The year is already running away with me but the really good news is that I seem to have solved my connectivity problems - at least I hope so. Max and I went away for 2 weeks on a trip to Etosha Pans in Namibia. It was really awesome and I am going to write about that and a little less about crafting in this blog post. Anyway, on our return, I had a huge mountain on emails to go through. Max suggested that we move the computer out of my studio and put it on the gazebo which he built at the pool to see if that made any difference to the signal. It did and I sat there the whole day doing what I needed to do. It was such a pleasure. The gazebo has no walls so the computer needs to be taken away when not in use so we then decided to try it in the office attached to my bead store. Guess what - it is working!!!!
In the meantime, at the end of last year I through a huge tantrum with Vodacom regarding the signal and they sent someone out to come and see what the problem was - again. Bongani said that the signal is very unstable and that he would recommend that they install a booster for me. Well, believe it or not they arrived on Friday to install the booster. Now Bongani has to come and complete whatever it is that he has to do and according to the technicians who were here my problems should be a thing of the past. I sooooooo hope so.
Anyway, back to Etosha. What an amazing experience. Of course, if one flies there, it only takes a few hours but Max likes to drive and enjoy the scenery and experience the different places on the way. So we spent the first night just outside the border into Botswana at a place called Springbokpan.
Our unit did not have a shower so we had to traipse to the building shown in the top picture. I don't like to use communial ablution facilities but fortunately, we were the only guests there at the time.
The next morning we crossed the border at McCarthys Rest and proceeded to our camp site for the night. This part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park which is administered by Botswana only has camping facilites so I compromised and agreed to one night. You see, it is too far to travel from the border all the way to Nossob Camp in 1 day.
The ablution block at our camp site. The buildings are open to the sky. The one on the left houses the "long drop" toilet and the one on the left is the shower. Remember, there is NOTHING here but nature so no running water.
Max getting the roof top tent ready for us.
This A-frame shelter provides a little relief from the sun. The temperature was over 40 degrees C! Beyond the shelter you can see the endless pan.
From this campsite, we travelled to the South African part of Kgalagadi for 2 nights before going out through the Namibian border post at Mata Mata. I love the Kgalagadi even though one can travel for hours before spotting any game. We were lucky to see a lion resting under a tree. Again, the temperature was in the forties.
We spent that night at Kalahari Anib Lodge and took in an evening game drive. We were included as part of a group of German tourists who spoke very little English and of course, Max and I do not speak any German. The guide repeated everything in both languages and I was very impressed both with his fluency in the two languages as well as his knowledge. I leant a lot. Silly me, I left both my camera and cell phone in the safe in the room so no pictures to show you. When we checked in we made a reservation to have dinner at the lodge. I was asked if there were any dietary requirements and I told her that I cannot eat wheat, dairy or potatoes. I was really impressed that the chef produced a starter and desert specially for me taking this into account. The lodge is 25km from the nearest town (Mariental) and we arrived late in the afternoon. Well done, you guys!
The next day we drove to another resort run by Namibia Wildlife Resorts called Gross Barmen which is 25km outside Okahanja. This accommodation was the most expensive and we were not sure what to expect bearing in mind that the resort has been closed for some years. It has now been renovated and reopened in December. All I can say is : WOW!
This is the hot swimming pool which is fed by a natural hot spring.
The ordinary swimming pool like an oasis in the desert!!
From there we moved on to our actual destination - Etosha. We entered at the Galton Gate on the extreme western border of the Park and after dealing with the formalities drove to our home for the next 2 nights - Dolomite Camp. This is a tented camp which is situated on top of a dolomite ridge.
The picture was taken from the approach road so the chalets are a bit small but if you look carefully you can see the roofs of some of the chalets.
These pictures were taken from our balcony. Those are elephant drinking at the waterhole.
On our way to the camp we saw a group of elephants at another water pool.
From there we moved on to Halale Camp which is visited by a honey badger which has learnt how to tip over the bins and then scrounge in the contents.
That morning on our way to Namotoni Camp we also saw a spotted hyena but he moved off into the bushes before I could get the camera out. We also saw a group of banded mongoose with their babies. How awesome!
They are very small and my zoom function is not great but you can see them in the middle of the picture.
In this picture you can see how the vast the pan is. It stretches all the way from the end of the green to the horizon. It seems to go on for ever and ever.
After Namotoni, we started our trek home. The first night at a place called Okambara Elephant Lodge. This is a hunting farm and they also take in injured wild animals and hand rear them till they are better. If we had known, we would have booked for 2 nights so that we could do a game drive and watch them feeding etc. Next time perhaps?? They put out the kitchen scraps every night for a group of porcupines.
I had never been this close to a porcupine before!
The dinner table. Staff and guests together!
This mommy warthog and her pup came to visit in the chalet!
Our last night was at an overnight place in Botswana and again I was very pleasantly surprised. They have recently built new accommodation and are still busy with what I think is a swimming pool.
That, I think, is enough about my travels.
Remember our first meeting for the year will be this Saturday (14th February). There is no workshop so bring whatever you feel like to work on.
Let me know if you are going to be there so I know how many to make lunch for.
Happy crafting and see you all soon!
