Most of today was spent in the air and in various airports, standing in lines and listening to the rhythmic stamping of visas on passports. We got up at 7 AM, had a fantastic buffet topped off by a delicious cappuccino, and left for Johannesburg International Airport at 8:30 AM for an 11:25 AM flight to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Before we departed, the flight attendants went through the cabin spraying some sickening insect repellent that made everyone retch. I felt like we were all ingesting Off! (which, by the way, is called DOOM! in Africa - more accurate and more descriptive in my opinion).
Things were going pretty smoothly until we reached Immigration in Zimbabwe, where everything ground to a halt. We needed to get double-entry visas since we were going in through Zimbabwe to get to Botswana, then later entering again for our stay in Victoria Falls. Cost of the double-entry visa was $45. A couple of our guys actually timed the entire process, and it turned out it was over 2 hours! While the entire plane load of passengers was enduring the pain of waiting with us, I met several Australians who lived in and near Brisbane. We struck up a conversation and I told them I used to teach in Clifton, Queensland from 1975-1977. One of the men told me he was from Allora - one of the "high-top" high schools (grades 9-10) where I used to teach physical education on Monday afternoons! We figured out that I may have taught his older brother - talk about a small world!
Outside the airport, just before we departed by van for Botswana, there were several native dancers who entertained us while we waited for the rest of the group to get through immigration and customs. They had phenomenal voices and athletic dance moves.
Me and my entourage.
On our 3-hour drive to Baobab Safari Lodge, Vitalis (our guide) reviewed the orientation information, the rules of the camp (the most important rule: no walking in the wild after dark without an escort from one of the staff members - including going back and forth to your tent).
Rules and regulations for entering Botswana.
We each had to clean the bottom of our shoes in this chemical to rid us of any traces of foot and mouth disease that we might be carrying into the country.
Yeah, right...
As always, incredible food and drink and the kindest, most delightful people you could ever meet. We liked the wine prices and the amount poured here much better than in Pafuri Camp. Fully-filled glasses of red wine were only $3.00! The tents here were not as elaborate as the ones at Pafuri Camp. As you can see from the photos, they were more rustic, simpler and basic, but the showers were awesome - just what you needed after being out in the sand every day. And the best feature was by far the hot water bottle under the covers. We would unfold the turned-back corner and make sure to tuck in the sheets, covers and quilts to seal in the heat so that we went to bed it would be like being in a toaster oven. The second night I was so hot I was sleeping in a T-shirt and shorts even though it was pretty cold outside.
Kelly and me in front of the Baobab Lodge entrance.
Our tent.
Luxurious beds once again.
The view from our front porch.
During orientation, we were told to collect all our snacks, including gum, and put them into a zip-lock bag in the refrigerator in the main lodge to prevent the tree (AKA) ground squirrel from chewing through our luggage to get to the snacks. Apparently once they get a whiff that there might be junk food nearby, there's no stopping them.
Absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the photo of you and your entourage! Faboo!
ReplyDeleteThey were great guys and phenomenal dancers. Last time I kicked that high, I pulled a major muscle:)
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