We got a ride out of our village after a four hour wait. The ride was in the back of a closed bakkie (term for a truck). We were not the only thing in the back of the truck. There was a multitude of dead fish. It’s common to have these smelly passengers because of our site’s proximity to the water. The odor was oppressive. Luckily the ride to the Botswana border was short.The only impovement made for our ride in to the town of Kasane was the smell. I was in the back of a closed bakkie where I placed my backpack on top of a dead cow and then sat on top of my backpack the whole ride.
Below is a picture of elephant dung, which you can burn as a mosquito repellent. It's African Citronella!
This is the entrance to the Chobe National Park, which is all 4WD, dirt roads.
We met up with four other PCVs on Sunday and did a boat drive in Chobe National Park, which is home to the highest concentration of elephant in the world. We saw plenty of elephant, crocodiles, baboons and hippos.
We camped right by the Chobe River and heard hippos each night. We were safe thanks to the electric fence.
Self-portrait of me at sunrise in Kasane...
Our campsite at sunrise...
After a few days we traveled to Maun on a dilapidated bus that drove over an even more dilapidated road. Once in Maun, we spent a few nights with a Botswana PCV making and eating delicious food like a Greek salad with feta cheese. We also ate at amazing restaurants. If you are ever in Maun Botswana you have to eat the cheese toast at Hillary’s.
Here is the Botswana crew eating...again.
This was on the wall at a restaurant in Maun. I screamed. It was a happy scream.
On May 1, we moved to a backpacking lodge to celebrate our “Six Months in Africa” anniversary. We took a sunset boat trip in the Okavango Delta. Saw more hippos. Saw more crocodiles. Saw more tremendous views.
After a great trip we slowly worked our way back in to Namibia and to our “Reconnect” with the rest of our Peace Corps group. It was held at a conference center in the hills outside of Windhoek. We had incredible views and the air was crisp. It felt like Fall in Colorado. I actually wore a scarf. Wow.
This is from the back seat of a truck on our way to Ghanzi in Botswana...
It was a tight fit in the back...
The view from my room at Reconnect. Windhoek is in the distance.
This is what PCVs do when they are bored...cut hair. Yeah, it's odd.
A final thought…
As I look back at the past six months I am amazed at how much has happened. I am also amazed I am still here. It would be a lie to say I have not considered returning home early. But I am still here…somehow. So, I will see you in 2010. As always, stay tuned for more.
1 comment:
Great pictures Tina. Sounds like you are having fun. I am getting a package together for you. Have Fun, Fred
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