April 27

Caprivi  Strip, Namibia

Nunda River Lodge is beautifully set up, with a lovely main lodge right on the Okavango River.  The campsite is large, showers are hot, the river environment is beautiful, the swimming pool area inviting, and our hosts were very welcoming.  We recommend this place. 

We got up at dawn, as usual, which arrives at 6 am and lasts only a short time before it is suddenly full-on daytime.  Charlotte and Devon went for a run at 6 am (they are training for a marathon) while the air was still cool.  Then we all had  breakfast and packed up.  

Our morning adventure was a safari drive along the river's edge in the nearby Mahango NP.  We stopped to watch a plethora of animals including zebras, giraffes, warthogs, baboons and a number of antelopes including kudu, gemsbok, lechwe, and impala. Hippos were milling around just across the river. 

Bird sightings included -among others - kingfishers, herons, egrets, geese, lilac-breasted rollers, red-billed hornbills, cinnamon bee-eaters, and something called a go-away bird.  It was an amazing environment for us!  

We followed the river track for about 10km, stopping often to view birds and mammals very close to our vehicle.  We are not allowed to get out of the vehicle in most NP,  except at designated picnic areas.   One of the two designated picnic locations in Mahango NP was by a giant baobab tree, the other on the edge of the river.  

Driving along the sandy single track we noticed some large elephant scat and soon afterwards we saw four elephants lingering in the shade of some bushes. 

After a morning in the park it was time to drive west.  The main roads are good, paved with just one lane each direction and very little traffic.  We drove as far as Runde, stopped for provisions, then another 10 km to our next camp at the Hakuseme Lodge.   

Hakuseme has lovely round cabins and a beautifully landscaped garden plus a main lodge (and restaurant) on the edge of the river, including a floating section for being right out on the river.  The campsite was an open grassy area, not as special as some of the other campsites, but it was quiet and served us well.  

Charlotte and Devon created another delicious meal..

Sent from my ipad....Oops, did auto - complete create strange words?