Wednesday 18th October 2017
Thursday 19th October 2017
Kasane to Okavango Delta
There was a heavy thunderstorm overnight which has cooled things down a bit.
This morning we are on a 12.15pm flight into the Delta so leaving at 10.45 for the airport. There is a new international airport at Kasane which is quite impressive but no facilities are open yet. Through the hand luggage xray machines many people had bottled water and insect aerosols confiscated. After we had identified our luggage (we were allowed soft bags only and 12 kgs maximum including camera equipment), we walked out to the Cessna 208 Caravan (carries 12 people).There was a bit of a mix up with luggage going to the wrong plane but eventually it was sorted and a few people were surprised to see the pilot was young and female.
It was a 75 minute flight to the dirt runway which was closest to our camp. The delta looked particularly dry until we got further in. Many of the water holes were dry. From the air we could see the animal tracks leading to the waterholes and once we were well into the delta groups of elephants were drinking and splashing water about.
On another of the planes the alternator was found to be faulty on landing. The story was embellished as the day wore on, including that they had catastrophic engine failure and Gerrard the photographer took over the controls, while Andy the mechanic removed half the windscreen, stuck his head & shoulders out,opened the engine cowl and carried out repairs midair, allowing them to land safely.
Landing on the dirt strip some steps were brought out and we were collected in several safari trucks and taken to Camp Xakanaxa. We were met with a friendly reception by all the staff. The rule of the camp is that a guide must collect you from your tent between sunset and sunrise. We thought this was a bit extreme until our first night when we saw Oscar, a very large hippo who comes in after dark to graze on the watered garden lawn. There are also a large number of baboons about who apparently like to steal chocolate and take any tablets in silver foil.
The tented accommodation is very comfortable with netting over the bed, ensuite, electricity by generator, a verandah overlooking the river and visiting animals.
On our game drives we saw lots of elephants, giraffe and zebra. On the early morning drive on Thursday we came across a young male leopard who was dragging his recent kill, a large Impala back to safety under some bushes. He stopped every now and then, panting heavily, his face covered in blood from the kill.
The guides became very enthusiastic when we came across a pack of 30 wild dogs. Apparently they are endangered and not often seen.
Bloodied faces from a recent kill
As we sat down to dinner, the staff performed a song and dance routine welcoming us. One woman did an amazing trilling noise with her tongue.
Thursday 19th October 2017
Kasane to Okavango Delta
There was a heavy thunderstorm overnight which has cooled things down a bit.
This morning we are on a 12.15pm flight into the Delta so leaving at 10.45 for the airport. There is a new international airport at Kasane which is quite impressive but no facilities are open yet. Through the hand luggage xray machines many people had bottled water and insect aerosols confiscated. After we had identified our luggage (we were allowed soft bags only and 12 kgs maximum including camera equipment), we walked out to the Cessna 208 Caravan (carries 12 people).There was a bit of a mix up with luggage going to the wrong plane but eventually it was sorted and a few people were surprised to see the pilot was young and female.
It was a 75 minute flight to the dirt runway which was closest to our camp. The delta looked particularly dry until we got further in. Many of the water holes were dry. From the air we could see the animal tracks leading to the waterholes and once we were well into the delta groups of elephants were drinking and splashing water about.
On another of the planes the alternator was found to be faulty on landing. The story was embellished as the day wore on, including that they had catastrophic engine failure and Gerrard the photographer took over the controls, while Andy the mechanic removed half the windscreen, stuck his head & shoulders out,opened the engine cowl and carried out repairs midair, allowing them to land safely.
Landing on the dirt strip some steps were brought out and we were collected in several safari trucks and taken to Camp Xakanaxa. We were met with a friendly reception by all the staff. The rule of the camp is that a guide must collect you from your tent between sunset and sunrise. We thought this was a bit extreme until our first night when we saw Oscar, a very large hippo who comes in after dark to graze on the watered garden lawn. There are also a large number of baboons about who apparently like to steal chocolate and take any tablets in silver foil.
The tented accommodation is very comfortable with netting over the bed, ensuite, electricity by generator, a verandah overlooking the river and visiting animals.
On our game drives we saw lots of elephants, giraffe and zebra. On the early morning drive on Thursday we came across a young male leopard who was dragging his recent kill, a large Impala back to safety under some bushes. He stopped every now and then, panting heavily, his face covered in blood from the kill.
The guides became very enthusiastic when we came across a pack of 30 wild dogs. Apparently they are endangered and not often seen.
Bloodied faces from a recent kill
As we sat down to dinner, the staff performed a song and dance routine welcoming us. One woman did an amazing trilling noise with her tongue.
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