Botswana ~ Day 9
19/05/09 21:00 Filed in: Botswana
I was up with a yellow-billed hornbill fart this
morning and watched the sky change colour as the sun
rose. I got the main gate early to book my nature
drive this afternoon. Hopefully two hours of African
animal goodness.
I was running out of Pula and had to make a few phone calls (there is no mobile reception here by any network and yes, you can tell the difference) so I ducked into Serowe. I checked in with Amina (Harvey World Travel) and all seems well with my further travels. I am running the risk of not getting a tour into the pans on Wednesday but these are the risks you take when “winging” it. The lady at Gweta Lodge is working hard for me.
The only bank that accepts foreign MasterCards is Standbic Bank. There is no branch in Serowe, I did a bit of asking around, so I had to make the 40km drive to Phalapye. Not unpleasant but I’d rather have been sitting on the porch of the chalet. I have to leave here by around 8 am tomorrow morning if I’m to make it to Gweta before dark.
I’m the only one eating at the restaurant at the moment, so I have all the staff to myself...which hasn’t made much difference actually.
Update 1:
I have just returned from a rather excellent game drive around Khama Rhino Sanctuary. I was the only one in the truck, aside from the driver and her assistant. Animals seen and mostly photographed include Ostrich, Gemsbok, Impala, Zebra, Rhino, Steenbok, Springbok, Warthogs, Wildebeast, Red Harts beast, Crimson breasted shrike, and Grey Laurie (go-away bird). As I type this up I can hear a Rhino walking around outside my chalet. I can’t see it or photograph it because I don’t have a torch or an outside light, yes I have considered just walking around in the pitch black with my hands outstretched until I run into it... most frustrating.
The game drive finished with us watching the sun set over a waterhole, while a couple of Rhino were drinking. I finished watching the sky turn from deep red, to deep purple, to black, back at the restaurant with a glass of Botswana’s finest beer... St. Louis.
Once again the sky is full of stars.
I was running out of Pula and had to make a few phone calls (there is no mobile reception here by any network and yes, you can tell the difference) so I ducked into Serowe. I checked in with Amina (Harvey World Travel) and all seems well with my further travels. I am running the risk of not getting a tour into the pans on Wednesday but these are the risks you take when “winging” it. The lady at Gweta Lodge is working hard for me.
The only bank that accepts foreign MasterCards is Standbic Bank. There is no branch in Serowe, I did a bit of asking around, so I had to make the 40km drive to Phalapye. Not unpleasant but I’d rather have been sitting on the porch of the chalet. I have to leave here by around 8 am tomorrow morning if I’m to make it to Gweta before dark.
I’m the only one eating at the restaurant at the moment, so I have all the staff to myself...which hasn’t made much difference actually.
Update 1:
I have just returned from a rather excellent game drive around Khama Rhino Sanctuary. I was the only one in the truck, aside from the driver and her assistant. Animals seen and mostly photographed include Ostrich, Gemsbok, Impala, Zebra, Rhino, Steenbok, Springbok, Warthogs, Wildebeast, Red Harts beast, Crimson breasted shrike, and Grey Laurie (go-away bird). As I type this up I can hear a Rhino walking around outside my chalet. I can’t see it or photograph it because I don’t have a torch or an outside light, yes I have considered just walking around in the pitch black with my hands outstretched until I run into it... most frustrating.
The game drive finished with us watching the sun set over a waterhole, while a couple of Rhino were drinking. I finished watching the sky turn from deep red, to deep purple, to black, back at the restaurant with a glass of Botswana’s finest beer... St. Louis.
Once again the sky is full of stars.
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