This is Safari, not Vacation.

Hello from the Okavango Delta in Botswana!

Yesterday we spent the day in Joburg, learning much more about South Africa, and the Apartheid. We headed to the Apartheid museum, learning all about the Apartheid and Nelson Mandela. It was fascinating, sad, horrific, and triumphant. Mom got really sick, so we ended up heading back to the hotel, and dad, shaun and I went for dinner and wine nearby, while my slept. Thankfully she woke up feeling better today!

And then there was today….Today has been unreal! This morning we left Joburg for Maun, Botswana. After the 1.5 hour flight, we were picked up by Judy, a representative from Thamalakane Lodge. We were then transported back, met the rest of the people on our safari. They all seem awesome! There are 5 people from the USA (Altanta and DC), 2 Australians and a German. So there are 12 of us total, plus our guide, Valentine. We got our rooms, which are awesome, and right on the river. They are thatched roofed huts, and the bugs run rampant. The cockroaches and beetles are the size of my fist, and there are moths as large as birds. They are creepy and gross, and I still scream and bat my arms like a crazy person. But such is life on safari. Maybe I’ll acclimatize. Probably not. Haha.

So after 10 minutes in camp, we packed back in the vehicle to the airport to jump in THE smallest plane I’ve been in, and we were off and flying in a 7 passenger plane over the Okavango delta. We flew 500 ft above and we saw giraffes, hippos, elephants, wildebeests, antelopes, and more. The scenery was picturesque and stunning. The delta was beautiful, and it is crazy to not see any signs of civilization. It was awesome!!! So awesome that I puked! Well I puked because I was sitting up front, it was probably 40 degrees, and we were flying in a storm (ie// we were flying sideways, there was lightning and turbulence). Never to this day had I ever been motion sick, but today was not good. I let the pilot know that I thought I’d be sick, and within 30 seconds I was. But I bounced back and was taking photos shortly after. But the experience itself was incredible.

We returned to camp, and showered for dinner. Outside a hippo emerged from the river. We have been notified to go nowhere near the river, as you probably wouldn’t make it back alive due to the hippos and crocodiles. Danger bay! We had an overview of the next 3 days, where we will be staying out in the middle of the safari in tented camps. We will be up every morning at 5am or earlier, in attempts to see game. We were also told “this is safari, not vacation” therefore not a time to sleep. I couldn’t be more excited! The bugs and the heat are my biggest battles at the current moment. We are all taking Malaria pills, spraying deet like it’s perfume, and spraying stuff called doom in our rooms. I’ve NEVER seen beetles and cockroaches this big. It’s insane! But we will adapt and it’ll be awesome (well maybe not)!

Tomorrow will come quickly, and adventure will continue! Tomorrow we start the morning off with a canoe trip up river with crocs and hippos, and then we are heading to camp in the Moremi game reserve. There’s no fences, so game can walk right through camp. There is also an extensive safety briefing upon arrival at camp. I will update the next time we get to another fixed camp with wifi. I appologize for no photos, but there's no real time! Hope you’re all well!!