Gael back in Africa.

After about 50km I'd seen no elephants, then looked ahead to see this large giraffe on the road in front of me. The photo from my helmet camera digests it was along way away but in fact it was about 75 meters ahead. Slowly crossing the road. It speeded up on my approach and ran alongside me on the verge, before disappearing into the bush. It was great to see this graceful animal up close and the reason I wanted to ride this road.PH000001 (2).jpgPH000004 (1).jpg

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I wasn't just looking out for animals and one tree caught my eye, this baobab. I think it's only the second I've seen on this trip as they are more common in the countries north of here. There is something peaceful and calming about them for me and seeing it, brough a smile over my face.PH000007 (3).jpg

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So what about the elephants. I did see a few. After a couple of near misses with them on the motorbike in the past, I resolved to be more cautious this time but still stop when I could, to be in their presence and take some photos. This was the first one I saw and I stopped after passing him.

These single elephants along the road are usually lone males, which may be a factor in them being aggressive at times. I turned around to get a better view and he had done the same. He was about 100 meters away and stared back. In a few seconds he started flapping his ears and I took that to suggest my presence was not welcome, and left the scene before he had the need to charge.20220211_124909.jpg

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The next large male was walking on the verge and I came across it quite suddenly. As the helmet camera shows things further away than they are, in this photo he is quite close, maybe 30 meters and at about this time he decided to cross the road, in front of me and the truck coming the other way. I swerved to the other carriageway to avoid the elephant, as he continued across. Looking back the elephant blocked the carriageway for the truck and he had to stop. Overall another memorable encounter with an elephant.PH000030 (1).jpg

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Leaving the park I had to disinfect my boots and ride through a disinfection trough. Just afterwards, an elephant appeared on my right. I stopped and turned around to get a good look and he was watching me and not grazing. This one was also close, just more than the width of the carriageway. I was clearly making him anxious and again the ears started to flap. This was my signal to depart and leave him in peace. PH000040 (1).jpg

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And what about the lions you ask? Well happily we didn't have an encounter and I didn't break down in a vulnerable place but they were on my mind. I mentioned before the length of the grass on the verge and in places it was over 2 meters and could have hidden a whole pride. PH000009 (1).jpg

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This park is unusual in providing picnic stops which I hope are for travellers but sometimes I wonder if they are also for the local felines? There is a very clear disclaimer about stopping at your own risk and it adds a little frisson to a comfort break, for a single motorbike traveller.20220211_133919.jpg

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One of the saddest sights I saw was this carcass of an elephant. They may flap their ears at me and occasionally charge but I love these intelligent animals. I also know they experience grief at a death and I wonder how this death was mourned and the background to it. I suppose, so close to the road, a collision is a realistic possibility.20220211_134843.jpg

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One pleasant surprise yesterday was finding a petrol station at Pandamatenga, about a third of the way to Nata. Surprisingly this wasn't mentioned as I left Kasane. This meant I was able to fill up and did not require my spare fuel bottles. See screen shot from Google Maps below.Screenshot_20220212-140644_Maps.jpg

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A little known bit of history, after driving the same route and stopping in the same place years ago a Kenyan mate introduced me to the concept of gin and ginger ale. It was good, and I remember that hippos walked by my tent later through the night. Enjoy, great to be there
 
Northern jock said:
A little known bit of history, after driving the same route and stopping in the same place years ago a Kenyan mate introduced me to the concept of gin and ginger ale. It was good, and I remember that hippos walked by my tent later through the night. Enjoy, great to be there
Click to expand...
Did the gin and ginger contribute to the hippo memory, by chance?

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I stayed at Nata in the Eselbe camp. It's a work in progress to be fair, but a good inexpensive option to break the 600km journey between Kasane and Maun. The entrance drive is about a kilometer of soft sand, but we got in and out carefully and without drama. The host Rupert is a jovial fellow and seems to have done most of the construction so far. They have tents set up, one with an en-suite(outdoor) and a cabin. I planned to stay the one night but stayed for two.

The first evening Rupert cooked a braai and we all sat around the big table and chatted as we ate. There were 5 other guests and I enjoyed discussing their backgrounds and travel adventures. In a lot of the places I stayed I've been the only guest, and while it could make you feel special, in fact it is quite isolating. So having fellow travellers around was great.20220212_152523.jpg

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The camp is close to a river and the other guests went for a canoe trip. They came back exhausted, as the water levels were too low in places and there was a lot of getting out and dragging canoes. Where's I chilled out by the river and got my Kindle out for the first time this trip.20220212_120134.jpg

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Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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