Date: Monday 4th August 2008
Staying: Bushcamp, Okavango Delta, Botswana
Song of the Day: Wild, Wild Life - Talking Heads
Today was always bound to be a highlight of the trip, as we ventured into the Okavango Delta. We set off early for the bumpy ride to the edge of the Delta. The Delta is only about 25 years old, but rises and falls with the wet and dry seasons.
We were having a night away from the truck, so equipped with tents, day bags, water jerry cans, bedding, food, and so on, we were met by a fleet of mokoros. A mokoro is a dug out canoe, which holds two people and most of your belongings. At the back is a local poler who propels and steers the boat by means of a long pole that they use to push against the floor of the Delta, which is only a couple of metres at its deepest point. Cam and I relaxed back in the mokoro and our poler pushed us off (think of a gondola in Venice).
Being taken through the Delta with nothing but water and reeds brushing past has to be one of the most relaxing things you can do. During the two-hour float, almost everyone in our tour fell asleep.
Our site for the night was right next to the edge of the Delta. After putting up our tents and having lunch, we went on a game walk. Our guide was Cisco, and he took six of us out to walk around looking for wildlife, without the aid of map or compass. We spotted an elephant first off, then red deer. After dinner, our guides and polers sang traditional songs by the light of the fire, underneath the southern sky. It's nice to see the Southern Cross again.
Staying: Bushcamp, Okavango Delta, Botswana
Song of the Day: Wild, Wild Life - Talking Heads
Today was always bound to be a highlight of the trip, as we ventured into the Okavango Delta. We set off early for the bumpy ride to the edge of the Delta. The Delta is only about 25 years old, but rises and falls with the wet and dry seasons.
We were having a night away from the truck, so equipped with tents, day bags, water jerry cans, bedding, food, and so on, we were met by a fleet of mokoros. A mokoro is a dug out canoe, which holds two people and most of your belongings. At the back is a local poler who propels and steers the boat by means of a long pole that they use to push against the floor of the Delta, which is only a couple of metres at its deepest point. Cam and I relaxed back in the mokoro and our poler pushed us off (think of a gondola in Venice).
Being taken through the Delta with nothing but water and reeds brushing past has to be one of the most relaxing things you can do. During the two-hour float, almost everyone in our tour fell asleep.
Our site for the night was right next to the edge of the Delta. After putting up our tents and having lunch, we went on a game walk. Our guide was Cisco, and he took six of us out to walk around looking for wildlife, without the aid of map or compass. We spotted an elephant first off, then red deer. After dinner, our guides and polers sang traditional songs by the light of the fire, underneath the southern sky. It's nice to see the Southern Cross again.
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