Giraffes Rule OK! Chobe River Runs

Wow..just you wait..here comes something you did not expect. I have been on a few safaris recently (? of course) and many many times have I been along the Chobe River section of the Chobe National Park. In this month, with our guests, we have seen more giraffes than I have ever encountered along this stretch of the Park.
Giraffes? They have always been there. Yes of course. But in such numbers that when you drive from the entrance at Sedudu Gate, once you start to encounter them, you do not stop seeing more and more.
"There's a giraffe", goes the shout in the vehicle. But oh no, each time we stopped or drove slowly past, we counted 3 then 5 then 7 and more - up to 14 a time. I honestly reckon that we saw from 240 individuals upwards.
The buffaloes were also getting into full swing - herds and herds and herds. Many scattered individual and small groups, marvelous bulls and plenty of young calves.
Amongst all this 'big' game, we cannot forget that one of the most impervious, dominating and influential characters along the river-front, is the Impala. They never cease..to be there, to glow, to shine and prance, to jump in their magnificent display - high prancing and happy!Survivors and one of our most attractive symbols in the region. So too the Kudu - wow, are they doing well along this section of the Park! Wesaw so many young, so many females in herds and some wonderful mature bulls.
Then there are the elephants. They will never cease to be there and to entertain us. And to teach us. I have a story which I will tell later..about the most fantastic "whispering" experience one could have with these wonderful creatures. I am going to wait for the comments on my Facebook page, my own writings there and those of the people who shared that experience with me.
Believe me..I don't care who is the 'expert' on this..that expert and I have more than something in common then. I believe in what I know and have experienced and that particular encounter merely cemented what is fact and what I have learnt from past experience.
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When we give our hearts, our mind and our feelings to nature and are prepared to share that with nature, we are the ones who learn something new. We are NEVER learned.
Hoping to hear your views and experiences too....

March travels

Between mid-March and mid-April, I traveled with some wonderful people. We were on safari, at first in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve of Botswana and then in the Sankuyo Community area of Santawani, which borders on the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta region.
We spent two weeks in the Kalahari, transversing the central and northern area - a group of five adults and 3 young children. All five of us learnt a lot from the three! They were amazing - captivated, interested, studious, full of fun and laughter and games amongst all the nature and wild animals around them. Genuinely a pleasure to share the time with. I think back fondly to the marvelous safari we had with Bill and Susan Oliver in this place, and wonder at how the Kalahari keeps on delivering the same peace and rewarding experiences to all whom I take there.
Two of my guests were from Belgium. They had traveled with us on a tour during October last year and wished to come back to the Kalahari - and did not waste any time about it either. What lovely, pleasant and happy people.
I am blessed with being able to share my times pout in the bush with such folk. I can barely recall guests who have been with me who have not been a pleasure to share the experiences with.
Marti, my dearest little friend and side-kick, waited patiently in Kasane for some time, but was spoilt enough to be on Ntwala Island at the lodge (Ntwala Lodge, with Kiddy for just over two weeks of this time. He does real well as the lodge dog and mascot! Loves 'meet and greet" and going out to the jetty when the guests arrive or leave. He is unobtrusive in between and very polite! His stay was earned by hunting rats - one of his absolute favourite past-times! Now he has his dad back with him (which is where I belong, of course!), he is happily sprawled on the couch(es), chairs, bed..all his normal spots. His toy collection is well looked after - he still has several of his tennis balls intact (one from August last year in Kenton)and he is a joy to have with us.
Here are a few pics...I have not had much chance to get out on the Chobe and Zambezi rivers yet and must do so - the rivers are at the fullest now and offer a spectacular day's outing. But work looms - safaris starting in 2 weeks' time and a busy June and July ahead, as well as August, September and October. Great! I love my work.

Phew 2 months...

You would swear that nothing can keep you from what you have to do and what you know you should do. But that's a lie. 'Cos most of us succumb to that, don't we?(I say this. And I say as well.." I hope..") because I have no exscuses for the times when I didn't do what I should or could have.
That said, how have you been? I have spent two months of this year doing and feeling some of the most amazingly sad and deep, happy and shallow, feelings that I would ever think I should. But I have opened myself to the fact that if I cannot go throught this, then what the heck am I even trying to be. I cannot say that I have the answer for myself, but I can say that I know myself and understand myself a lot - a LOT - more than I have done for a long, long time.
Look at the few pictures I have posted again. I have got some of the most wonderful pictures from the time I spent in the Kalahari with Izaak, Rene, Annekarien and Bianca during December 2010. Stunning stuff. You will not believe unless (or until) you have been there yourself. Then there is Marti - a most faithful,loving dog - but not just that. He is and will be, an inspiration of happiness and simplicity to me - never wake up that you are not happy or ready to smile, and give a kiss and a hug to whom you are with (OK OK! there are exclusions!!:)) and make life a game, never want to argue or fight, just enjoy and live responsibly.
If you have not spent some time in the last 2 months alone, if you have not sat and watched the sunset or the sunrise, again alone within yourself, if you have not sat quietly on a river (or at the sea) and seen the peace around you - and let it include you - and if you haven't found something like this in your week for yourself, where you are, then do it. It is worth the time, believe me.
Sayings like "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" are cliches. There is no substitute - EVER - for what you know and believe in yourself. And most of the time you are right. And if you are wrong, you have the knowledge, inside of you, that you are right to say "I am wrong".

Christmas 2010

Sheesh! I nearly forgot! May I use this platform to wish you ALL a very happy Christmas; a time for you to enjoy and relax, to share with friends and family..(believe it,I am on safari now!). It's one week until the new year, and I will only be able to be online again after that..I will be in Savuti and Moremi during this time. Together with friends, rain and mud (I am sure) and a load of good wildlife for entertainment!
HAPPY XMAS AND A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR

Central Kalahari Reserve Dec '10

You are going to eat your heart out, I hope! You just gotta be here...and for those of you have been 'here',you will know what I am saying.. I have just spent 5 amazing days with Rene & Annekarien and their friends Izaak and Bianca, in the Deception Valley area of the Central Kalahari Reserve, Botswana. My FAVourite! Green season (rains) has just started and you could not wish for better settings for great game viewing and absolutely GREAT open space and quiet.
I can't say that we beat the times that Susan and Bill (Oliver) spent there with us a couple of years back..but it was very good. In all,45 lions were seen - some of them chose to be not more than 25 metres from our camp site,3 times. They gave us the most amazing shows..because we took the time to stay with them and watch.
We saw cheetah, lazing and hunting! Young Springbok literally being born and unable yet to take their first steps..waiting with them while they mastered this. And one experience of such a young little lamb having to fight for its life (being hunted by cheetah) within the first hour of entering this world. An astounding interraction to be part of.
NO photos yet! I have not had time to upload them today...
There is a safari leaving mid March to the Kalahari again..come on, join me!! And if the dates don't suit you,let me know what does.
This is real rejuvenation of the spirit and mind.

One more sunset...

After 2 months near to the junction of the Zambezi river and the Kasai Channel, as well as being mere metres from the Mambova Rapids, I can tell you that I have only fished 3 times. Someone recently said to me: 'That's pretty bad management'. Well,the times out were great. Everyone I know who has been fishing there for (maximum) 5 days during the last two months that I have been there, has caught fish! And lots. And some very nice big Tigers. Well, I am happy to go out and simply enjoy yet another sunset, a peaceful and tranquil time of course. Since I can't remember when,I have drawn an energy from that time of day..as it draws to close and all settles down to wait the coming of the new dawn.

Marti is happy as long as he accompanies me. Fact. He loves watching the lure hanging in the air just before casting, following its flight out over the water..and then waiting to see where it will pop up again. He has learnt to touch and smell live fish, before they are put back in the water to live another day. He has certainly learnt that as much as that cool water looks sooo inviting, you don't go near it. Not if you are a little dog..crocodiles rule that space.

Coming up soon... Kenton on Sea..renovation time! Bye!