Wednesday 24th December 2025Our driver was booked for 0900hrs so not too much of a rush today, so after packing for a flight; weight is critical for these local flights, we headed out.
Johannesburg international airport, as expected was big and bustling but we managed with a “little guile” to get booked in fairly quickly; we jumped the queue by mistake!!! We then queued for security, a slow and laborious process, not helped by the guy in front trying to get 2-18 volt battery-packs through as hand luggage. Our turn next, Christine flew through, I on the other hand having emptied my pockets, removed my belt off and taken my shoes off still set the alarm off. For the first time ever it was my replacement knee, so that was ok; well until my bag came through: they stripped it then let me go, apparently they didn’t like my nail clippers!!!! Obviously Johannesburg International has higher security thresholds than Heathrow and many others😡
We had left plenty of time and even though it was slow to get through passport control, it still left us with an hour or so to kill, so just “hung-around” the gate; decided not to hit the lounges as we had both overdone the “intake”!!!!
The flight was on time and we landed at Kasane, a small airport and as far as I could see, the only aeroplane here. After the usual administrative processing, we headed out to be met by our guide who took us to our destination; the “Bakwena Lodge” where we are staying for two nights.
After being met by the very friendly “natives” and checking in, we headed for their “high tea”; not quite the standard of the high tea at the Oyster Box!!!, and here we met “Dan” our ranger for the duration of our stay. Thirty minutes later we clambered onto our Safari vehicle and headed out. There was another two in our party, a Father and his grown-up Son, both from the USA.
On our last Safari at Shamwari. where we saw numerous animals as soon as we left the lodge, to day was different. Firstly there was a 20-minute drive to get to the “Game Reserve” and after an hour or so looking and finding nothing and questioning why we were here, it all happened. Down in the floodplain of the Chobe river we came across a herd of elephants, all sizes wallowing in the backwaters of the river, having a “smashing time”, splashing around and rolling about in the water. Once this “ritual” was over they moved to a large, dry hole in the ground and rolled in the mud; apparently all this is about keeping bugs at bay and protecting themselves against the sun; a sort of “factor 50 sunblock”!!! We stayed here for a considerable time enjoying the spectacle; a magic moment. This being a state reserve, the gates closed at 1900hrs sharp so we headed out passing all sorts of antelope and birds, but we were happy😄😄😎😎🤠🤠
Back home it was time for dinner; a candlelight affair amongst the trees and in an authentic “lodge” with atmosphere, but not due to the guests here tonight, just the surroundings.
We were in bed around 2100hrs and soon asleep as it’s a 0500hrs wake-up call tomorrow