The airstrip at Chitabe is just that - an airstrip in the middle of the delta. I'd say jungle, but it's not really jungle. It's a floodplain, with some permanent water, and some permanent dry land, but lots of sand, scrub, reeds and grasses, palm trees, and of course other tree stands, but nothing very jungl-y or forest-y. So as soon as we get here Paul wanders off to take photos. And he's nearly eaten by the pilot :-). She warns us to stay near the plane always as last month when she flew in there were 3 lions (lioness and cubs) on the airstrip! He saunters back. On the runway out of Maun, he was nearly decapitated by a propeller. Paul's middle name is danger :-)
So it's decided that we will take the long way home and game drive along the way. We have a custom Toyota land cruiser, which will take us places we've only imagined... Like under a tree next to a hyena, with a leopard above eating an impala. Like waist deep in flood water with the waters pouring into - and out of - the vehicle as we go along. Like into the middle of a huge herd of elephants.
(termite hill, huge and everywhere)
For the first 45 minutes or so we just drank it all in - the sights, sounds and smells (African sage!) of this new and idyllic place. Saw dwarf mongoose(s), iridescent starlings, a hornbill and a falcon or kestrel or some sort, little antelope, bigger impala, bigger still kudu. And then it got interesting!
Guide Gee got word over the radio that there was a leopard up a tree with a recent kill being watched by a hyena, so we headed there. Saw some cranes en route (tried Paul's patience with the crane stop, lol). Arrived at what will be known hence as the leopard tree. Wow. Female leopard in tree, just hanging there, sated from gorging on an impala kill, which carcass (head, sone skin and meat and front legs) we can also see hanging in the the tree. Down below, sleeping until something drops, is a spotted hyena. We move around a bit to see the leopard and kill from different angles. Paul shot a great video. Another hyena wanders by to check on the kill. Still nothing. Leaves his companion to keep watch.
We start to hear loud noises at 1 o'clock. Gee explains it's angry elephants. So we go to look for them, but find only one young bull snacking. Wow. We're in Africa. (I can hear elephants and hippos right now from my room tonight. There are elephants in camp, hanging out. Other guests had to be routed around them to their room!)
Finally arrive at camp and are greeted by Tutsie our butler, Virginia and Kate, camp manager. Camp orientation follows, and we're taken to our rooms. You always need to be guided after dark; no wandering. Wow.
Supper tonight was at a spot in the woods not too far from the main lodge, set up so we could enjoy the lunar eclipse and the African night sky. So many stars...and the southern cross! Shared the outstanding food (outstanding will be a recuring theme) with some other guests who were leaving the next day, and then were taken to bed around 10pm, absolutely worn out. Crawled into the most comfortable bed we've slept in in 3 weeks. Hot water bottles. They think of everything.
Early start to the day tomorrow @ 6pm. Can't wait. Really. Wow. We're in Africa.
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