1. Holiday in Botswana 2008 Part 1 The Journey

2. We set out from Port Alfred on 23 th April 2008. After a few days in Jhb, a night in Maun, 6 nights in Okuti Lodge, we came back to Jhb for another night. We returned to Port Alfred on 5 May. The 7 strong Okuti Safari team was made up of: * Floss and John Howden (Floss is Les’s sister.) * Genny Wragge and her son Frank and sister, Karen (Genny and Floss went to school together) * Les and Billy NB We all contributed to the photos (either taking or posing)

4. Destination Okuti in Moremi Game Reserve Okuti Camp is next door to Xakanaka

11. Here at last! These 2 planes transported us from Maun to Moremi

12. Part 2 Okuti Camp Holiday in Botswana 2008

14. The front of the tent bungalows

15. The walkway linking the tents This is elephant poo!

16. The Entrance hall

18. Entertainment deck for communal sitting and relaxing

20. Communal dining area

21. The ‘Tent’ Front door Balcony nKGWE eBO kWEBU Turd – elephant or hippo?

22. Inside the Tent NB Mosquito nets

25. Holiday in Botswana 2008 Part 3 Routines in Okuti Camp

28. Relaxing before and after supper around the fire

29. Botswana 2008 Part 4 Camp visitors

30. The camp had no external fence. In a game reserve it would be reasonable to assume that animals would visit the camp – they did! We were told that when returning to our tents after dark we should ask a game guard to accompany us – just in case. It was difficult to take this advice seriously, but after the first night we realized that it was entirely appropriate.

32. There’s something in the bush - but what???

33. Visit from a bushbuck in the middle of the day

36. One evening we returned from an afternoon drive to find an elephant next to the parking area.

37. It moved off and . ..

38. Some of us went to get a closer look but without success

39. Floss was a little anxious and sprinted up to the walkway to tell the camp manager. He soon ushered us back to the pub where, as usual, Molly was waiting to serve us drinks.

40. Part 5 The Animals Holiday in Botswana 2008

42. Elephant Plenty

43. Herd

44. Elephant crossing

45. Mommy and Junior

46. Get off my road!

47. Giraffe - toiletries

48. Zebra

49. Buffalo Herd of about 200 Provided a steady diet for Lions

50. Buffs grazing the long grass

51. Hippo Big, noisy, strange toilet habits

52. Hippos in the background toilet tree on the right

53. At the hippo pool

54. eBushbuck ‘Sorry Darling, I have a headache’

55. Impala It was the start of the rutting season. So we saw females and youngsters, with single rams in charge. Also lots of rams butting heads!

56. Impala ram

57. His hareem

58. Young impala

59. What can you hear?

60. Baboons

62. Sharing a Lion

63. Sniffing around ‘I know she is here some where’ Ah, there she is!

64. Lyin’ in the long grass

65. Found her

66. Checking out the vehicle

67. Lying around

68. Cubs having fun

69. Keeping an eye on the stolen leopard kill in the bush on her left. She eventually decided that it needed much closer attendence

70. Billy’s Lion pic John’s Lion pic

71. How do you handle a lion if it is so close?

72. Gently!

73. Holiday in Botswana 2008 Part 6 The Birds

75. Crake strolling around looking for crumbs

76. European roller Fish eagle Little bee eater

77. Sacred Ibis

78. The star of the show – the illusive Pels fishing owl

79. Grey hooded Kingfisher

80. Saddlebill stork

81. Some of the new birds seen (with thanks to various photographers on the internet)

82. Which is the flying Chillipepper and which is the flying Banana?

85. Holiday in Botswana 2008 PART 7: Other Interesting moments

87. African version of a gondolier – the mokora poler

88. Exploring channels in Makoras

89. Some of the team Genny, Billy, Karen, James, Frank, Les

90. Going. . .

91. Going. . .

92. Gone

94. Les’s Birthday cake

97. Party on Les’s birthday

98. Enthusiastic Song and Dance entertainment from the staff

99. Sundowners usually at about 5.30. we stopped for snacks and drinks, where ever we were

100. On Les’s birthday we had champagne

101. Frank was the official champagne opener and distributor

102. Toasting the birthday girl

103. Sundowners at the hippo pool

104. James stuck to ginger ale

105. Hippos wallowing

106. Hippo pool

107. Sun on its journey home

108. Going . . .

109. Going . ..

110. Going . . .

111. Holiday in Botswana 2008 Part 8 The Journey home

112. Final team photo Karen, Genny, John, Floss, Les James, Billy, Frank

113. Saying cheers to James, a gentleman with incredible knowledge ! He said ‘I am going to miss your group.’ Was that a compliment?

114. Views of the countryside

120. Maun landing strip

121. Robbie being persuaded to pose

122. All smiles after an excellent holiday

123. How do you handle a lion if it is so close?

124. Gently!

125. Nearly home and then a half hour hold up at Kenton

126. Arrived home safely and please to have enjoyed a unique African experience