Wild dogs...yes!

 

8^th May

Braai day, and today we feed the multitude. It is also a travelling day to get back to Nata again. Predicted travel time, 5 hours, and we also have one checkpoint to go through, so the meat has to be hidden. Luckily for us, Kobus has a big freezer box, and he offered to store our meat for the braai and ours too, so we can officially declare we have no meat in the fridge. With the prep for tonight’s feast in mind, George and Maureen, Jill and George and we set off a tad after 6.30 am. First stop for diesel, then head off in the direction of Francistown. Leaving the site we encountared 2 strays having a field day on a raided bin.

Wow, the road was full of stationary lorries in the opposite direction. It went on for miles! Goodness knows why. Many a time we had to get off the road just because another vehicle was approaching, but so glad it was not us that had to queue!

 

Is he waiting for a gap?

After about 2 hours, we stopped for a drink in a layby and got hemmed in by a lorry coming the opposite way. He stopped, got out, and just walked away.  Luckily, Ian had enough space to reverse, so we and our fellow motor homers could get out. 

 And not 10 minutes' drive later, we came across a pack of wild dogs. Wow, they are rare to be seen at the best of times, so how lucky were we!

 j

Just before the checkpoint, elephants were spotted. One was most definitely in musk, at its most dangerous, needless to say, we didn’t linger!

One big boy!

 The checkpoint went smoothly. Only George and Maureen’s fridge was checked. I engaged in conversation with the lady Police officer who was feeling very sorry for herself as she had the flu. Panadol and water were offered, which she readily accepted. Needless to say, neither Jills or our fridge was looked at. 

The last 60km of road works were in progress. God, I hate these roads!!!

How close????

Driving on the wrong side had a better road surface.

Oops got the turn wrong

Health and safety non-existent!

 After 5 hours, we pulled across the newly laid gravel road to enter Nata Lodge

 No sooner had we arrived than the braai food was prepared. Ian and George peeling a mountain of sweet potatoes, me on sweetcorn, trying to cut the sweetcorn kernels into three (impossible without a sharp knife!) Jill on kababs, Maureen on peppers and onions, and Andy on butternut squash. By 4 pm, the fire was lit, coals set alight on the braai half drum and pans placed on the open flame and cooking started. The group started to arrive in dribs and drabs, and by 7 pm, we had fed the lot! It was a raging success.

Man make fire!