Eggbert's Travels

Tuesday 6th March

SHE SAID:

We had a rainy departure from Sable Alley. We did see the Leopard and her cub again, moving through the bush getting drenched. Also, whilst waiting for the plane an elephant crossed the runway, and a Sable Antelope.

It was a 35 minute flight in a 4 seater plane to Maun, then we were transferred to a 12 seater for the 40 minute flight to Camp Kalahari. Mr Bones was our guide for our 2 days in the Kalahari Desert, the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans National Park. There was lots of water all over the area and it was quite a drive to get to the camp!

This camp is A-frame tents about a metre off the ground on wooden floors. Two sections per room with zippers into the bedroom area and the bathroom area, there are only electric lights in the rooms, no other power. The views across the bush make it look like you are completely alone. 

Our safari into the desert covered in water was solo with Mr Bones, in fact we were the only guests that night...how private is that! 

New sightings of animals: Wilderbeest, Red Hartebeest, Steenbok, Springbok, Ground Squirrels, Vultures, Ostriches and many new birds. We stayed out for sunset and Mr Bones had a spotlight for our return drive to see noctural animals. We were lucky enough to see the African Wildcat, Cape Hares and the Spring Hare, which hops around like a tiny Kangaroo so is often called the African Kangaroo!

Mother Leopard moving her cub

Sable crossing the landing strip -
the best photo I got

The boys are on our own private 12 seater plane 

Our plane

Flying over the wet Okavango and the equally wet Kalahari Desert 

Abandoned farms

Local transport 

Mr Bones taking the high road

The main entrance to Makgadikgadi Salt Pans National Park 

Our tent

Our room

Storm brewing 

Camp Kalahari lounge

Camp Kalahari entrance 

Pool in the bush

Red-billed Teal 

Northern Black Korhaan

Lappet-faced Vulture 

Blue Wildebeest 

White-backed Vultures

Dusk on the salt pans 

Scrub Hare

HE SAID:

There is an airstrip about 10 minutes away from camp, but the recent rains have put it out of action. The small town of Gwetta, about 40km away, has an all-weather airstrip, but it still took about 90 minutes along some very minor farm tracks and flooded dirt roads. At one point we were close to rolling the vehicle sideways down a small embankment and into the water, but some hopeful maneuvering got us through.