More Linkwasha

This morning our group went on our walking safari. We walked about a mile and a half through the bush with our guide telling us about the tracks we saw and the plants and other things along the way. I was just hoping we would not have an upclose and personal visit with a snake, which thankfully, we did not. We did see several giraffes which was very neat. They were eating from the bushes and stood and watched us and we were far enough away to be safe and enjoy it. The guide took off the top of one of the huge termite mounds and showed us what they looked like inside and then gently replaced it and said they would repair it just fine. Those termite mounds were so big and there are so many of them. They were swarming with the first rains so they fixed them for a snack for us-I can't say any of us are going to go hunting for them in gourmet stores! We again saw leopard tracks...but no leopard. We saw several birds and a steenbok. It was very hot by the time we reached the end of the walk and we were very glad to see our vehicle and boy, did that Coke ever taste good! On the ride back to the camp, we saw more birds. Back at camp we enjoyed the animals coming to the watering hole-two warthogs with about 7 little warts between them. Then the baboons came swarming from all sides and played around. In the afternoon, a storm came up and it rained for about an hour and cooled things off so much. We have come to really appreciate these rainstorms. By the time teatime was over, we got on our ponchos and left on our evening drive. We did a get a great view of a rhino at the waterhole tonight. He walked right in front of us across the road to the water and stood there and drank for a wonderful photo op. We saw more wildebeast, steenbok, elephants, a couple more jackels and some more nocturnal birds before we returned to camp. We had our special dinner by the staff and this was the best yet. The food was wonderful and I really enjoyed it-beef, pork and chicken grilled over the grill and polenta, tomatoes-it was just really good.

The next morning we got one last chance to go on a game drive while the other group went on their walking tour. We saw a lot of things-hippos, steenbok, springbucks, wildebeast, rhino, zebra, cape buffalo and 4 bat earred fox. We saw 4 female lions up close, a red heartebeast and several new birds, a tortoise and a turtle. It was a fun morning and we enjoyed the warthogs and baboons again at the waterhole back at camp. After lunch, the first two planes took off which included Ntando and the 5 inner circle members of OAT (having taken at least 3 trips with them). That was a nice perk as we got to Victoria Falls two hours earlier than the others and also the weather was very clear at that time with the showers usually coming later in the afternoon. So I was relieved to go ahead and get the flight over with. There were 3 of us and the pilot in the 5 passenger plane. I definitely do not like the small planes but the only time I was really concerned was when the pilot was eating his lunch right after we got up and opened up the food and all....both hands on that wheel, fellow! Jim got to sit in the co-pilots seat on this one. We made it and that was the last of the small plane flights! Thank you for all those praying for me! I truly appreciated it. We got to Victoria Falls to our lodge and we got the nicest room! It is huge and so pretty and up on the 3rd floor so we can see the falls mist from our room. It was so nice to be back to air conditioning and an upscale bathroom and shower! The laundry was included at this hotel too so we gladly sent some things so we'd have enough to make it back to Johannesburg where we left our big suitcase for the flight home. We went to the market which is just behind the hotel. People here are having trouble getting basic things -they are just not available so they were wanting to trade for socks and shoes and shirts,etc. Before we left, we got some things together and went back and did that as we knew they needed things. They have tourist police which sort of escort you if you go up to the regular stores so people don't harass you with things. But going to the market, we were fair game. Their carving and things were beautiful though and they are very talented. We came back to the hotel and had a wonderful group meal outside on the terrace and enjoyed the flowers and the view.