We were up early; today was the most challenging driving day. A quick coffee and rusk, at 8am we hit the road. We had to cross Mababe depression, Savuti, Ghoha Hills and Chobe Forest Reserve. At Mababe we selected the marsh road versus the sand road, this was decided on advice from Andre and other locals who knew the roads and had travelled them. On the exit road to Ghoha gate we hit some serious sand, this was only the beginning of long final stretch! As we came around one of the corners, we saw a safari land cruiser with trailer stuck – his wheels were buried in the sand and Meier (the driver) was getting his land cruiser out on his own. Being good Samaritans we stopped to help him. Andy and Glenn shoveled sand while Meier jacked up the car and found logs to put behind his back wheels to reverse out, within 15 minutes Meier had the land cruiser out and back in action. We then helped to pick up the trailer and attach it. Felt good to do this and he taught us a lot about what to do when we get stuck. Meier then pointed out the alternate route and we continued along our journey. The road was long and hard and eventually we rode along the cut line to Muchenje. We had started at 8am and stopped at reception at Muchenje at 5pm. A long day of challenging roads, with sand, gravel, water board surfaces and potholes… I must admit I was very happy to exit the car as at one point I never thought the sand and bumps would end…

A little about our drive, the animal sightings were incredible and the scenery ever changing:

•  Two sightings of lions – one young pride sunning themselves along the road with very fully bellies, they had recently eaten and were lazing around, watched them settle din for the day moving from place to place. The second pride were a little more hidden, the male lion was closer to the road, he was lying fully exposed and wrapped around a tree while the two cubs and lioness were further back sleeping.
• Multiple herds of elephant at waterholes, along the road and in the savanna.
• Multiple journeys of giraffe with up to ten in a journey. They are so graceful.
• Many bird species – the most frequently sighted were hornbills, the lilac breasted roller and the fork-tailed drongo, spectacular to see this many of them
• Herds of impala and other smaller animals

The other crazy sight was our group – about 1.5 km’s after the first lion sighting we came upon a clearing under a tree, Andy decided this was the perfect spot for us to have our morning coffee. So there we were, outside the 4×4’s watching the hornbills in the tree, sipping coffee and nibbling a romany cream! Not the smartest move…

You will also see in the photos a silly picture of the group around a Baobab tree, the car journey was too much and we needed a break. Fortunately we were less than 30 minutes from the campsite but we did not quite know that… journey fatigue has set in and we needed to stretch our legs…

We decided that another potjie was in order once we arrived at camp. We were also rewarded with a hot shower! Loved that as we, our stuff and the cars were very very dusty. This time it was a chicken potjie with fresh roosterbrood and a salad. Dana made the salad and Melissa the roosterbrood – she is becoming an expert at this. I assisted here and there (directed a little the roosterbrood prep and cooking), set the table and sorted out drinks – a Diemersdal Cabernet and a La Motte Millennium were opened and enjoyed throughout the evening. Glenn and Michaela cleaned up. What a perfect evening in a tranquil setting. It ended sitting around the fire with some star gazing.