Farewell to Botswana

The staff at the lodge are a bit concerned about my condition and the fever that has come on, I'm still getting medical advice – via WhatsApp and a rather poor phone connection. Electrolytes, vitamin C, rooibos, and chamomile tea are being brought to me, and I am supposed to drink 500 ml per hour, which amounts to 12 liters a day.😳 Accordingly, they prepare a lot for me in the room ❤️

In any case, yesterday turned out to be a complete bed day. Until this morning – luckily, I feel well enough to embark on the journey to Cape Town.

The transfer to the airport will serve as our last game drive: first through the water, passing by zebras, kudus, warthogs, impalas, and elephants – and then we also surprisingly discover a group of wild dogs. Some of them are wearing GPS collars. These animals have become rare and are therefore observed and researched particularly intensively. A rather special last view in the Delta.

After about an hour, we reach the 'airport,' which would hardly be recognizable as such if small aircraft weren't taking off and landing several times a day. Due to the lack of roads, they are a quite normal part of the transportation system here.

Once again, we see the beautiful landscape of the Okavango Delta from above. Either we are flying lower today – or our eyes have been trained better by now: This time we spot elephants and buffaloes multiple times from the plane. 🤩

In Maun, the co-pilot personally guides us to the check-in, after which we are handed over to the next warm-hearted person. Even at security, the people here in Botswana have a smile for travelers.

Overall: If there's one thing besides the landscape and wildlife that will stay with me, it is the cheerful, warm, and polite way the people in Botswana treat us – and each other.

Good-bye, Botswana. ❤️