A toe almost off & Botswana!

 

Days 8 - 10

Distance travelled: about 1,200km
 

HQ’s suggested stop over for the next night was Roy’s Rest Camp in Tsumeb, and Ngepi in the Caprivi the next night. I was determined to have a night in Kasane, so we decided to skip Roy’s (even though we’d heard of the legendary all-nighters) and push to Ngepi so we could spend the next night in Kasane.

We got up early and headed out of the Park (seems the Etosha animals like a sleep-in, as we saw hardly anything!) and onwards to Ngepi. I can’t remember a whole lot about that day because it was just a full day of driving, and I was tired.

GPS found us an Engen in Tsumeb where, you guessed it, we had Wimpy coffeeeee! We drove around the main round-about in the town a fair few times trying to get to the Spar where we stocked up on pork chops (our first meat in a while!) Nestle biscuits (yay!) ice (yay!) water and fruit. Then it was just driving and more driving.

In the early evening we reached Ngepi - avoiding the 4x4 route even though we were in a Hilux (the LAST thing I felt like at that point was getting stuck). Bookmark, Triton, Dixie & the Angolans were all there already and it had the makings of a BIG night. We set up camp, chomped on the delicious chops (they were probably actually horrific, but we were STARVING) and went to join the chaos. Here at Ngepi I got to talk to the Dixie guys properly for the first time, and not for the first time I wished we’d had more time in the beginning to get to know all the teams. The Dixie guys were such an amazing group – really genuine, wonderful guys.

Ngepi is unique for a number of reasons – if you ever get the chance it’s well worth a stay! The toilets and showers are built into the bush and trees – weeing and showering alfresco is something to experience! There is also an amazing pool which is built into the river – only a net separates you from the crocs and hippos!

seen at one of the bush loos

 

 

 

how beautiful is this camping spot?!

 

 

photo (c) Che Overmeyer

I was shattered after the long drive, and retired early – only to miss Mowgli and Zo’s legendary nursing skills when Marissa almost stubbed her toe off.

We had made a lunch date with Dad the next day in Kasane so we were up again early to push through the Caprivi Strip to Kasane.

We saw our first elephants, drove through what seemed like hundreds of villages and schools, and soon were happily at the Botswana border.

photo (c) Che Overmeyer

photo (c) Che Overmeyer

I think this border post must be one of the most beautiful in the world! Baobabs and the river make for spectacular scenery! It was probably the easiest border crossing as well. No stresses or problems or uninterested border officials – we sailed through!

We also realised at this point that we were at the front of the pack again!

 

Ah Botswana – home of my heart. You just know when you’re in Botswana. There’s something in the air that feels like home.

We met up with Dad for lunch and then headed to Senyati Safari Camp! If you ever get the chance, do yourself a favour and visit the place. There’s nothing like it anywhere else in the world.

Oom Louw (who I’m lucky enough to call my father-in-law) has built an incredible place in Lesoma Valley, which is 10km out from Kazungula. He’s built a huge deck with a bar overlooking a waterhole which hundreds of elephant and buffalo visit almost daily. You sit and sip a beverage 10m from those enormous creatures. We were lucky enough to see giraffe as well, and only 2 nights before we were there some leopard had come for a drink.  Oom Louw and Lulu kindly allowed us to do our laundry and fed us.

Later in the evening the Norwegians arrived, and were very surprised to see us! I think they thought they were winning J  They later told us that Senyati was in their Top 3 places they’d visited on the Rally.

The zip on my rooftop tent had broken, and as we were heading to malaria territory I felt it might be important to get it fixed! With the help of some Kasane local folk, we found a bush-mechanic who told us he could do the job the next morning in 2 hours, no problem.

We only had to get to Livingstone that day (less than 100km away) so I agreed. Well. It took them about 6 hours. Time taken aside, they did a pretty good job, and it was lucky that we had taken the decision that morning to stay another night in Kasane, and head to Livingstone the next day.

There was huge confusion over the next Shoe Drop – basically we weren’t given much information about where/when/what time. And all attempts to contact HQ to get said information failed. All we knew was that the Shoe Drop was tomorrow, in Livingstone. The Norwegians had also taken the decision to stay another night, so we felt safe that we weren’t the only ones.

I need to say THANK YOU to them for making that decision – it saved our bacon!

Giant thank you to Impex Fasteners & Tools (Pty) Ltd for sponsoring this leg of the trip.

 

Harassment, swearing at a bank official and a Shoe Drop….. next!

Yours in adventure,

Rox