Africa - Next installment

OK, last night before I fell asleep I managed to get up to our first stop for the trip, Ghanzi. The next morning, in the freezing cold (well OK about 5 degrees!) the intrepid amongst us got up at about 5.30 (we were woken by a phone call from the credit union calling to find out what was going on and assuring me that it would all be sorted out when I got home) and went on a game drive. We saw a number of animals before it was light enough to take photos, primarily elan I think. We drove for quite a while and saw lots of things in the distance, but then pulled up where they keep their lions. Tautona, the name of the lodge, means Big Lion in Setswana. The ones we saw first were not fully grown but quite big, and we went into their enclosed area with them and could pat them on the head. They were gorgeous, but weren't all that keen on all the attention - they were a bit playful and several people felt lion claws and teeth in their legs! The next enclosure had some smaller ones - they were very cute. I think they were about 6 months old, and the smallest of them, Dozi, was scooped up and offered to us to hold. I don't think any of us could resist - certainly not me!

After playing with these ones for a while we went to visit their parents, two big females and a male, and their four newest cubs who were playing outside. These ones were more amenable to being handled, although they got tired of it fairly quickly and made these very cute growling noises. Despite their youth they have very sharp and big teeth and claws!

In the back area are three cheetahs, and these are definitely not tame! We went in with one of the workers who led us quite close. There came a point though where the nearest one bared his teeth and growled loudly - we figured that was close enough!

For the rest of the photos go to the web album.

After breakfast we set off again. We have crossed most of the Kalahari now, and the light and the landscape are stunning. There are thousands of goats and donkeys, and many small round huts in tiny settlements.

The stop for tonight is at Sitatunga Camp, just outside the 'outback' town of Maun. It's very dusty and basic, but we scored the only double bed in camp! No windows however and it's cold tonight! There was another group who had just come out of the Delta who were busy in the showers, so we waited until later, made sure the donkey boiler was working, then had passable hot showers. Early start in the morning as we are flying into the Okavango Delta - which will be the next instalment.