We're on a bus

We're into day 2 of our tour and so far we have spent a lot of time on the bus.  It's a full tour but a pretty good group.  England, Ireland and Scotland are well represented,  as are the Australians and Americans.  There's a Spanish women who lives in the Netherlands, a German who lives in Scotland, an Italian, and some Swiss Germans.  We're the only kiwis.

The man on the plane recommended Wimpy coffee so after setting off a 5am ish I was pretty happy to see one at our first stop several hours later.  It was very average - a two sugar coffee.  The trip was mostly plains with trees that haven't yet got their spring growth. We have regular stops to stretch our legs and use the facilities. Toilet inequity is an issue.  We also stopped on the side of the road for our first view of giraffes, and arrived at Khama Rhino Sanctuary a bit after 2pm. 

It's put up your own tents but they're pretty easy.  No pegs or fly required. 

About 4pm we all piled into a large jeep/open bus for our game tour.  Everything is fascinating.  We stop for Springbok (I make the obligatory 'terrible rugby players' comment and the Irish and the Australians both assured me that their teams can beat the all blacks), warthog (or Pumbas as LB out guide calls them), zebra (LB makes his zebra crossing joke), wildebeest  (it and the warthog are part of the ugly five), ostrich (someone on the tour: ooooo I think I see a black rhino! LB: that's an ostrich), a bustard  ( cue laughter), steenbuck  (tiny), eland, oblex (one of Asterisk's friends).

And of course the star of the show,  the white rhino who were gathered in a group which was not conducive to photos.  I asked LB to have a word with them and he must have some pretty good animal telepathy going on as they soon spread apart and posed for photos.  Some interesting facts: the white rhino are at the watering hole during the day and black rhinos at night.  This is because they fight if they're together.  White rhino like to hang out with their mates, but black rhinos are loners.  White rhino will generally leave you alone, black rhino will attack.

There were a bunch of other animals around the watering hole.  Both zebra and ostrich taking a sand bath.  Guinea fowl running around madly.  Eland.  Some other deer like animals. 

Then it was on to see a family of giraffes, a stop to watch the sunset, and then back to camp.  It had been stinking hot all day, but it cooled quite considerably on the trip home and I was very happy to have my hoodie and the bottom half of my zip off pants.

We were all pretty tired so after a dinner of BBQ chicken and veges (cooked by the fabulous Ivan), and a well needed shower, we hit the sack. I got lost on the way to the bathroom at night and nearly wandered into someone's chalet.  It looked quite nice, so we're doing that tonight.