Checked out of the Old House & headed to the local hardware store – Haskins, to see if we could get some ground matting. They didn’t have anything but suggested the store across the road which was like our Costco. Nothing there either, but we found some coke cans and a container for our water filtration system. We headed for the Chobe National Park, ‘Transit’ gate. Once there you are supposed to stop at the stop sign & line – David went over thinking to go to the actual gate. The ranger came out & directed him back, before we could get out & sign in- there is a lot of paperwork. We had gone probably 10km before we realised that we had to go to Sedudu gate – just before Transit gate and pay our fees, even though David had asked the ranger whether we needed to pay before entering, and so had to turn around. Luckily the first guy wasn’t there and a ranger who was on leave said to go back & fix it up no problems. The ladies at Sedudu Gate weren’t overly helpful & didn’t want us to pay the Moremi fee as well, though our directions stated we should pay it here. The eftpos took forever. Stopped correctly at the stop sign this time – first ranger back & wanted me to re sign in! the roads were now hot, soft sand – we were in 4×4 and were bouncing all around the cabin – I felt both shaken & stirred!

We came upon a waterhole not far from our campsite- it had elephants and 3 groups of giraffe – totaling 21- the most we have seen together, they were all under the small shaded areas of trees.

We checked in and were advised – absolutely no walking in the park (the toilets are 100m from our campsite, so we have to drive- this means packing up everything when you need to go – not really useful) & that you must start a fire before 6.30 to keep the animals (lions, hyenas, cheetahs, elephants) away.

The ablution block has been made elephant proof as they have had issues in the past of trunks coming thru window looking for water while you shower!

We are camped under a large tree facing the river bank – which is completely dry.

I used the ‘She Wee’ for the first time – is really weird.. but useful.

We went out for another drive and saw a banded mongoose. That was it – there was only the hippo at the waterhole, so a bit disappointing – oh well

David was exhausted from concentrating on driving & had tingly arms.

We had to defrost the meat by the fire as I forgot to get it out, but dinner turned out quite nice.

We were visited by a spring hare after dinner.

Lightning again- maybe a storm? nah, still hot and dry