| ther used to say visitors were like fresh fish, great | | | | lover who also takes a little turn towards birds |
| for the first two days, OK for the next day but that | | | | – we are in this category, my wife and I |
| they start getting a little hard to bear on day four, as | | | | watch birds, we do this in most places, we log them |
| for days five and onwards, the fish or the | | | | and we enjoy spotting the different birds in each |
| friends….a little hard to bear! | | | | region. We love climbing into a hide or securing a |
| Now try spending two weeks, in one four-by-four | | | | quiet spot, perhaps with a glass of Chardonnay, to sit |
| doing the “Botswana” or other safari | | | | and watch. We do not however need to spend |
| “thing”… as passengers in a | | | | fifteen minutes at each bird, particularly if it is the |
| friend’s car, my wife and I looked forward to | | | | tenth example of the exact same bird on that |
| a stunning experience with two of our best friends. | | | | particular game drive! To cut quite a long story short, |
| Planning was fun with us enjoying many a meeting | | | | by day three, when I had stopped to see a Superb |
| gathered around maps on the table, lists detailing | | | | Starling for the umpteenth time we were quite ready |
| packing methods, food and equipment, list upon list | | | | to never see another bird ever, and I mean ever |
| developed and added to around eventful evenings | | | | again! Have you ever experienced real claustrophobia, |
| sharing good food and fruits of the vine. What for I | | | | the fear of closed or confined spaces? Well let me |
| call a friend, we have known each other for many | | | | tell you, that was the smallest four-by-four that ever |
| years, shared fun and laughter and know each others | | | | travelled Botswana, every time I was in the mood to |
| good and bad points, personality failings and deepest | | | | gaze over a waterway to watch a family of Hippo |
| secrets, that kind of friend is who I refer to in this | | | | frolicking about with the young males play-fighting, |
| context. To put this differently, forgive me if I over | | | | perhaps even a bird or two, we were allocated about |
| elaborate, we were all four, ready willing and able to | | | | thirty seconds tops and then whisked away to |
| head for the savannah together with no hesitation. | | | | another Superb Starling or similar. |
| Going back to my mother for a moment, we once | | | | Thank goodness our friendship is and was so |
| did the caravan “thing” with another | | | | sufficiently strong we could deal with this, an |
| family in a large caravan with supporting tents and | | | | agreement in the evening limiting a five minute stop |
| spent two weeks in the rain, needless to say that | | | | and only for a first sighting or at least a good sighting |
| was my mothers first and last camping trip. Moving | | | | was soon agreed and the four of us ended up |
| on to the present, the day arrived and off we went, | | | | sharing that can only be described as the holiday of |
| the first and last days being dedicated totally to | | | | our lives, made possible through friendship and trust. |
| travel, via the exciting metropolis of Maun and into | | | | So much for the happy ending, how can you ensure |
| what can only be described as one of the most | | | | the same thing when on a combined holiday: |
| wonderful of all the last remaining natural wonders of | | | | • Most importantly, select a destination and |
| Africa. | | | | friend carefully; repeat carefully, to ensure all of you |
| Dare I digress again but with names like Moremi; | | | | have the same expectations and desires for your |
| Third Bridge and Savuti rolling of one’s | | | | holiday enjoyment. |
| tongue, if one can put to one side the exorbitant | | | | • Obviously, the friends would not be |
| prices and the few acceptable facilities one should | | | | classified as such if you did not share similar interests |
| normally expect, this is top of the pops, bite the | | | | in food; people; the environment; fun activities and |
| bullet, pack well and head for Botswana, it’s | | | | the like. Make sure they are really friends, do you |
| worth it. | | | | know them well, make sure you have been on the |
| Our bookings along the way, and I mean | | | | odd weekend away before you commit to |
| a….long the way, we started out in the | | | | something like the trip mentioned above or perhaps a |
| Eastern Cape which necessitated sleeping over a few | | | | yacht cruise or similar confined quarter. |
| times, accommodation organised with thanks to | | | | • Agree everything in advance, where are |
| … at last we finally arrived. | | | | you staying; what are the costs; who is responsible |
| Our friends are fanatical bird watchers….now | | | | for what. |
| lets put this into perspective, one gets nature lovers | | | | Send along your travel tips to |
| who enjoy a broad range of the boundless beauty of | | | | travelbug@staysa.co.zaand you could win a wonderful |
| nature, like most of us, then one gets the nature | | | | prize if your tips are published by us. |