Animals - big and small!
Trip Start
Jul 24, 2009
1
20
Trip End
Aug 26, 2009
Ihaha, Caprivi, Namibia
Thursday, August 20, 2009
I'm a bit confused by the time this morning – it’s actually 5.20, but when I looked at my phone, I thought it was the other way round, so it was 7.20. So I am now dressed and waiting for someone to get up and check the camp, but it’s a little early still!! There is no way I am getting up first – I can still hear the eles and I’m not sure if the shapes I can see are buffalo or just bushes! No doubt Dave will be up soon!!
Last evening was fun! As II said there were so many sounds and knowing anything could be just outside of our circle made the thrill even better! While we were sat Dave came back very excited – he had just seen a honey badger – the one animal on his wish list! Not only did he see it, but we all saw it as it kept coming into camp trying to steal our food! It managed to get our chicken a la king pot off the table and then returned later to rip open a rubbish bag! It later came back when everyone was in bed and caused more trouble – but Dave was very happy!!
Last night it was really windy – in fact it still is now. Everything was flapping, and at every flap I wonder if it’s the wind or an animal!!
There was a bit of confusion yesterday on the way here. We crossed the border easily and when we got to the park gates the guard said "Mr Davies has gone to Kasane to pay, you can go strait to Ihaha." The trouble was though we were also supposed to go to Kasane to pay, but didn’t know!
We were slowly driving through the park when Flora had a phone call from Kath asking where we were. As we were almost at camp, we continued there and waited fro the others – oops! While we waited at the camp entrance a huge herd of elephants arrived, which I presume were the ones we shared camp with last night.
I can hear people moving now, so I should be able to get up soon!
I’m now up! It’s still very windy and actually pretty cold, so I am sat in the car! Out of the window I can see six buffalo straight ahead, there are a few more to the side and I can also see zebra. There are lots and lots of birds about – the franklin have just arrived to pick up the scraps – they will start shouting soon and then everyone will be up!!
Dave and I drove to the toilets earlier as we needed water. Because we have an unreserved site there are no bins or a tap, but as it’s only costing 30 rand (about £2.50!) per night, we can’t complain! We had to drive back with a bucket of water on the floor of the car – sounds easy, but when you consider the bumpy sand roads, it’s not so easy!
Some have now driven to the shower and are then going on a game drive, we are just finishing the packing and then we will be off.
Afternoon
We have had a lovely day in the park (with one exception, which I will mention that in a minute!).
After driving to the shower we left to drive in the Kasane direction along the river. We saw loads of animals – huge herds of elephants and buffalo, two big herds of sable, hundreds of impala as well as warthog, zebra and hippos.
There were a lot of flies about today, they kept buzzing around and I kept swishing then away. I felt one near my ear and thought I has brushed it away, but discovered it had not gone out, but INTO my ear! I know it sounds funny, but I assure you, it was the most uncomfortable feeling and it could have driven me mad! All I could hear was buzzing and a tickle in my ear – all I wanted to do was shake my head! Sue had some eye drops so Flora poured that in to try to drown the fly, but it didn’t work, it just went further in! Suddenly there was a massive pain – I presume it must have touched my ear drum – it really hurt! Krista then turned up and had some pure alcohol, which they put into a syringe to flood my ear – HOORAY – as the liquid squirted in the fly flew out!!! Flora said it was tiny, but it felt like the size of a horse fly! Anyway I never want to experience that again!
We are now sat looking over the river – I wonder what tonight will bring!?
22.50
I think I am now fed up of dust and being dirty! My journal, my clothes, my sleeping bag – everything is covered in a layer of dust and dirt – especially in this wind!
OK, enough of the moaning! This evening was quite quiet animal wise. We did a selection of group photos in our NAM 09 t-shirts as the sun went down and the Dave and I went to get some more water. Not only did we have to get our bucket full, we also had to fill three kettles and get them all back with water still in them – it was like some sort of challenge game! Must get some sleep now!
