Georgie and Rod's Grand Adventure
a blog of our travels
Because we finally have enough band width on the wifi here near the Okavango – only because I got up at 1:00 am when everyone else has gone to bed – we decided to post some pics from previous travels.
This is a small collection from Madagascar which we visited so long ago now:
Flying over the Okavango Delta in a light aircraft was an unforgettable experience. It’s a huge expanse of wetlands stretching to the horizon, dotted with lily-filled pools, reedy channels, clumps of fan palms with thick bushes and tall trees, wide grasslands and lots of mega-fauna. We saw a huge herd of heffalumps, countless giraffes, a multitude of hooved ‘antelopean-type’ creatures and even a hippo. It was a blast!
Then we canoed in through the channels in mokoros poled by locals who knew their way through the maze of waterways to our remote campsite. There we watched in awe a small group of four elephants feeding just across the channel on the next island. They are such impressive beasts, big and powerful but so gentle and casual.
The water lilies all around us were in full bloom and we were graced by visions of lilac, pink, white and yellow flowers abuzz with dragonflies and butterflies.
That night, around a blazing campfire, the polers entertained us with traditional songs, and we all participated in a game of elimination, amid raucous laughter. It was beautiful to be spoilt rotten with traditional rhythms and harmonies whilst the lions, hippos and frogs gave a background chorus.
This was meant to be a real ‘bush camping’ experience – we thought we would be roughing it, but we were treated to ready set up tents, with ‘en-suites’ – private enclosures with a hole in the ground pedestal toilet and a tripod shower.
The next morning a herd of seven heffalumps sauntered past in their relaxed and majestic manner.
The Okavango is our new favourite place in the world!
Our first game drive of the African safari – and what a day! We set out at 5.45 am following an even earlier breakfast (hard to believe that Georgie even knew that time existed!) The morning involved many kilometres of driving to see a variety of animals, including giraffe, springbok, zebra, wildebeest, warthog, steenbock, jackal and ostrich – as well as a lone lion, which was very exciting.
After a break for the hot part of the afternoon, we started anew. Again, a variety of animals presented themselves to us, but it wasn’t until the last few minutes that the piece de resistance occurred: finally, an elephant! Georgie was in tears and we were all gobsmacked. Then five giraffes walked past. Oh my goodness gracious me!
Another game drive began early with four giraffes presenting themselves straight off. Then we had two lionesses come and drink from a pool right alongside the truck. Most exciting! On another drive we saw three cute lion cubs waiting for their mum to return. Gorgeous! Finally, on our last drive we saw a rhino. Yay!
There were so many animals presenting themselves to us over the five different game drives we did. They included: big mobs of springbok, plenty of black faced impala, lots of oryx, kudu, steenbok, warthogs, lions, lots of kori bustards, groups of ostriches, quite a few pale chanting goshawks, giraffes, duiker, a few lilac breasted rollers, some plains zebras, brown eagles, big mobs of wildebeest (gnu), blue cranes, black backed jackals, ground squirrels, hyenas, cattle egrets, southern korhaans, franklin or spur fowls, blacksmith lapwings, white tailed mongoose, red hartebeest, an elephant, grey hornbills, widow birds, secretary birds, a honey badger, huge millipedes, and a variety of small birds. Phew!
The next game park we will visit is Chobe, where people have been telling us they need to carefully avoid the elephants because there are just so many of them. Golly! Georgie is almost sick with anticipation!
