Botswana to Namibia

Well, Zambia ushered us out with a big ol' flood. It started raining our last day there, and didn't really stop until more than 24 hrs later and only for a few hours of a break. We were all wet, our tents were wet, many had actually flooded that last night. I got away with only half my tent being wet. I now have my own tent, because my tent part had left at the end of the last segment, which has allowed me a little extra room to spread things out. Quite a luxury indeed. We entered Botswana and learned a very valuable lesson, that Zamibian dollars are not wanted anywhere else but in Zambia, and even there you can pay with American Dollars. While we are on the subject, two very big money hints for those heading this way: #1 the American Dollar is king, it might not be the strongest currency in the world, but it is accepted in almost all the countries and is easily changed, something I keep reminding my fellow travellers since they are always lovingly taking jabs at America through me, though I have been told that I am very nice for an American. Unfortunately bad American tourists make a strong impact with people, but luckily I have found some bad ones from other countries, though I think we do kind of corner the market on that. #2 money hint, bring a visa atm card. Mastercard, and pray tell, anything else like american express, etc, will only bring you frustration and despair. Finally, now that I am in Namibia, I am able to use it. I have otherwise been up a creek without a paddle for most of the way. Luckily, and this brings up #3, although really it could be #1b, bring lots of american dollars and not just $100's, oh, there it is, that's an official #3, bring multiple denominations of american dollars, because many time $100 is far too much. Ok, enough advice. Onto Botswana. Like I said, we had a fair amount of rain, which in a truck (we are not allowed to call our form of transpo a bus, because our leaders do not want to be "bus drivers" and it is a converted cement truck. By the way, there is a good chance I have already told you this, but I am too lazy to read what I have already wrote, but I digress. Because this truck is over 20 years old and has travelled over a million kilometers, it has a few flaws, one is that with strong rain, we start to take on water, not too bad, but given the wrong choice of seats, you make get dripped upon or there may be a mini flood at your feet. I have discovered that wearing sandals and keeping things off the floor are good things to do and in a pinch, a pringles can is a good means of trapping the water before it drops on your head. It's all about adapting. So anyways, we entered Botswana, set up camp and the next day headed out for a safari in Chobe national park. Now, after hitting many safaris, one gets a little particular, and if you are not seeing elephants and giraffes on the roadside, you are a little disappointed. We did manage a few hippos, but overall, we missed out a little. Later on a boat safari, where we had to carry our passports because we drifted over the border into namibia, we did manage to see a big herd of elephants on the side, two of which were chasing each other and making quite a bit of noise. The next day was even more exciting, when we were heading out on the main road, we saw a pack of large hyenas we were gnawing on a baby elephant right on the side of the road. It was actually quite amazing (unless you were the elephant), because hyenas are not really day creatures and to see so many was spectacular. Later that night, I upgraded a little, since it was raining and stayed in a bush hut, which had walls only half way up, a couple of twin beds and a bathroom which was, well let me say, I was quite exposed when taking a shower or reading the paper if you know what I mean. It's always a freeing experience to be one with nature, though I must say, the spiders that I saw at night were a little unnerving. Next we moved into the Okavango Delta, where we were met by mokuro canoes which are low lying flat bottom canoes. Each canoe had two passengers and one poler who in the style of Venice pushed you through the shallow water that was covered with lily pads and papyrus. It was truly beautiful especially that a day earlier we were not sure we were even going to make it here after all the rains. The road can become so flooded that you can't get in or out of this area. The road in was a dirt road of over 100 kilometers with hundreds of small villages along the way. The next few days and up til now we have been blessed with beautiful sunny skies. Got to head out in a second, but really appreciated the serenity of the island we stayed on. It was just us and the staff and a nice bar with some darts. Drinking beer has been a daily chore for me. It's not easy but someone has to do it. Right now we are in Namibia and heading out to hang with the bushman who will be teaching us about tracking and snares. It's a basic camp with toilets that we will dig ourselves. What am I going to do without beer? By the way, tried posting pics, but far too tedious. Will attach some when I get home. Love to all.