Almost a week gone and it's flown by, as expected...
The flight to cape town was uneventful - which I suppose is a good thing. I watched 'Up in the air' - which I was told is a comedy but couldn't really see how.
Day 1 in South Africa consisted of a long walk up to Cape Town university (an incredible setting on the slopes of Table Mountain) and a long walk/trek through Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Below are just some of the pictures of both, but all my photos can be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/101316266000543792716.
University of Cape Town:
Myself and Doug (who very hospitably put me up for the night) then hit Cape Town's Long Street, which I am sure will be the scene of many a caper during the world cup... What followed was a good night involving quite a few drinks, great burgers, stomach-curdling milkshakes, and some rather suspect dancing in (surprise surprise) an Irish Pub.
Day 2 was spent travelling to Botswana and then chilling, in preparation for the next few days of camping (ooooh mince!) in the Kalahari bush...
On Friday we (myself, my uncle - Podi Mama, and his two friends James and Dilan) set off on the road for Khutse game reserve (http://www.botswanatourism.co.bw/attractions/khutse_game_reserve.html). The drive featured a 100km stint on a dirt track, a few cans of Kilkenny and a tyre puncture. We got to the park just as the sun was setting and managed to catch a whole pride of lions apparently on the hunt - believe it or not this is a picture of a couple of them.
Lions...just:
Anyway - the weekend was awesome, camping in raw nature under the most stars I've ever seen, seeing loads of wildlife, sleeping in the boot / back seat of a land rover (whilst hearing lions nearby) and just generally enjoying the great outdoors. We ate and drank remarkably well - testament to the planning of the guys I went with.
I guess bush food doesn't usually include mutton biryani, sri lankan pork bite, sri lankan pork curry and roti - but it should. The nights were bloody freezing so it was also helpful to be able to put away a decent amount of whisky, sherry and vodka...
Biryani in the Bush:
Both mornings consisted of a 4.45am start (!)... Wildlife seen included the afformentioned lions, various antelope, the elusive caracal plus loads of other random kratouie / creatures... some pics below, all the photos can be found here... http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/101316266000543792716
Highlights had to be the safari sunsets, the uninterrupted star-studded night sky and the total sense of isolation one feels in the bush - would thoroughly recommend it.
The trip was completed with an element of symmetry, this time our landrover suffered a complete tyre puncture on the dirt track out of the reserve. The warm shower and 11 hours sleep that followed felt a little bit like heaven.
EEEEEH...
Next stop - Cape town / Muizenberg, a small matter of Le Coupe de Monde and a lot more capers...
excellent bush food - and you weren't anyones supper!
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