Botswana

Crossing the Zambezi river at Kasangula using the floating pontoon two white  truck drivers we on hand to give me advice. “You are crazy, you’ll be eaten by lions for sure”. Then followed numerous gruesome stories told by other truck drivers about other trucck drivers. It reminded me of the Python story told to me by an aid worker who assured me it happened to her colleague. Guy walking in bush attacked by python who managed to retrieve his phone from his pocket and call someone. He came with a machete and cut its head off. “Don’t they just crush you”, I asked. “No, they wish to avoid breaking the ribs of large mammals as they can protrude which makes swallowing difficult they wait for you the breathe out then quickly tighten their grip”. I’d love to see a transcript off that phone conversation.
Armed with this information I set off into the park having identified having identified the village of Lesoma to stop off at that evening.

all picnic spots come with a disclaimer

On the road that very evening I saw 30 elephants. Completely ignoring trucks and cars they just stand in the road like donkeys. When I approach they run for the bush and hide behind a tree where they watch me curiously.

The advice is find a secure place to spend the night to avoid lions and hyenas. The police compound accommodated me by giving me a fenced off area where I could pitch for the night. Talked to a interesting lady who told me about a government youth scheme for new business where free land and matched funding is given on submission of a suitable business plan. She was in the process of setting up a brick factory under the scheme. Slept that night to the trumpeting of elephants charging through the bush.

Next night I camped up with a Zimbabwean overland tour operator who had broken down. Lit a fire and camped next to the road. He had waited for 2 days of a clutch part to be driven up with a mechanic 1000km from Johannesburg. Caught up with him later in a supermarket, they’d arrived with the wrong part!

Made a common mistake. On seeing a shop sign with pictures of donuts and cakes I walked in all excited.. seeing only the usual tat of candles, washing powder, padlocks, salt, miscellaneous creams, biscuits etc, I enquired.. “I’m looking for cakes, like the ones on the sign?” They laughed at me, “That’s just a sign, we don’t sell them!”

Wild dog. Apparently very very rare. sadly recently made even rarer after this one go hit by a car.

as big as a horse.. big game Ealan?? or something like that?

Found under my tent. the rule is small pincers and big tail mean its a nasty one… Been told this one accounts for a handful of fatalities each year amongst the young and the old.

Francistown resembles an out of town shopping centre which is rather fortunate as I came there for just that purpose.

Kindly hosted by a farmer in his compound. “The dogs will keep the hyenas away”. Shared pumpkin and stories by the fireside that evening.

Neil (from Yorkshire!), Barne and John. Flagged down on the road by John. “Where you going to tonight”, a quick glance and the map “Rakops”, I said.
“Thats where I live!”. We all greatly enjoyed a conversation, BBQ and camp fire.

Wild camp under the stars

Okovango river. Pretty, but mosquito city!