FreeSpirit : Cut of meat with or without flies

May 3^rd

Kobus wanted us in convoy today, much easier as none of the vans' sat navs work in Namibia. Getting lost was not a good idea! As some vans needed to be refuelled, the arrangement was to meet at the garage and set off from there. Near the garage was the butchers

Today's journey was hoped to be no longer than 3 hours with 210 km to the destination. Several checkpoints to stop at on the way, a search for contraband and guns, none of which we had and apart from the Kobus’s van being checked, the rest of us were then waved through.

We had hoped to see more wildlife, seeing as we were travelling through Bwabwata National Park, but no sign of an elephant or hyena apart from the road signs.

And the road was almost straight, how Ian stayed focused amazed me as km after km was eaten up with nothing to view apart from the odd settlement.

Then a bit of excitement, a motorhome in front from the back of Simon and Helen's van came a long way. It looked to be the power lead bouncing around on the tarmac. We watched as a piece came away from the plug. Oh dear, looked like the extension bit! Ian started flashing the lights to try and get them to stop but it took an overtaking car to finally get through to them.

Nearing our destination, we stopped again for diesel. Although we hadn’t used that much and only put in 28 litres, tomorrow is a very long drive, over 400km, and we have to be at the Chobe site by 11 am. But first to tonight's site. So very basic, one electric point to be shared by three vans and the rules of no airconditioning, hairdriers, toasters or electric kettles to be used. The whole site is run mainly on solar with a generator as a top-up if required. Oh, and the lights go out at 10 pm, even in the loos! But what a great place to stop. The owner couldn't do enough for you and even went to the trouble of cooking dinner for 12 of us, even though there wasn't a restaurant on site. I had Oryx for the first time ever, and yes, it was delicious.