The document summarizes a group's holiday trip to Botswana in 2008. It describes their journey from South Africa to Maun and then to Okuti Camp in Moremi Game Reserve. While at the camp, they went on daily game drives and boat rides. They encountered many wild animals around the camp, including elephants, hippos, and lions. They saw over 50 new bird species. It was Les's birthday during the trip and they had a celebration. At the end of the trip, they returned home safely after experiencing Africa's unique wildlife.

1. Holiday in Botswana 2008 Part 1 The Journey

2. We set out from Port Alfred on 23 th April 2008. After a few days in Jhb, a night in Maun, 6 nights in Okuti Lodge, we came back to Jhb for another night. We returned to Port Alfred on 5 May. The 7 strong Okuti Safari team was made up of: * Floss and John Howden (Floss is Les’s sister.) * Genny Wragge and her son Frank and sister, Karen (Genny and Floss went to school together) * Les and Billy NB We all contributed to the photos (either taking or posing)

4. Destination Okuti in Moremi Game Reserve Okuti Camp is next door to Xakanaka

5. From PE to JHB We caught a plane to Jhb after having lunch with Sean in Port Elizabeth

6. The new harbour at Ngura (Koega) just outside Port Elizabeth is massive

7. Bad photo of our Air Botswana plane that was 3 hours late. Reason? Two planes were needed to complete their flight commitments around the country and only one was available – the other had technical problems. So we started out with misgivings . . . !

8. Bored and irritated passengers! Give us a smile!!!

9. Moremi Game Reserve

10. Coming in to land at Moremi game reserve

11. Here at last! These 2 planes transported us from Maun to Moremi

12. Part 2 Okuti Camp Holiday in Botswana 2008

13. Okuti camp A lodge in the Moremi Game Reserve in north Botswana Capacity - 18 guests It is made up of several ‘tents’ linked by wooden walkways. The tents are made from metal arches, covered in canvas. Inside - mostly reeds, separated from the canvas by insulation material. The tents overlook the river. The camp is not fenced – animals do visit The tents are vast caverns – cool (cold) at night & warm (hot) during the day.

14. The front of the tent bungalows

15. The walkway linking the tents This is elephant poo!

16. The Entrance hall

17. The Bird hide – also used for special romantic meals

18. Entertainment deck for communal sitting and relaxing

19. The pool – for cooling off and water aerobics

20. Communal dining area

21. The ‘Tent’ Front door Balcony nKGWE eBO kWEBU Turd – elephant or hippo?

22. Inside the Tent NB Mosquito nets

23. Inside the Tent Afternoon sun streaming in

24. Optional outside shower attached to each dwelling Also one inside

25. Holiday in Botswana 2008 Part 3 Routines in Okuti Camp

26. Daily schedule 6.00 am - Wake up call/ morning tea 6.30 am - Breakfast 7.00 – 10.30 am – Game drive * 11.30 am – Lunch 12.30 – 3.00 pm Siesta ( Not optional) 3.30 - 6.00 pm - Game drive * 7.30 pm - pre-diner drinks 8.00 pm - Supper * or river cruise

27. MEALS Help yourself breakfast and lunch Choose your Supper Meat or vegetarian?

28. Relaxing before and after supper around the fire

29. Botswana 2008 Part 4 Camp visitors

30. The camp had no external fence. In a game reserve it would be reasonable to assume that animals would visit the camp – they did! We were told that when returning to our tents after dark we should ask a game guard to accompany us – just in case. It was difficult to take this advice seriously, but after the first night we realized that it was entirely appropriate.

31. Night one wake up call Heard elephant and hippo grazing just in front of the tent – 2 - 3 metres away. Floss and John had an elephant grazing leaves off the tree on their verandah. Another visitor had an elephant bashing the railing on the verandah with its trunk. The camp manager asked if any one had heard lion wandering around the camp .

32. There’s something in the bush - but what???

33. Visit from a bushbuck in the middle of the day

34. Back scratching In the middle of the night, a hippo decided to go on a walk-about. The walkway was in his way, so he flexed is back muscles. The result…. A very loud noise and a broken walkway!

35. Gat in die pad! Another outcome …. A conversation piece!

36. One evening we returned from an afternoon drive to find an elephant next to the parking area.

37. It moved off and . ..

38. Some of us went to get a closer look but without success

39. Floss was a little anxious and sprinted up to the walkway to tell the camp manager. He soon ushered us back to the pub where, as usual, Molly was waiting to serve us drinks.

40. Part 5 The Animals Holiday in Botswana 2008

41. Variety We saw many different animals. Because the water level was relatively high, they were not that easy to find. Our Check list Elephant Hippo Crocodiles Snakes Leguan Buffalo Lion Impala Water Buck Zebra Letchwe Hyena

42. Elephant Plenty

43. Herd

44. Elephant crossing

45. Mommy and Junior

46. Get off my road!

47. Giraffe - toiletries

48. Zebra

49. Buffalo Herd of about 200 Provided a steady diet for Lions

50. Buffs grazing the long grass

51. Hippo Big, noisy, strange toilet habits

52. Hippos in the background toilet tree on the right

53. At the hippo pool

54. eBushbuck ‘Sorry Darling, I have a headache’

55. Impala It was the start of the rutting season. So we saw females and youngsters, with single rams in charge. Also lots of rams butting heads!

56. Impala ram

57. His hareem

58. Young impala

59. What can you hear?

60. Baboons

61. Lion We were fortunate to see several lion Individually and in packs, lolling around and on the move.

62. Sharing a Lion

63. Sniffing around ‘I know she is here some where’ Ah, there she is!

64. Lyin’ in the long grass

65. Found her

66. Checking out the vehicle

67. Lying around

68. Cubs having fun

69. Keeping an eye on the stolen leopard kill in the bush on her left. She eventually decided that it needed much closer attendence

70. Billy’s Lion pic John’s Lion pic

71. How do you handle a lion if it is so close?

72. Gently!

73. Holiday in Botswana 2008 Part 6 The Birds

74. Birds at Okuti Birds formed an increasing part of the Okuti experience. James, the guide had such excellent eyes, and was so knowledgeable that one couldn’t help but get interested. Les and Billy added 50 new birds to their bird list (i.e. never seen before in their birding career) Photos are limited – we didn’t have the right equipment but this will give you some idea.

75. Crake strolling around looking for crumbs

76. European roller Fish eagle Little bee eater

77. Sacred Ibis

78. The star of the show – the illusive Pels fishing owl

79. Grey hooded Kingfisher

80. Saddlebill stork

81. Some of the new birds seen (with thanks to various photographers on the internet)

82. Which is the flying Chillipepper and which is the flying Banana?

85. Holiday in Botswana 2008 PART 7: Other Interesting moments

86. The River Game drive or river cruise – those were the options. We went on one river cruise and a spent a few hours on the mokoras. It wasn’t a journey to see things, but rather to experience the tranquility of travelling in Africa without any bumps! And the sunsets! Fantastic!

87. African version of a gondolier – the mokora poler

88. Exploring channels in Makoras

89. Some of the team Genny, Billy, Karen, James, Frank, Les

90. Going. . .

91. Going. . .

92. Gone

93. Les’s Birthday Les managed to get her birthday to coincide with our visit. This produced many surprises!

94. Les’s Birthday cake

97. Party on Les’s birthday

98. Enthusiastic Song and Dance entertainment from the staff

99. Sundowners usually at about 5.30. we stopped for snacks and drinks, where ever we were

100. On Les’s birthday we had champagne

101. Frank was the official champagne opener and distributor

102. Toasting the birthday girl

103. Sundowners at the hippo pool

104. James stuck to ginger ale

105. Hippos wallowing

106. Hippo pool

107. Sun on its journey home

108. Going . . .

109. Going . ..

110. Going . . .

111. Holiday in Botswana 2008 Part 8 The Journey home

112. Final team photo Karen, Genny, John, Floss, Les James, Billy, Frank

113. Saying cheers to James, a gentleman with incredible knowledge ! He said ‘I am going to miss your group.’ Was that a compliment?

114. Views of the countryside

120. Maun landing strip

121. Robbie being persuaded to pose

122. All smiles after an excellent holiday

123. How do you handle a lion if it is so close?

124. Gently!

125. Nearly home and then a half hour hold up at Kenton

126. Arrived home safely and please to have enjoyed a unique African experience