Newsletter #4

Our most recent newsletter has been added to the site, so please have a read.

Africa Wildlife (3)

I found this little fellow in the toilet today.  Apparently he has been there for a few days (so says Helen) so I have only just noticed him.

He is a  "Tailless Whip Scorpion", because he has no tail but has a long leg which it uses as a whip.  It also has a very interesting elongated head!

Zambia (Day Three) - Vic Falls Micro-flight

   "Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight". This allegedly is what David Livingstone said  as he gazed upon the falls for the first time and Wednesday brought what for us has been the highlight of the entire holiday, when we each took a micro-light flight over the Falls and had an "angel's view". 

It was only about fifteen minutes each, but it was amazing to see the Falls from above, to look down and see the gorges where the Falls had been previously (the Falls are currently in Gorge 8) and see the fault where the new gorge is being formed.

Despite the short trip there was plenty of opportunity to chat with our German pilot. He was  interested in the work we are doing in Opuwo , having  himself lived in Namibia and is planning some flights up in the Kunene region next May so has our email address!

Zambia (Day Two) - Botswana Safari

On Tuesday, we headed across the border to Chobe National Park in Botswana for a day of game drives on land and on the river.

We left early to cross the Zambezi on a car ferry and make it through the border point but were running a little late by the time we reached the game park. Our guide had not been too optimistic regarding the animals we might see, but almost immediately we turned a corner to see three lions resting under a tree. 

Our good fortune continued when we moved further around the camp to see at least two herds of elephants (a total of about 70 or so) crossing the tracks in front of us.

At one point we were completely surrounded by them.

On top of that were kudu, impala, wart-hogs, buffalo and mongoose. 

Later in the afternoon, we headed out on a boat and down through the river section of the park and managed to see hippos and crocodiles.

The only downside of the day was when the heavens opened and it rained torrentially while we were on the boat - we then had to transfer onto land, drive to the border, cross the Zambezi in the open car ferry, check though the border on both sides and drive back to Livingstone.  By the time we were back, we were soaked through - but we had an amazing day!

 

 

Zambia (Day One) - Vic Falls Walk

Having spent a quiet morning at our back-packers accommodation we headed to the falls for our "Island walk".  This entails wading across the first half of the falls to reach the island where David Livingstone first stood to admire one of the eight wonders of the world. Obviously it can only be done in the "dry" season but it allows spectacular views of the falls from close proximity. Perhaps a little too close for some peoples liking! You have the opportunity to jump into "devil's pool", a 3.5m deep pool that is as close to the edge as you can get and which, because of the depth, is "safe" to swim in.  It was originally discovered by a hot and weary fisherman - I don't think it would have been my first choice of places to cool off!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, we made it ...

We left Opuwo on Friday and drove 3 hours to Oshakati, where we stayed Friday night.  Saturday we drove from Oshakati to Rundu, past Tsumeb and Grootfontein (about 7 hours) and then today we drove from Rundu, Namibia to Livingstone, Zambia in about 8 hours.  So a total of about 18 hours driving across Africa and how many animals ... 2; a kudu and a wart-hog. Very disappointing!

We also had a slightly hectic morning since we were told last night that we would need "Police Clearance" to get the car across the border.  Needless to say we didn't have it, it was Sunday and we had been told it can take up to a week to get.  We went to the Police Station with Rob (a doctor in Rundu with AIM) and managed to persuade the police to take us to house of the person who fills these in forms, wake him up, take him back to the Police Station, fill in the form and then drop him back at his house ... and all before 9.00am this morning!

When we came to it, we crossed the border relatively easily - signing out of Namibia and into Zambia.  We had to pay Carbon Tax, Council Levy, Customs, Importation duty (for the car) and Insurance but all-in-all the crossing only took about 30 minutes (and nobody asked about the "Police Clearance"!)

And now we are here in Livingstone again, after five years since we were last here, and it is very strange seeing the town and remembering what is was like and seeing how it has changed.

Tomorrow, we start the tourism with a return trip to the Vic Falls ...