Years eve) we left Maunatlala for Gaborone at around 11:30am. Just before our departure I was asked by one of the security guards (Alex) to take his picture with the "Big camera" which is how my DSLR is now referred to. I now have to figure out how to get him a print.

We were to drive through the village of Lerala which is nestled at the base of the Tswapong Hills but missed an unsigned right hand turn in one of the smaller surrounding villages. This spat us back out onto the main road again and we missed Lerala. Oh well, there's always next time.

It's nice to see the local villages are still, for the most part, very traditional with thatched rooves and mud brick walls. And while they may look rather primitive, a lot of the houses have power, water, satelite TV and I'd also wager, broadband internet. However, times change, and most new houses are being made of cement block or clay fired brick with corrugated iron rooves. Some homes are truly huge and luxurious, hinting at the hidden wealth of Botswana.

The drive back to Gabs was uneventful, aside from being passed while passing, and we stopped in Mahalapye for a bite of lunch before continuing down the A1. We arrived back in Phakalane around 5pm.

Dinner was at the Phakalane Golf Estate, one of the few 5 star restaurants in Botswana. The menu was set for New Years and fireworks could be seen over the lake. Botswana steak is still the best in the world in my opinion, after having an excellent fillet mignon with an outsanding Cab Sav from Groot Constantia. I'll be trying to bring back a couple of bottles of this drop with me.

Tags: travel