OUR LAST MORNING IN LUXURY
We were being escorted back to our room last night when the employee escorting us heard a hippo bellowing very close to the restaurant. She used her flashlight to find it - very close - and we admired it while he/she munched on the grass. A great sighting to see one out of the water as people usually only see their heads.
We were awakened at 5:30 and after breakfast, set out on our birding walk along the boardwalk with Glen and G in attendance. We managed to get caught up with Glen in our sightings here as he had birdied on his own our first day here. Added a number of new birds to our list and had good looks at all of them.
By 9:15 we were back in our room which we can keep until lunch time so I've had time to update this blog and now it's time for a final plunge in the pool and another outdoor shower. Our plane leaves around two and it is a 40-minute drive to the airstrip. We are sad to leave this wonderful place but on to the next. It is only a half-hour flight away from here.
We met for lunch at 11:15 and before we knew it, it was time to leave - in fact, we were a little late so were told by G - NO STOPPING. We sped off as best we could given the condition of the roads and soon we just had to stop as a pack of four rare wild dogs crossed the road in front of us. There are only about 3,000 left in Africa. Glen said that he was going to suggest that Rockjumper offer a subsidiary company called: Munson & Kingsbury Mammal Tours - sightings guaranteed. We also saw a very young baby elephant with its group. We just made it to the airstrip in time - the plane landed, two people got off, we got on, and we took off. The pilot didn't even turn off the engine. On the way we saw the smoke from the controlled burns which are done to prevent wildfires from spreading in the 50 plus degree temperatures experienced here in their summers. Norma and Glen spotted herds of elephants from the plane but I fell asleep and missed them.
We arrived in Duma Tau Camp where we were met with cold towels and a refreshing drink. We welcomed them as it is extremely hot here - the hottest temperatures yet - plus 40 degrees Celsius. Duma Tau is situated in the 125,000 hectare private Linyanti Concession which borders Chobe National Park's western boundary. It is on the Linyanti River system and has many diverse habitats so it is rich in wildlife. Our camp is on a lagoon which has water throughout the year.
After a brief orientation, we were shown to our rooms - that's right - rooms. We were given the family enclosure so we each have our own room joined by a deck. Very nice. Not the luxury we had become accustomed to but very spacious and clean. It does have the most beautiful copper sinks in our bathrooms. Fortunately, they have provided us each with a kikoi - the African air conditioner - to keep us cool. I am wrapped in it now, sitting on my bed, watching two huge partly submerged elephants in the lagoon in front of my tent. Does life get any more special?
Because we have a private vehicle, we can set our own times for going on game drives. The group ones leave at 4:00 when it is still unbearably hot and wildlife and birds are hunkered down. We have opted to go between 5:00 and 5:30 when it starts to cool off. Another reason to have a private vehicle is that depending on the direction the driver takes, you could be sitting in the hot sun for hours. We just move from one side of the vehicle to another. There are three rows in each vehicle so we each have the choice of sitting either on the left, the right, or in the centre. Perfect.
We were being escorted back to our room last night when the employee escorting us heard a hippo bellowing very close to the restaurant. She used her flashlight to find it - very close - and we admired it while he/she munched on the grass. A great sighting to see one out of the water as people usually only see their heads.
We were awakened at 5:30 and after breakfast, set out on our birding walk along the boardwalk with Glen and G in attendance. We managed to get caught up with Glen in our sightings here as he had birdied on his own our first day here. Added a number of new birds to our list and had good looks at all of them.
By 9:15 we were back in our room which we can keep until lunch time so I've had time to update this blog and now it's time for a final plunge in the pool and another outdoor shower. Our plane leaves around two and it is a 40-minute drive to the airstrip. We are sad to leave this wonderful place but on to the next. It is only a half-hour flight away from here.
We met for lunch at 11:15 and before we knew it, it was time to leave - in fact, we were a little late so were told by G - NO STOPPING. We sped off as best we could given the condition of the roads and soon we just had to stop as a pack of four rare wild dogs crossed the road in front of us. There are only about 3,000 left in Africa. Glen said that he was going to suggest that Rockjumper offer a subsidiary company called: Munson & Kingsbury Mammal Tours - sightings guaranteed. We also saw a very young baby elephant with its group. We just made it to the airstrip in time - the plane landed, two people got off, we got on, and we took off. The pilot didn't even turn off the engine. On the way we saw the smoke from the controlled burns which are done to prevent wildfires from spreading in the 50 plus degree temperatures experienced here in their summers. Norma and Glen spotted herds of elephants from the plane but I fell asleep and missed them.
We arrived in Duma Tau Camp where we were met with cold towels and a refreshing drink. We welcomed them as it is extremely hot here - the hottest temperatures yet - plus 40 degrees Celsius. Duma Tau is situated in the 125,000 hectare private Linyanti Concession which borders Chobe National Park's western boundary. It is on the Linyanti River system and has many diverse habitats so it is rich in wildlife. Our camp is on a lagoon which has water throughout the year.
After a brief orientation, we were shown to our rooms - that's right - rooms. We were given the family enclosure so we each have our own room joined by a deck. Very nice. Not the luxury we had become accustomed to but very spacious and clean. It does have the most beautiful copper sinks in our bathrooms. Fortunately, they have provided us each with a kikoi - the African air conditioner - to keep us cool. I am wrapped in it now, sitting on my bed, watching two huge partly submerged elephants in the lagoon in front of my tent. Does life get any more special?
Because we have a private vehicle, we can set our own times for going on game drives. The group ones leave at 4:00 when it is still unbearably hot and wildlife and birds are hunkered down. We have opted to go between 5:00 and 5:30 when it starts to cool off. Another reason to have a private vehicle is that depending on the direction the driver takes, you could be sitting in the hot sun for hours. We just move from one side of the vehicle to another. There are three rows in each vehicle so we each have the choice of sitting either on the left, the right, or in the centre. Perfect.
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