We're Back!

Hey everyone.  We left Nxabega Camp on Tuesday.  We flew out of the Pom Pom Airport (really, only a grassy strip, we had to get there 15 minutes early in case there were any animals on the runway we needed to shoo away.  And by the way, “pom pom” means mosquito).  We then went to Selinda Camp, which was very beautiful, but no internet.  So before I move on to the Selinda Camp experience, I want to post a few pictures of Nxabega Camp.  Some of them may be boring to you, but Tom and I liked to use the blog as our scrapbook as well, so we are including some of our favorite memories. 

Pachyderm Morning Wake-Up Call

If they could only train those elephants to bring us coffee!

Elephants

A small family of elephants pass right next to us in the jeep. Later, the next morning while we are still in our cabin, Tom hears something. We go out on the deck to find an elephant walking along the path eating branches. He comes next to our cabin and stares at us as we take his picture. He is more interested in breakfast and finally then moves on. Later, we have breakfast outside as the monkeys sit within feet of us watching and waiting to see if we drop any crumbs.

Spotted Leopards

Well, Monday evening didn't go as planned at all. We left early afternoon to take a boat excursion down the Delta. We knew it was going to be a great evening when we were stopped from crossing the first bridge by a crocodile that was sunning itself in the middle of the bridge. After we passed, we were within minutes of the boat when our guide got a call on the radio that a leopard was spotted in a tree having a gazelle for a late lunch. Everyone decided that the boat would always be there but how often do we get an apportunity like this? We turn around and drive 40 minutes to the site. Although we are on the edge of the Kahalari Desert, rainy season has just passed so there are plenty of bogs and marshes (plus we are along the delta). Well, a leopard had a gazelle (already dead) up in a tree on an small island in a marshy area. There were several jeeps there already. It was hard to see the leopard (or the gazelle) for the branches, but we caught glimpses and could see the leopard's tail. Our guide moved in a little closer than the others and drove into the marsh. After watching for a while we decided to move on (but our jeep thought otherwise)...we were stuck in the marsh. After several attempts, the drive radioed another jeep and they had to pull us out with the second jeep. So we kind of got that boat ride after all. We continued the game drive. Later as the sun is about to set, we stop for a sundowner (drinks in a scenic area while watching the sun set). Then it was onto the night game drive. We drove just a few yards when our driver stopped the jeep, got out and looked at some tracks. He said it was leopard tracks and they were very fresh, within minutes. (Tom and I roll our eyes, thinking, yeah-yeah, they must teach all the guides to say this to the naive tourists). We drive just a few feet, when we spot another leopard in the branches of a tree. We are able to get very close to this one. We watch for a while until she decides to get down from the tree. Tom and I are in the back of the jeep. When the leople jumps from the branch she crosses right behind the jeep within a few feet of us, we could almost reach out and touch her (unbelievable). She scouts for a while and we follow along in the jeep for 30 minutes or so. Finally, we decided to leave her with her hunting a return to camp. It was a full day.

Delta Dawn

This morning we get up at dawn for a quick game drive before we go to the Delta. Someone has spotted a den of hyenas, so we take off. We come across two large female hyenas and their three cubs. We pull the jeep up incredibly close. The moms are full and sleepy from a late night meal, but the cubs are active fighting over a piece of animal skin. One of the cubs finally wrestles the skin away and carries it around like a security blanket. Meanwhile, the two other cubs are now curious about us. They come right next to the jeep and look up at us (even National Geographic doesn't get a photo op like this). The two cubs play around the jeep, running underneath and coming out the other side. Tom takes some great photos, but the internet connection is a little sketchy here, I'll try to upload some tonight. We go to the Delta and take a very quiet, peaceful canoe ride. We spot the Kingfish Eagle and lots of other birds but, unfortunately, no rhinos today. When we get back ashore a few elephants come to the water's edge. They keep a close eye on us as we drink our coffee and we keep a close eye on them as they enjoy the water. We're now back at the camp for rest and lunch. We head out later this afternoon for a boat excursion.

Botswana Rocks!!

Well....after 17 hours on the plane, a quick overnight stay in Johannesburg (where I enjoyed a delicious penne pasta with Impala), two more small plane rides and a 3-hour jeep excursion, we are at our first camp. On the last plane ride here (a four-seater), I spotted a giraffe and Tom saw an elephant. On a game drive into the camp we came across a few giraffe, three HUGE storks, several herds of Impala (last night they were delicious, today they were beautiful), lots of monkeys and some elephants. As we approached the camp we saw several elephants with three babies. We backed up the jeep and parked in the middle of the road. The elephants approached us and crossed right beside us, it was spectacular. I'll try to upload a picture, but I know it just can't convey how close we were. So, tomorrow morning it's a canoe trip down the delta. Oh, and why do I say "Botswana rocks"? While we were at the second airport waiting on our connection, Tom and I went upstairs to get a drink. And what did they have? TAB Cola!! I love this place!

African Safari, Part II

Hi, everyone.  Africa is calling our name again.  We leave today for Safari, part deux.  This time we are going to South Africa, arriving in Johannesburg on Saturday.  Then its six nights of safari in Botswana and Zimbabwe.  Then onto Camp Stanley & Livingstone at Victoria Falls, and finally a mini beach vacation along the Indian Ocean at Mozambique. (Zach and Dad:  I think I will be able to see Madagascar from there).   Below is a pic of where we will be staying at Benguerra Island.

Instead of starting a brand new blog, we decided to just pick up from last year's blog.  So, all the posts from last year are in the archives...feel free to browse through them.  We'll post when we can.  Be back in September!   Love, Sandy and Tom