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Day two heading to central Botswana Makgadikgadi Pans
My accommodation packed me a breakfast for the road and I had an early start
eager to see what Botswana had in store for me.
The road from Gaborone north was a great tar road with very little traffic
but a long hot journey with little on the way to break the journey. Breakfast
beside the road then lunch in Francistown, which is Botswanas second major
city, it has a rustic feel and I found a nice cafe and chomped down a burger
and lots of cool drink.
Keeping hydrated is important when trying to remain alert on long journeys,
outside it is hot and inside the car the air-con dries you out so I also stocked
up on some more water.
From Francistown I filled up with fuel in Nata then finally arrived in Gweta.
Now we really are in the heart of African Botswana.
Now came the first occasion I needed a 4wd, close to Gweta are the amazing
vast, flat Makgadikgadi Pans, you can only get to them in a 4wd, but not a
problem, the lodges in the area offe overnight trips in thier own vehicles
to the pans, at a reasonable cost with all the wear and tear on thier vehicle.
All you do is sit back and enjoy the ride, they drive, cook and tell the stories,
what they dont do is put up the tent ... because you dont need one, they provide
you a bedroll that you roll out on any open space ypu fancy and lie down and
enjoy the stars.
After departing Gweta I continued along the tar road to Maun, Botswanas main
tourist hub and entrance to the Okavango Delta.
The Okavango Delta is the jewell of Botswanas tourism an amazing floodplain
spilling onto the desert floor creating a spectacular canvas for wildlife
viewing and shimmering sunsets.
It is not possible to drive into the delta with any vehicle, you can only
visit by Mokoro (local boat) or by small plane. Since I was on a budget I
opted for the boat trip and as this is the best way to see the wildlife as
you glide over the water keeping an eye out for hippos and crocodiles while
admiring elephants from your boat.
