And still more photos can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/hutch
Sorry about the lack of lengthy commentary but as the photos attest we have had another outstanding day in Botswana in Maun and over the Okavango Delta.
At 4:00 p.m. we went for a 1 hour flight over the delta in a small Cessna. We flew at a height of 550 feet and it cost $90 for each one of us. A bargain as far as I was concerned and something I don’t think the kids will ever forget.
There are countless little companies that provide these flights as attested to by all the planes lined up at the airport. All pretty laid-back and informal as seen by the walk out along the flight line to the plane. Derrick the pilot used the tail to lay out a map of where we’re going to go. Dave had the co-pilots seat up front and Gordon had the lone seat at the back. Everyone had a window seat.
The delta is full of hundreds of waterways and small islands. Criss-crossing the waterways as indicated by the lines in the reeds and grass are the trails the animals such as the elephants and hippos make. You could clearly see where they were moving to and fro.
The reason for the flight was two-fold. One to get an appreciation for the delta and what it looks like from the air and second to look for wildlife.
As the photos indicate we were not disappointed as we saw elephants and giraffes on various islands. Although no one seemed to have captured in a photo we also saw zebras, hippos and 1 crocodile.
As difficult as these animals are to see on the ground they are equally difficult to pick out from the air, even at 550 feet. Compare the photos that show an animal with the photos that just show the terrain. At times hard to determine if you are seeing an animal or something else. In addition the Cessna does move fairly quickly and if you are not ready for a photo your sightlines change relatively quickly.
Quite the amazing terrain.
You are also allowed to camp in the delta on any island that you wish. In Maun you can book a mokoro (traditional canoe) and be poled through the waterways by a guide. You can choose how many days you want to go out for and away you go. There is a picture of several tents on one of the islands. However, don’t forget you share this space with all the aforementioned animals.
25 years ago I did a camping trip with 3 other Canadians and there is something amazing about sitting beside a campfire at night listing to the sounds of the African night and knowing that there is no much between you and the wildlife.
Flights were taking off all the time but in the hour we only came across one other Cessna in the air. Apparently there are a total of 60 pilots flying the delta and you get the impression that it is one big brotherhood out in the middle of wide open Africa. We engaged in a bit of playful flying with the other Cessna with first one up and to the side of the other one and then they would cross over and we would dip below the other Cessna.
We got back to Maun at 5:00 p.m. just at the sun was heading for the western horizon. Thus this necessitated going to the Crocodile Lodge for a couple of sundowners on the bar terrace that overlooks one of the waterways at the edge of the delta. Needless to say while the cold drinks went down extremely well as the sun set over the water I couldn’t stop thinking about how did last Thursday’s Committee of Adjustment meeting go? I wonder if the Committee approved all of the severance applications?
Wednesday we are booked for a 2 hour boat tour through the delta to see what the delta looks like from the water’s edge.
I have also enclosed several photos of our hotel and grounds. Note the ever present dusty terrain in the parking lot. The hotel had a swimming pool and the typical pool side chairs and bar.
Our room had a little “balcony” that faced the interior of the property.
For a night’s accommodation and breakfast the following morning it was about $125 for a room for 3 people.
Last but not least I have included a photo of the “mobile hotel” that does the trans-Africa safari. All kitted out like a cross between a bus and transport truck with horizontal bedrooms at the rear. (Like rows of coffins if you ask me. Needless to say these vehicles are built for off-roading and dealing with all sorts of terrain. This particular vehicle had German license plates.
How hot did you say it was in Trenton this week? I think I could easily take a week or two camping in the delta.
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