Green Season in Botswana - CATS, CATS & Wild Dogs

[Game Warden]

Worry not, no point in discussing, I believe all is resolved.

[graceland]

JohnR - YOU are so right; glad there are" pros here"...I uploaded to My Gallery thinking once I posted them in my TR; it did not matter that the images remained or not (so I deleted a few) I was trying not to fill up ST with too many images -don't ask me why; i just thought it polite to do so)

 

SO, when I deleted in My Gallery - my images in TR were also deleted. However, there were missing ones that were still in MY GALLERY when I edited.....any ideas on that one? I can be corrupt myself (if pressed into it )-- so somehow I managed to corupt images....that remained in My Gallery.

 

Not really understanding why I lost some images that remain in MY GALLERY, but defintely understand the few I did delete. Thanks for stepping in with the explanation..

 

Even though I still am confused. But you know as long as I can re-post them ~ understanding is relative. It's just a story.

Edited January 2, 2013 by graceland

[graceland]

Worry not, no point in discussing, I believe all is resolved.

 

I like your positive thinking GW, however, I am not finished yet.....so be on watch!

[Game Warden]

Right here if needed.

[graceland]

With Little Kwara, Chitabe and Duma Tau behind us, the realization that we've only a few more nights in Botswana is starting to sinking in....

 

How can we add more nights? How do we change our plans?... Where is Erica so she can arrange this???

 

Anxiety sets in; I am not ready to leave...& neither is GL.....

 

 

But Vumbura Plains is ahead -

and

 

The Best Is Yet To Come!

 

Room With A View

 

Edited January 2, 2013 by graceland

[johnkok]

What a build up! VP - the grand finale - says he with bated breath

Edited January 3, 2013 by johnkok

[Game Warden]

All done, all pics reinserted?

[graceland]

JohnK, thank you for following along with me...Out of the 3 Africa trips we have taken - South Africa (Sabi/Kruger) - Kenya and now Botswana, I never thought ANYTHING would surpass our amazing Kenya trip (by way of Alex Walker's Serian(7 n) and a great camp in N, Kenya, Ol Malo -

However, we were blown away by the game; the wilderness; the vast changes in landscape and loved the guiding -with one little hiccup in the beginning. I'd go back tomorrow. Not having more than a vehicle or two in sight for days was just amazing. Spending all the time doing what you wanted and not being ruled by "rules" was another..(of course there are rules; but not like in the Mara!)

 

And thanks to the knowledge of our event maker, Erica Wilson of Safari Specialists, she arranged the camps to end with a WOW.

(Had to throw in a thank you to her...awesome talent)

 

I am leaving for a few days (well 10) but hope I can get back on here soon with the FINAL (it did take forever didn't it? ) installments. We have some videos but I will have to figure that out later; had enough probs with images!

 

Hope the pics are still intact.....whew. That was a job; and thanks to GW and Twaffle I could go back and edit those I lost.

[graceland]

All done, all pics reinserted?

 

YES dear GW...thank you!! I saw one blue image left, but i think it was a quote "back to me"...so ~~ I am on to the next installments. Thank you again for all your help, along with Twaffle. Amarula shots on me....

[twaffle]

Did someone say "Amarula"?????

[SafariChick]

Did someone say "Amarula"?????

 

yummmm yes, please! By the way, is that popular all over Africa? It was very popular when I was in South Africa ... if I request it for sundowners in Botswana, will that be a common request?

[A&M]

Did someone say "Amarula"?????

 

yummmm yes, please! By the way, is that popular all over Africa? It was very popular when I was in South Africa ... if I request it for sundowners in Botswana, will that be a common request?

 

Yes it should be,can buy it in any bottle store in Bots,so no reason for the camps not to have in stock.

[graceland]

Safarichick, all the WS camps ask you the day you come in what you your guide to bring along for sundowners. Naturally I never know what I want til the time arrives, so I asked for g&ts Or wine. He always had both; I never saw Amarula, so no one probably asked for it, except me in the morning with hot chocolate...Just tell them...its always at the bar, but they need to throw some in the cooler.

REALLY good with hot chocolate too!

 

Twaffle, anytime you are in VA, I wil have a bottle ready to toast your photog sucesses!

and tx for the ST help....It was daunting but I did it (me proudly smiling) Just pray the images stay put!

[Pangolin]

All the Bots camps should have Amarula. Mrs. P and one of our friends got such a reputation on one safari that each camp contacted the next on our itinerary to make sure they stocked up.

[stokeygirl]

Yup, they'll all have Amarula. As graceland says, though, you need to request it for sundowners as they don't carry everything in the cooler- only what people ask for. They usually ask at tea.

[graceland]

Hey Stokeygirl! Have a splash for me; so envious that you are going. I will try to get the VP report started SOONer than LATer..so at least you can have a PREVIEW.

 

Lots of envy here......

[graceland]

 

We arrive at the airstrip, greeted by Zee and had for camp. Along the way Zee notices a female strolling along sniffing out trees....Leopards are very OCD about their trees,

So we stop and watch

No one is in a hurry to get to camp at noon; we'd just sit and wait...might as well stretch it out with a big of a game drive!

[graceland]

 

She finds her tree and climbs to a branch but is rather agitated.....

 

Edited January 4, 2013 by graceland

[SafariChick]

That's interesting that they ask what you want to have in the vehicle for sundowners - don't recall ever being asked in S. Africa but we're not big drinkers at all. We only ever had Amarula, beer or soft drinks. The kids really liked Appletizer and Grapetizer - never heard of those in the U.S.! And I'd never tried Amarula but when it was offered, I tried it and loved it so I'd have it either on the rocks or in coffee or hot chocolate - there was a lot of hot chocolate drinking as it was really cold! I imagine this trip I'll want mostly cold drinks. Oh and for some reason the diet sodas taste better to us in other countries - in both Costa Rica and S. Africa they had Coke Light instead of Diet Coke which we have here in the U.S. and we like the Coke Light better. Ok, enough about beverages, sorry to hijack, Graceland, on with the trip report!

[graceland]

Or Just Thirsty

[graceland]

Well I've lost AUTO save....trying to get this done tonight so I can get to Wild Dog evening for SC and Stokey Girl but probably won't happen

 

In the brush nearby, Zee hears movement

 

 

Can you see the skinny legs????? Took me quite a while, but eventually the young one came strolling out to visit Mom

[SafariChick]

Yes, I see legs! aw and thanks for trying to get to the dogs for me and StokeyGirl

[graceland]

Nope, no saved content....lordy this whole TR has tried my patience...thank goodness I am persistant,though frustrated.

I had a great time GW with the Edit button!!! Your idea of HERBAL tea is not working; where is my glass of wine..

 

 

Oh here it comes...Thanks Greenlantern!

 

So young one follows Mom probably looking for her dinner,

 

 

Well the glass of wine gave me kismet; the option appeared. Guess I am better with wine than sober....

 

So they stroll off together and naturally we are still NOT in a rush to get to VP so we implore Zee to follow. He is having a good time as well (what Guide does not love finding game on the way from the airstrip middle of the day!)

 

but young one disappeared and I believe Mom is screaming at her to get back NOW.....

 

[graceland]

We continue on; it is not a quick drive, so we amble hoping to see them again - Zee says not to worry - the " eve " is yet to come

 

Little did I know how exciting an evening drive would be especially when everyone at Little Vumbra and Vumbra Plains South (we were in North) are all racing to follow an incredible Pack of Wild Dogs....

 

But first...we arrive at the camp; I am really disappointed in the lack of "curb appeal" as all I see is a line of rovers under cover. I am thinking "This is Premier?"

 

Three young women are there to great us, naturally with towels, and we walk up the few steps into the unbelievable living/common/bar area....My mouth is still on the floor with the view.....(and the furnishings...) but the view has me at HELLO (and sign your life away here, please)

 

[graceland]

All of us are dazed by the beauty. Yes we have seen some nice camps, including Duma Tau, a beautifully built new camp...but this...feels like something you only experience once. (More if you have $$) It is so open and welcoming and one can observe game coming and going into the marsh..

 

I hope only to sleep here

 

 

But the tents! A bit much actually...but since they gave us the Honeymoon Tent I wasn't going to complain..