July 24, 2024

It had been very cold overnight, which I realized when I left my warm bedroll and visited the bathroom during the night, but once inside the tent under the covers, it was quite manageable.

We are spending 2 nights at this camp, so there was no need to pack up for an early start, and we could have a leisurely breakfast before stepping into the boats and heading out for our morning bird watching experience.

One of my many fears had been getting in and out of the boat. My experience with the Zodiacs in Antarctica had been that you need to be quite agile to do this, and I was expecting it was going to be much more difficult with a boat on a river. I had imagined that we would have to wade into the river and then attempt to clamber aboard the boat. One of our guides would be pulling me in while Brian would be giving me a shove from behind. This would all be terribly ungainly, and would provide a source of amusement for the more agile of the guests on our trip.

Well, I was thrilled to realize as I stepped onto our boat yesterday in Shakawe, that you could get into the boat straight from dry land (no obsessing about whether I should get my walking shoes wet or wear sandals), and once you had reached your destination, you just stepped off the boat again.all very easy.

So, with a cooler filled with fluids, we once more headed out into the river, looking out for birds, and land animals. I was particularly wanting to see elephants of course, but even though none came our way, we did see several large crocodiles, and lots of cattle.

The banks of the river contain papyrus plants and reeds, making it quite difficult to see anything behind them, except where there were breaks in the vegetation where elephants had plowed though the reeds destroying everything in their path as they make their way to the water.

I had come to terms with the fact that the boat trips were simply not a game drive. They were wonderful, nevertheless. I’m really not good at spotting birds, but with the assistence of Greg and Clinton, I was treated to observing many beautiful birds as we slowly floated by them. By lunch time James announced that we had seen 54 different species of birds. Not bad. Not that I would be able to tell you what each one was if I saw them again.

Lunch was back at the camp; kudu pie was on the menu. I was a bit skeptical at first, but it turned out to be very tasty, and just what was needed after a morning looking at birds through my binoculars, which I discovered were actually my opera glasses.  Who would have thought they could be so useful for both purposes.

After lunch we finally had some time to sit and relax for a while before our afternoon boat ride. One of our group did her knitting, I wrote my blog, and everyone else, sat around in the shade, reading, it was a lovely way to spend the afternoon. Sitting on the banks of the river, listening out for hippos and elephants.

On our afternoon boat ride Greg and Clinton caught 3 tiger fish and threw them for the eagles, but the eagles simply weren’t interested, so none were taken. Greg had pierced each fish with a papyrus stick to make them float, we we collected them up and decided to save them for tomorrow’s eagles. Maybe they will be more obliging.

We were too busy with fishing and trying to feed the eagles, that we missed the sunset, and it was quite dark by the time we returned to camp. The staff at the camp have hot water. Anyone for a shower?

I am getting used to the bush shower. The shower is a canvas tent with a zip up the front for privacy. There is a bucket hanging there that is filled with warm water and has sufficient capacity for 2 short showers. That is enough time to get wet, turn the shower off and scrub yourself with your soap, and then turn the water back on again to wash to soap off. That’s it. No standing under flowing hot water as it pours over you and washes away the stiffness in your aging limbs. It’s purely functional. Still, as you shower you can look up at the stars above you and listen to the night sounds of the delta. You wash away the accumulation of sand that somehow now coats your body. It really is a wonderful experience, and you step out of the shower and walk to your tent feeling like a new person.

Despite tying my hair in bunches, it has become quite tangled, but that’s the camping life for you. There will be a chance to untangle it later, now it’s time for another wonderful dinner under the stars,

We move to another camp tomorrow and will see a different part of the delta. I like what I have seen so far, and I do like the campsite. After sitting around the fire it is time to go back to our tents and make sure we are organized in order to move on tomorrow,