April 11 Botswana

Up before 5AM and started all the organization that goes with camping. Lots of organization! Brian and I got the tent down and packed it away. Breakfast happened under the tree, next to the place where we made a fire the night before. Two or three hornbills joined us for breakfast. I got some decent pics. Then we packed up the truck, all of us participating in the washing up and all the various jobs that needed to be done. The group pulled together very well and we took off at 7 AM. The trip to Maun    ( pronounced Ma-hoon ) was uneventful, with potty breaks, shopping etc. We had made a sandwich for ourselves at breakfast which we ate on the way. I read my Indian novel most of the way. We saw the diamond mines ( but not allowed in!!)....apparently this is the wealth of Botswana nowadays. The diamond mines were discovered after Britain relinquished control of Botswana. Right now I am at a hotel bar in Maun, doing this. We are camping in the hotel grounds, and will have our supper there tonight. Botswana is known for its 5 star safari's with every modern convenience, but I can't afford that. I took some pics of Herero women in traditional dress, and they are quite impressive. The one lady charged me a fee to take the pics!!

Tomorrow is the highlight of the camping trip. Maun is the launching pad to the Okavango swamps. This part of the camping trip had been cancelled due to Southern Africa's drought, but the swamp has revived again with rain in the last few months. We are the first Intrepid camping tour to go back to the swamps which are a world heritage site, and unique ecosystem. There is no wifi and I will not post for the next two days. We return from the swamps and come back to Maun, before the rest of the tour. Stay tuned as I hope to have some good adventures in the swamp....a chance of a lifetime of course.