August 18th

We were up early and packed ready to go. Breakfast from the truck, cereal and toast, then the truck was packed up and we departed. There are 30 campers, a driver, tour guide, a trainee guide and a guide from Northern Africa on holiday. So there are 34 on the truck. It is like a bus inside, very comfortable.

After an hour and a half we arrived at the border, around 10.30. Disembarked from the truck and lined up to go through customs to leave Zambia. Passports stamped, we walked down the the ferry for the river crossing. It was a very short trip, about 5 minutes, and we were in Botswana. At that point it is the junction of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia. We crossed the Chobe River at the Kazungula crossing.

Into the customs building to get our entry stamp for Botswana, then back in the truck for a short ride to the town nearest our camp, Kasane. Here we went to the Lido to get any provisions we needed, and walked around the other stores. Being a Sunday many stores were closed.  

Arrived at our camp and set up the tents. It is a lovely spot beside the Chobe River. There is an electric fence along the river to keep out the hippos and elephants! Headed for the pool to have a dip, then sat in the shade for a while with a beer.

Liz was on cooking duty so from 5.30 she helped cooking the chicken and rice. Dinner was in the dark at 6.30, and then we sat around talking for a while before bed. There were a few hippos grazing just over the fence for while.

Sunrise is around 6am and sunset at around 6pm. Both happen quickly, there is no lingering twilight. There are quite a few lovely birds flying around, and we should see many more in Botswana.

Our group of travellers is quite a varied group, with quite a few oldies in it. So it makes for a good group to spend time with.  This morning many of the tour went on a game drive, leaving at 5.45 am. We had done our great game grieves in Madwike, so were happy to sleep in, catch up on washing and chat to others for the morning. This afternoon we will go back to the local town to use the internet, and this afternoon we are all going on a boat cruise on the Chobe - there should be hundreds of elephants and hippos to see. Tonight will be a barbecue dinner.  

At the shopping centre, just found free wifi. Will not have any for a few days now.