Borders

Hey, I am in Zambia..Livingstone that is. The first visit across the ditch, this year. (The ditch being the Zambezi River). It is nice to be here again, I have spent so many times here over the last three years that it is strange to not have been here for so long this year. Have seen many friends, and they are all full of welcome - a very typical reaction and response that you will get from people in this region. Thank you all for your hospitality and help, and friendship.

I think that the Mozi (beer) tastes better than it did last year when I was here! At last there are a few trips which will bring me through here over the next few weeks. Time to visit that beautiful spot, Taita Falcon Lodge, on the Batoka Gorge.

Love for nature and the world around us, is something we have to remind ourselves about from time to time. For some of us, the natural world is around us and we see and experience it. Better than only being in a city - I mean IN a CITY, not in a nice suburban area away from the real Concrete Jungle. Those are the folks who need to have a chance to get out into the natural world.
Life should be a balance - for those not out in the nature and for those who are - because I can take the city and the built up world. But I know it is nice to be able to "work" in the bush, in the natural, nature world. And to share that love, and life, with friends and close, loved ones.

And, Man's Best Friend..the dog. Well, Marty sure fills that description. Loyal,waiting, patient always there when I get back from being away. Always happy and always only to pleased to share any moment with me. He is not the only one..many, many of us have such a friend. They are quite amazing companions. Enjoy them.

And now, in the late hours of the evening, I must close my mind to the things that have to be done, to the day ahead and the things not yet done, and merely relax in the knowledge that I, too, am loved. And that I do have people who care about me, in some way. And to find comfort and solace in that knowledge, and happiness.

No pictures today, I don't have the drive connected with those on...so tomorrow or the next day, we get some photos for you again.

What is Time?

The Chobe River, one of my favourite spots here on this bend,to sit and watch the sunset from my boat, always accompanied by Marty the Jack Russell. Although clouds have these stunning formations, how often have you turned back to look at them again, just minutes later, and they have changed? An obvious observation, no great scientific enlightenment in that one. But that is time, all changes with and in time. Nothing in the material universe will stay the same. And we are but material as well,our bodies. And thus we change through life.
I have been watching the progress of my grey haired beard more recently, since the last two years. It seems to be on a mission of catching up for lost time!
It strikes me as difficult to keep aspects of time in place. I know that I have just recently struggled to get understanding on why something which has happened, is gone, done..never actually leaves us. Even when we think that it will no longer bother us, the present has a way of bringing the past back to either remind us of something or to hit us with some unpleasant memory or association. And we don't seem to have immediate control over the effect this has on us.
Time. Along time ago, can still be right here with us now. Memories, recollections, whatever they are called, never leave us.
And we must remember that what we are doing NOW, will be there in our future as a a memory. Why I can even remember when my beard was definitely NOT grey!
I have been on some wonderful safari tours since my last posting, sorry for the abscence, but I do not yet have, nor will I have, internet connection in the bush whilst on safari.
Here are a few photos to remind us that even out there all we see today will not be the same tomorrow. I am often asked whether my tours don't become boring, I am covering the same areas time after time,year after year.
I have never answered "yes"to that, because it is always changing and always something is new or different. Again,Time.
What is that young baboon thinking as he sits there? What is he doing now? Just as we would, I hope he savoured that beautiful moment and has it stored in his memory as a happy, peaceful time. And the trees, Baines Baobabs, have been there for thousands of years, but without memory as we know it. Yet they stand and change with Time. And we, whoever visits there, stand for a time around them and think of the quiet solitude they have endured.
Well, it's time for bed, too. The longer I stay awake, the less timeI have to sleep; and it's time for me to go, and spend some time resting before it's time to get up. Time and again, Time enters into our thoughts consciously, many times in our conversations. It is always there, passing, making what is our lives. Making my beard grow more grey!
Enjoy your time here (reading my page), and then go on to enjoy it whereever you might be from this moment on.

Days of Learning

Beautiful coastline, Eastern Cape South Africa.

Giraffe and leopard in the Chobe National Park.

It was time to gather the force of my one sibling and share some time together! We had given this a bash two days ago, to find that she had come down with the worst flu you could wish for; and our visit together turned into an evening of medicine and remedies, no supper together and so on. So Saturday was sunny and seemed perfect. We managed a quick lunch together at a nice outdoor pub/restaurant, soaking up the warm sun..funny, how hot the sun is in winter when you sit in it with long sleeves or a sweater on!!

I am hoping today to catch up maybe on a bit more time together before I return to work in the Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve next week.

I had the pleasure of spending time also with new friends, young folk who I am getting to know and appreciate. Being a part of their world for this short time has also been eye-opening and a learning for me. One where I have enjoyed what I have done and learnt.

And amongst this, still time to be in touch with (old) friends and share experiences and plans together, to exchange thoughts and feelings with folk through some correspondence. And today, it's also time to make contact and catch up on the news with family I have not spoken to for far too many months.

So, Sunday it is..and a busy schedule ahead. Why, I even have some work to do too!!

Winter and it's toll

Full moon setting, Johannesburg, 07 July 2009. 0650
Sunset Johannesburg, 07 July 2009. 1850.

Hi! The subject line is a bit all-encompassing, but anyway. Suffice it to say I am only going to comment on its immediate effect on me and some close friends in the last week! Temperatures in Johannesburg region get pretty low in winter and for folk like us coming from the northern Botswana, mild climate, well..I never seem prepared for it. And I never get sick where I live - ok maybe a day now and again over a couple of years. I consider I have a system pretty well able to tackle anything the outdoors, dust, people, animals etc can throw at me. It seems to work. But not in Johannesburg. Man, someone had a cough and flu and I said don't worry it won't get to me. Yeah, right. Here I am sick and miserable. Nasty bugs they got here. They ain't friendly!There are another 3 around me going through various stages of being sick. No wonder the chemists and medical profession thrives so well down here!

No exscuses. I am going to post a photo I took of the moon in the early morning, and hope it looks as good as it did in real life.

One thing for someone like me who comes from such a small town with very few amenities, in a place like Johannesburg, Pretoria, or whichever city we might be in, we can look forward to a huge selection of good restaurants, bars and shops to entertain us! It's easy, for a while, to not get bored and to enjoy the lifestyle for a while. For a while. Then it's good to be able to get away from it again, not having to live in the bigger cities full-time. Even a break of a few days out, is good.

Friends, family, companions. They make the difference. They are always above material issues such as city life,work, stress, entertainment and so on. Relationships with people are above these things, and will always be more rewarding.

Thoughts of Today

This morning, before getting into any routine of work or whatever, I cast my eyes to the sky (something which I do at nights and early morning especially), and saw a beautiful full moon suspended above the horizon. As I was in Johannesburg (South Africa) a city with pollution and all those things which might spoil this type of scenery, I was especially happy to note that this moon held proud. Venus was there to accompany her and together they lit the western horison. The mornings, when they are like this, are quiet and poignant with the onset of the hustle and bustle which will consume our attention during the coming day. I am sure that even I forget that moon and the vista which I have seen in these early morning hours. Maybe I even lose some of the tranquility which they instil in me for the coming day..but I know I do not lose all of it.

When on safari, out in the wilderness, I am so priviledged to enjoy this time of day. Usually alone, not always (it is possible to have safari clients awake in the chilly dark winter mornings!), I use this time to draw an energy into me from that universe out there. Even if it is make-believe, I make it believe. It is a time when all around you can stand still while you think to yourself and feel for yourself.

This particular morning, I was very happy when a child, whom I saw early in the morning, made the first comment of the day..."Isn't the moon so beautiful? It shone through my window and straight onto my face when I woke up". Yes, I would have to agree that that is beautiful and for anyone to appreciate it, is also beautiful.

I have also spent time with a friend, sharing some quiet moments and thoughts, as we all do. But when you see a friend only occaisionally, you get to value that time together. Interraction and exchanges, this is what we are about, us humans. We have all said it - either to ourselves or to our friends- that we must make time to be, time to enjoy, time to savour the simple things, time to get away. How often to do we try and do all of this, but within the framework of a society or a social stigma which dictates what the "time away" and "enjoyment" shall be? Then we are just caught up again - back in the big cog, the rat race..not free.

If you haven't already got it, find yourself something small, but valuable, which can instil this feeling in you each time you need it. Then use it. It helps.

A day on the river, time out in some aspect of wilderness, anything like this which you have, cherish it. All these are things which you do for yourself. Because when you are better, stronger, less troubled and less complicated, then you are a better companion to your friends, partners and colleagues. We, by ourselves, alone, are not as whole as we can be, if we do not share our strengths with others.

Here's to tomorrow morning!

What do you do??

A beer on a Zambezi sunset cruise..is there anything better??

This picture was taken at Leopard Pan campsite in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. What a place!!

At sunset, on a clear day, or a partly cloudy day, are you stuck in an office, or in a building where you do not get the chance to see the setting sun? Let me show you a few..on my days at work, I capture the sunset. On my days not at work, I make an effort to get into my boat and go on the Chobe river to see the sunset. It revitalises the soul, clears the cobwebs of the day and gives you time to rejoice in the simplicity nature's bountiful grace.
Come on and join us!! It's worth it.

What weather

Sunset from my boat, off Sedudu Island, Chobe River, Kasane, Botswana

Boating on the Chobe? Here's the perfect sundowner plan...

Elephants enjoying a mud bath at Savuti, Chobe NationalPark

Marty, (Martini Hill), Jack Russell Springboksupporter. (Or is is just good against the cold?)

It seems strange to us here, since last month,that we should have such extreme weather occurring in our "dry" season, our winter. I was on safari with Tim and Jan Dang, out from the States on their honeymoon, when we experienced two solid days and nights of rain in Savuti. This rain was widespread and heavy - we had recorded 61mm in Savuti by the time we left and on arrival at Moremi Game Reserve the following day, found that they had received 91 millimetres. Unheard of for that month of the year!
And now, a really cold spell with winds at least a month to six weeks early.
I have visited Johannesburg as well, and there it is cold But that's normal for them..it's winter at a higher altitude and Jo'burg is always colder than I can ever be prepared for!
Marty-I would say the greatest Jack Russell boy in the world, but then there will be a million other Jack Russell owners who would vote theirs first (that's going to be one thing, if you got a Jack Russell, you will never have consensus of whose is the best!), well, Marty has his jackets for winter. Since the South African Springbok Rugby team has done honours and won the test series against the British and Irish Lions, there's a pic of Marty at the top of the page in his Springbok jersey.
You know,at the end of each day we reflect on many things..I believe that this is the time when we deserve the solitude, the peace, the tranquility..that moment alone when you can say to yourself what you want to; when you can wish for what you want; when you can come to terms with what will or might be; and when you can close the chapter of today and know that you, and only you, can do more, can be better, can be happier, can make more changes in your life, than what you had today.
Enoy it. Live it.

Welcome!!

Interested in camping safaris? Interested in seeing the Victoria Falls, wildlife and scenery in the Southern African Region? This is what I do.. I am priviledged to have a most wonderful 'office' in which to work, and to be accompanied on my safaris by some really interesting people,all keen on sharing the outdoors and nature. Over and above this, my hobbies and free time, allow me to enjoy time with friends, my domestic animals and the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers.

I will send through photos and news and invite you to check outmy website at www.ultimatebotswana.com