Hello, hello!
We have just returned from our first 5 days out camping the Kalahari - very dusty and unbelievably cold! (-4 at night)
Brilliant journey out there on the back of Dave's flat-bed truck, a little bouncy but a great way to see the country.
A fantastic few days with our guides Oakansi, Chamca and Dukes who were expert bushmen and taught us an incredible amount. We now know which plants to eat for earache, which to use as toothbrushes and which make the best alcohol!
We also learned to set traps and saw how successful they were as our guides brought back 2 red-breasted karan birds and killed a steinbok in front of us that was caught in one of their traps - very tasty!!
We have also tried our hand at robi, a game involving whacking a stick at a pile of grass in the hope that it will fly into the air, further than your opponents - unfortunately we were hopeless - only OJ managed to gain any height at all!
We were a little better at throwing spears and the hand crafted bow an arrow - with Greg taking home a bushmen spear as his prize and Jamie winning the bow an arrow competition.
Jamie slept outside in our very own bushman shelter, made entirely from wood and grass, whilst Ben enjoyed the space (and clean air!) in the tent without him!
We were all privilged to receive a digging stick and small bow and arrow as present from our guides and the knowledge they gave us will be invaluable for the rest of the trip.
Food has been fantastic, though shopping has been a long-drawn our process, hopefully we will all get the hang of it a little quicker and there will be no sneaky trips to KFC by select members of our group!!
Off to the Okavango tomorrow - 3am start!!! More to follow as soon as possible.
Hope everyone at home is well...
so glad to hear from you and hope you're all well. how many alcoholic roots did you collect!? :) and where are you getting your kfc from!? :) take care and hope to hear from you soon
ReplyDeletehey all! :)
ReplyDeleteglad that you are all well! sounds like you are all having a great time out there! why are you leaving my brother out in your own bushman shelter!? hehe :) and kfc?! let me guess.. once again my brother? ha! have fun and hope to hear soon! xxxx
Your first week has passed so quickly! It sounds like you are all enjoying yourselves,keep safe have fun and get loads of good photos Liam please. ;)xx
ReplyDeleteWow, it sounds so exciting! First week has surprisingly flown by, I'm sure you all must be feeling the same. I dread to think how dirty you will be on your return!!! -4 makes me shiver thinking about it, Sam are you now wishing you took some thermals, lol! KFC??? Did anyone stay behind, I can't imagine Sam missing out!
ReplyDeleteGuys so great to hear from you, look forward to your next blog!!! Wish you all the very best, have fun, look out for each other and enjoy your experience!
xXx
So good to hear from you its been a long week! I didn't know there were kfc's in the desert. Jamie did your stomach get the better of you? Glad Ben has had a "fresh air" night are you trying to get the tent to yourself Jamie? That must have been exciting sleeping in your own bushman shelter! Keep going all of you, stick together. Cant wait for the next installment! xx
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to hear from you. Sounds like there are going to be some amazing stories told when you get back. Hopefully with lots of photos to go with them? Can't wait to see the bushmen spear Greg.
ReplyDeleteHope you're all having as much fun as it sounds.
Looking forward to hearing from you again soon.
Keep safe and well ALL with lots more fun on top.
xXx
Wow! what great news..... sounds so exciting, when's the parents trip ???!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing- well done you all.... keep safe and most of all ENJOY EVERY MOMENT>>>
Loads of love to all from the Byletts XXX